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Thomas Berwick (1753-1828)- Woodblock Printmaker

13/1/2019

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Thomas Berwick Inspirational Artist!

Over the past two or so years I have grown to love the work of various printmakers more and more. Sometimes it is the detail, the energy, or the humour, but mostly I find printmaking totally inspiring.  As an artist different types of printed imagery excites me including lino cut, woodblock or etching.

Right now, I am really interested in the work of Thomas Berwick (1753-1828). His woodblock prints are not only a wonderful historical glimpse of how people used to live before the land inclosure act of 1845, but they also have superb amusing little scenes. One that comes to mind is of a man hanging precariously from a branch over a river. Berwick's work was made at a time of major change in the world. People were just beginning to appreciate the wildlife of the countryside. Meanwhile, masses of people were moving to towns and cities to work in factories after being evicted from their homes by land owners.  
This year I am looking forward to making a body of work based on the birds I have seen here in the Nene Valley. Thomas Berwick's book on birds called 'British Birds' provides some of the inspiration for this  work. One little fact I found out was that John Clare (1793-1864), my favourite poet, used this book to help him identify birds he had seen. At the time there were virtually no other books about nature of this type, so this a great reference for a country just starting to fall in love with its surroundings and wildlife.
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​The Nene Valley stretches from West Northamptonshire all the way through Peterborough and has the  Nene river flowing through it. The landscape is surrounded by lush farmland and old villages with hidden footpaths connecting them together. I have always used this landscape as the basis for my artwork showing the wildlife and hills of my home.

My artwork frequently uses a range of mixed media techniques that have also incorporated words. In recent years this has become more important and now collage is a major part of my work which often uses words poetry. The lines  of various poems have been woven into my imagery - segments of which can be read. 

The wide range of habitats such as wildflower meadows, wetlands, marshes, woodlands and wet grasslands are full of a diverse range of animals and birds. These offer endless inspiration for my artwork on a daily basis as I live right on the edge of a stunning nature reserve near the towns of Higham Ferrers, Irthlingborough and Rushden.
  • Home
    • About
    • Blog
    • Newsletter
    • Exhibitions
    • Trade
  • Calendar 2023
  • Prints
    • Animals Prints
    • Birds Prints
  • Cards
    • Cards
    • Note Card Sets
    • Boats Series Cards
    • Christmas Cards
  • Art Crosses
  • Original Art
    • Nene River Series
    • Large Commissions
    • Sculptures
    • Boat Paintings Series
    • Winter Series Originals
    • Crosses
    • Special Little Paintings
    • Acrylic Landscapes
    • Christian Art
  • Art Classes
    • Book a Class
    • LessonSheets
    • Online Art Lessons
    • Student Gallery
  • Contact