Annie Fforde

Ruth Fettis

Ruth came to live in Bradford in 1987 from Newcastle Upon Tyne and in 1997 completed an MA in printmaking at Bradford College. She now works with adults & families making art. She enjoys collaborating with other artists and is a member of Inkers, a group of professional printmakers who hold exhibitions in West Yorkshire.

Ruth uses the old traditional craft of lino & woodcut printing to tell modern day stories. She creates large, narrative and figurative prints that are bold and convey a powerful message. She is influenced and motivated by social issues and events from within the local community and beyond.

 “I chose to use the medium of linocut because it’s one of the cheapest forms of printmaking. The lino I use for carving out the image is called ‘marmoleum’, which is bio-degradable and donated from local carpet shops who would otherwise send their off-cuts to the tip. All you need to start are a couple of sharp gouges/tools, some ink, paper, lino & a wooden spoon. Linocut is an extension of drawing and has a long tradition and history of protest. Artists such as Kathe Kollwitz, Elizabeth Catlett, Azariah Mbatha & John Muafangejo have inspired me.”  - Ruth Fettis

Annie Fforde

Annie has recently returned from living and working in France and is also a member of 'Inkers'. She currently runs printmaking workshops at the South Square Centre in Thornton.

Many of her prints on display are woodcuts combined with monotype, drypoints with monotype or etchings. The exhibition also includes several Artists' Books, based on poetry and pieces of music.

"I have an abstract approach to art often combining two or more printmaking processes. I create the image using line, texture and layering colour. It is my emotional response to abstract ideas or concepts; music, poetry, landscape and objects in collections. My use of colour is sometimes heightened depending on the mood of the imagined landscape and subject matter."  - Annie Fforde

Patrick Whitehead  

Patrick was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 1957. He trained at Lincoln College of Art and Norwich School of Art where he studied Fine Art Printmaking. He now owns and manages The Apothecary Gallery in Thornton village.

“My early work incorporated the traditional etching processes of etching, drypoint, aquatint and mezzotint. I am fascinated by all the intaglio processes and, especially, the newer methods, which include collagraphs and solar etching. The intaglio prints in this exhibition are solar etchings and drypoints, which include the use of a Dremel engraver and different grades of corborundum grit to create lines, marks and different tones and textures.”