Limited Edition Etchings, Linocut & Silk Screen Prints
Born in Lincolnshire, Alison grew up as part of a farming family, surrounded by land and close to the animals that she now characterises throughout her work.
This subject matter started early on, and largely by coincidence, when she stumbled upon animals as a subject for making things for her friends and family, this rapidly led to local illustration work and then quickly escalated to become the main source of her inspiration.
Predominantly Alison is a printmaker, a medium she discovered in Newcastle whilst completing her B.A.(Hons) in Fine Art, she immediately fell in love with it all: etching, linocut, woodcut and screen-printing being her particular favourites. Alison enjoys the hands on nature, the labour ethic and the mechanical processes involved with this medium.
This in turn led to ten years of employment in the printmaking department of Lincoln University, where she enjoyed fantastic facilities and where she completed her M.A in Fine Art, which was perhaps the first deviation from printmaking since her degree: for two years she studied drawing and writing, recording life's 'everydayness' in lists: resulting in several artists' books and installation pieces, and is an ongoing preoccupation.
Recently Alison has left her secure and steady income: mainly to fulfil a year long travel ambition; Europe in a camper van, and now she is back and working entirely from her loft studio in Lincoln.
As an artist Alison has undertaken a variety of art related jobs: as an illustrator: most recently she completed the illustration of five Lloyd Alexander books, The Chronicles of Prydain, for Usborne House. Each book requiring 20 linocuts plus cover and map. She has also lead many workshops and has worked as a visiting lecturer in several universities and galleries.
Prior to her trip abroad Alison did not have to rely on her earnings as an artist so wasn't at all pro-active in her professional aims. She took part in occasional exhibitions, and has had her limited edition prints exhibited in several galleries throughout Britain. Now things have changed, Alison is now actively seeking to increase her profile and have her work exhibited further a field.
Alison was and is, a regular participant in art fairs, including Battersea Contemporary Art Fair which led to sponsorship to take part in Europ'art in Espace Auteil in Paris.
Whist studying for her B.A. she was one of several Northern graduates chosen to exhibit in the Royal College of Art, this led to her biggest commission to date: five life size bronze running dogs commissioned by Lord Jacob Rothschild that now reside in his private residence in Buckinghamshire.
But despite this success, she returned to printmaking and more recently has turned her attention to more professional matters, seeking further audiences and opportunities. Hence she really feels that she is at the beginning of her career, professionally speaking.
Despite having been a printmaker for over 10 years, this is the first time Alison has concentrated solely on her work without distraction. She loves all things connected with print, collecting printing ephemera, letterpress and wooden type, with the idea that she may one day incorporate them into her work, creating handmade artist's books etc.
(Examples of this artists work, click to enlarge.)
