‘Riparian I’, framed monoprint, 38x43cm

‘Riparian I’ was inspired by a tour of Bovey Valley Woods, courtesy of the Woodland Trust in March 2024.

With this piece, I was trying to capture the nature of the moisture-laden microclimates that near-river trees create for themselves and their hosts. These include a unique variety of lichens and bryophytes that inhabit these rare temperate rainforests. These species have been adversely affected nationwide by pollution and more recently, by extended periods of excessive drought and sunlight.

The Woodland Trust’s husbandry work at Bovey Valley Woods and elsewhere on the west coast of the UK aims to provide increased canopy protection and atmospheric moisture for these species, some of which are endemic to these islands and found nowhere else on Earth.

The final element used was a reduction monoprint – one black layer, and then a ‘roll over’ with iridescent pearl & gold. This was rather tricky in 30 degrees in my then-conservatory studio, so working quickly was essential!

I wanted to emphasise that these trees exist in a hyper-oceanic region, so the retarder base I used helped by adding a watery effect.

‘Riparian I’ was selected for the 2024 Ironbridge Printmaking competition.