‘The Old Man of Calke’, framed monoprint, acrylic, pen, pencil & ink, 110x80cm,

One-off monoprint — only one available

It is striking how practical limitations can become creative catalysts if one is willing to commit to them. Without access to a conventional printmaking studio, I focused exclusively on gelliplate monoprinting — a constraint that ultimately encouraged deeper experimentation rather than restriction.

Working at a larger scale, I began constructing composite prints, layering multiple pulls to build depth and complexity. I also expanded my materials to include pencil, ink, and brushwork — media I had not previously incorporated into my print practice — alongside hand-cut stencils and masking fluid. This more tactile, flexible approach has produced a broader and more expressive range of marks and lines.

This piece was a collaboration between me and Andy Doughty, who is a prolific and superb photographer of our most special, native & ancient trees.
The subject is the magnificent Old Man of Calke, a truly ancient Oak tree situated at the Calke Abbey estate in South Derbyshire, and at c.1000 years old, it is one of the oldest Oak trees in the UK.

The piece was developed from a black-and-white photograph by Andy, and I chose to remain largely monochromatic to preserve the atmosphere of the original image, maintaining a strong sense of presence and place.

In the canopy, I worked with the “negative” of the leaves, using masking fluid and layered impressions, finished with a seam roller to introduce movement and energy. Finally, I introduced gold within the hollow trunk, emphasising the rarity and ecological richness of these ancient trees.

This piece culminated in a charity fundraiser, which has raised over £3,000 towards the Woodland Trust’s ‘Living Legends’ campaign. There is an article about this in the Trust’s Broadleaf Magazine in Spring 2024, and the print also appears in the ‘Trees Outside of Woodland‘ photo essay, recently published by Lestari, Forest Research & DEFRA.

I will also donate an additional £200 to the Trust from the proceeds of the sale of this print.