Elizabeth Rashley

No cutting today, just a trip to the laundrette, tidying up, hoovering, cooking and ironing. This image was part of a series of domestic images I cut for a book called Washday Whites.

This image has been hanging about in my head for years. I finally got round to cutting it. My tools are a bit blunt at the moment, so it’s quite a rough cut, but I think it works quite well.

image size (w x h) – 105mm x 300mm
technique – linocut
edition size – proof

This handsome Heron came out well. During the process of stylising the birds they seem to develop very distinct personalities. It was great to try out a range of cutting techniques for the different feathers.

image size (w x h) – 115mm x 300mm
technique – linocut
edition size – proof

January has been a bit of a bird-fest for me – I’ve cut about six bird blocks. The first one was the wonderful Great Crested Grebe. I like the transition from a white background to a black background. Plus it was a good opportunity to cut some stylised patterns.

I’ve also cut a matching Mallard in the same style.

image size (w x h) – 145mm x 210mm
technique – linocut
edition size – proof

This is the print for the cover of a little alphabet book called ‘Ark Bound Creatures’. The brilliant text is by Nyr Indictor and each page is illustrated with a very simple black and white linocut.

image size (w x h) – 212mm x 214mm
technique – linocut
edition size – 10
paper – Somerset

I was watching Wonderland on television and it reminded me of this print. I didn’t learn to swim until I was an adult and then I used to go for a swim everyday at the Imperial Hotel in Torquay. The ‘Imperial Ladies’ are the dedicated swimmers that I used to see in the pool there. They were always very absorbed in their own world and I think this print captures that. I like the half-moon faces and the intensity of the blue.

image size (w x h) – 150mm x 210mm
technique – two colour reduction linocut
edition size – 8
paper – Somerset

This is one of a series of cuts illustrating fairy tales. I think the design is reminiscent of Russian folk art and I like how the design is entirely contained within her cape. I wanted to cut it as if it was a piece of needlework.

The gold ink is incredible to print with, as a little goes a very long way.

image size (w x h) – 300mm x 300mm
technique – three colour reduction linocut
edition size – 9
paper – Somerset