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Staithes Studios is the studio base of Stef Mitchell who co-runs Staithes Studios Gallery with partner Ian Mitchell. An invitation to be visiting artist at the studio was an ideal way to spend ten days on the stunning North Yorkshire coast between Middlesborough and Whitby.
I approached the residency with a simple routine in mind. Every day would start with an hour-long walk exploring the coastline and immediate inland pathways, each walk in a different direction. On return to the studio I worked up a two-pass print depicting the route. Technically, this was literally no-press letterpress. The only equipment used was a chase, furniture, quoins and a small amount of plastic and wood type. Impressions were taken with a baren and by hand-burnishing. Each print is an edition of five. The finished work was shown in a duo show 'hold, follow' alongside Gemma Lacey's etchings in March 2017. Many thanks to Stef and Ian for the opportunity. |
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Staithes village from up on the Cleveland Way clifftop path.
Cleveland Way en route to Port Mulgrave.
The many rights of way around Staithes offered multiple directions to head in each day. Walking without a map with a deadline of one hour emphasised the need for a good sense of direction.
The only 'tools' used: chase, furniture and quoins plus wood type reversed to create background.
Complete print series on show at Staithes Studios Gallery...
'pale light, past route'.
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Staithes harbour.
Looking east past Port Mulgrave.
Boulby Potash mine. Potash is a type of salt mined deep up to 2km below the surface. The channels extend up to 10km out from the coastline underneath the North Sea.
Working with just one font of a French plastic type.
...alongside work by Gemma Lacey.
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