Japan, Sheffield, and the French Alps

My fascination with Japan began when I visited as a teenager on a scout group exchange. At 16, I was captivated by the country, its people, and their culture—so completely different from my own. The experience left such a deep impression that I went on to chose Japanese Studies at Sheffield University.

After four years of intense study, I escaped to the Alps for a ‘rest,’ working as a chalet manager—and, of course, making the most of the snowboarding. (Yes, that’s when I decided my snowboard needed a Yoda stencil!)

First attempts

Caught by the travel bug, I worked in office jobs between breaks abroad, and then went off on a two year round-the-world trip. When I got home, I still had no clear career path in mind, but by this time something on the internet had caught my attention – Japanese woodblock prints. I was curious about how they were made, and started investigating further. I was so fascinated by what I discovered that I decided to give it a go myself. From those very first attempts at hacking into any old piece of wood with a craft knife, I was hooked!

The learning curve - teaching myself from the web, books, and a whole lot of experimenting

I scoured the internet for resources on how to do it properly and found David Bull’s website, woodblock.com. (Okay, I didn’t have to look too hard for that one!)

Thanks to David’s incredibly generous collection of photo essays, how-to guides, and in-depth articles, I bought a few tools, scavenged some scraps of wood, and set about grappling with the basics. I had so much fun learning and experimenting that I simply didn’t stop—and before long, I realised printmaking was what I wanted to do full time.

Japanese designs as inspiration and education

From the very beginning, I was drawn to the simplicity and subtlety of a particular style of Japanese prints called kachō-e(bird-and-flower prints). Their gentle colour schemes and uncluttered designs felt incredibly calming, yet at the same time, I marvelled at their intricate details. The more I studied them, the more they pulled me in.

Up close, I was amazed by just how incredibly detailed they were—and struck by the delicate precision required to carve those designs into woodblocks. That particular genre continues to inform and inspire my work to this day. I've even recreated some of my favourite designs by Japanese artists—a wonderful way to practise and refine my skills while also getting to own a handprinted original of a design I love!

Inspired by Japan

Back . . . to my future

Born in Oban and raised in Brighton, my move to Kirkcudbright in 2007 felt like a homecoming of sorts. Returning to Scotland brought two incredible gifts, for which I’m eternally grateful—a blissful marriage to my amazing husband, Ian, and the chance to have a dedicated studio space to work in every day.

Although Japanese woodblock printing was my starting point, I no longer confine myself to wood—there’s just too much to explore with other materials and techniques! As much as I love carving into fresh blocks of beautifully smooth cherry wood, right now, I’m having a fantastic time experimenting with stencilling. In a way, it feels like I’ve come full circle—back to that Yoda stencil on my snowboard all those years ago!

Stencilled prints

Studio life now

For many years, I had a space at the WASPS (Workshop and Artist Studio Provision Scotland) studios on High Street, which was a wonderful community to be a part of. But in 2024, I was given the unmissable opportunity to move into a space above Ian’s furniture-making workshop.

In late 2024 and early 2025, we worked tirelessly to transform a dusty, gloomy workshop into a bright, airy studio and gallery space by the riverside here in Kirkcudbright. I’m immensely grateful to all those who helped make this project a reality, and I’m absolutely thrilled to have such an amazing space to work in now. I’m looking forward to many happy years of printmaking here.

I truly love what I do, and it’s both a pleasure and a privilege to immerse myself in the challenges and triumphs of printmaking every day in my studio. I hope you can feel the positive energy that shines through in my prints, and that you enjoy viewing them as much as I’ve enjoyed creating them.

If you’re ever in Kirkcudbright, do come and visit me to see where it all happens, and how it’s done – I’d love to meet you!

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