Amelia Bowman - Prints of the Suffolk Coast

Amelia Bowman’s beautiful “collagraph” prints feature some of Suffolk’s most iconic coastal destinations including Southwold, Walberswick and Aldeburgh. 

Suffolk Secrets recently caught up with the East Anglian artist to find out more about her printmaking techniques and artistic inspiration.

“Although I am based in Norfolk, a large proportion of my inspiration comes from the Suffolk coastline, not least Aldeburgh where I spent many a family holiday during a period when I was developing a unique combination of collagraph* printmaking and digital pattern design.” commented Amelia.

“One of the iconic fishing boats on Aldeburgh beach has featured in several of my collagraph prints and is the focus on one of my new range of vintage-travel inspired posters. These poster designs, (which are also available as cards, postcards and tote bags), feature digital reproductions of my original collagraphs and are styled to be reminiscent of old railway posters. Another poster in this range features Aldeburgh’s South Tower (Lookout) and is featured in Tim Coates book ‘Aldeburgh, A Song of the Sea’, published in 2013”.

*Collagraph PrintmakingAmelia Bowman started experimenting with collagraph printmaking approximately 5 years ago, following the purchase of a rusty old mangle. After spending nine months converting it into a printing press, she then started to develop her latest creative pursuit - collagraph printmaking.  This process takes its name from the word ‘collage’ as a collagraph is essentially a collage that is inked up and rolled through a print press against dampened paper. The edges and surfaces of the collage form the lines and textures of the print, which is transferred onto the paper on its way through the press.

Extra colour can be added by way of an additional technique called ‘Chine-Collé’ which involves the lamination of extra papers as it goes through the press.  Amelia has incorporated Chine-Collé into her prints by the addition of colourful and vintage inspired patterns which she designs herself. These patterns add a splash of effervescent colour, bringing out the main details of the image whilst adding individuality and focus. Editions are small and are named after the pattern designs featured.

Five years on with her first big exhibition on the horizon, in addition to having her work featured on a range of greetings cards by a Suffolk publisher, Amelia is very excited about the future and about creating new collagraphs to represent other areas of the UK.

For more information about Amelia Bowman, exhibitions and stockists, see our fact file below.

FACT FILE

Current stockists

Amelia Bowman websiteSeaweed and Salt, Southwold Pier, SuffolkDedham Art and Craft Centre, Dedham, SuffolkJarrolds Forum Shop, NorwichThe Garden House, Cromer, NorfolkBig Blue Sky, Wells-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk

ExhibitionsWymondham Arts Centre, 15th April – 27th April 2014Opening times: Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm. Sunday 12-5pm. Entry is free.Amelia will front her first major exhibition alongside sculptor Janet Bowman, illustrator Ella Goodwin and photographer Gavin Robbie.

Open StudiosIf you want to visit Amelia at her Norfolk studio, she will be open to the public for the Norfolk and Norwich Open Studios on the weekends of 31st May and 1st June and 7th and 8th June between the hours of 11am and 5pm.