Thursday 22 March 2018

Bad Blogger...................time to go !

Because I've been such a 'bad blogger' and rarely added new posts I've decided it's time to go ! 


Many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to look at my blog and for all of your comments.

For more information about my work visit

Monday 7 August 2017

The Birds exhibition at the Art.Science.Gallery. Austin, Texas, USA

The Birds (group exhibition) August 12 - October 1, 2017.
Art.Science.Gallery. Canopy Building, 916 Springdale Road, Austin Texas, USA.
https://www.artsciencegallery.com/tag/birds/

Several years ago Alan Palmer found a dead Little Tern on the beach at Armona which he gave to me to see if I could print it. As soon as we returned to Olhão it was promptly placed in my freezer and sat there waiting for several years until the beginning of this year.

Having recently read a journal article by Mónica Calado entitled Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) Status and Conservation at the Ria Formosa Natural Park, Algarve, Portugal. Vol.19, Special Publication 1: Ecology, Conservation and Management of Colonial Waterbirds in the Mediterranean Region (1996), pp. 78-80, Published by Waterbirds Society https://waterbirds.org/journal/  I decided to print the bird as part of my 'Não Petroleo' series of work. These prints not only bring attention to the devastating effects that oil pollution can have on wildlife, the environment, and people but also highlights the need for conservation and sustainable management. This is particularly evident in locations such as the Ria Formosa which supports a high biological diversity and yet has a social and economic impact from activities such as fisheries, aquaculture, recreation and tourism.

Whose Tern Next ? Direct gyotaku collage, acrylic, screenprint medium with mica pigment. Image: 90 cm x 90 cm.

Whose Tern Next ? (detail) 

Monday 24 July 2017

Awagami International Mini Print Exhibition 2017

Two direct gyotaku prints of Atlantic salmon with red chop mark.
On the left:  Heads n'  On the right: Tails.
These two direct gyotaku prints of the head and tail section of an Atlantic salmon were signed and posted to Japan this morning for the 3rd Awagami International Miniature Print Exhibition, 2017.

They will be exhibited at the Inebe Art Space,  The Hall of Awa Japanese Paper Museum, 141 Kawahigashi, Yamakawa-cho, Yoshinogawa-shi, Tokushima, Japan, from 7 October until 29 October.

Saturday 6 May 2017

AL QUI MI A - WATER- Fishing, Marine Biology, Printmaking, Gastronomy

At the direct gyotaku workshop on Sunday 30 April at the Oficina Bartolomeu dos Santos (OBS) Printmaking Studio in Tavira, Portugal everyone made fantastic prints from a variety of fish, prawns and cuttlefish. A delicious lunch was shared on the roof terrace overlooking the Gilão river, which was very kindly cooked by my friend the artist Margarida Plama, a founding member and board member of OBS.

Printing the Red bandfish
Busy in the studio
A shoal of carapau
The weired and wonderful Red bandfish (Cepola macrophthalma)
Salmon tails drying
Inking a salmon tail and printing

Thursday 16 February 2017

Blueprints for happiness #1 (SOLD)

Good news....
'Blueprints for Happiness #1' was exhibited at the 19 th Annual Postcards from the Edge, Visual Aids benefit exhibition hosted by Metro Pictures in New York and it has been sold !

The money from this sale will help to support the mission of Visual Aids: utilising art to fight AIDS by provoking dialogue, supporting HIV+ artists and preserving a legacy.
This season Visual Aids will provide more Material grants to HIV-positive artists, expand their on-line registry, distribute new artist-designed AIDS awareness editions and produce more AIDS focused exhibitions, events and publications.

For more information about Visual Aids visit www.visualaids.org

Direct gyotaku print collaged onto watercolour paper with acid free nori glue, torn edges painted with blue watercolour.
Signed on the reverse.

Wednesday 15 February 2017

A commission to Sweden

A direct gyotaku print in Caligo Safe Wash Relief ink with watercolour. Red chop mark, signed and dated.

Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar


Saturday 28 January 2017

Governo trava exploração de petróleo no Algarve

In December 2016 it was announced that the Portuguese government had cancelled contracts for oil exploration in the Algarve.
More information at www.palp.pt   Platforma Algarve Livre de Petróleo.

#AlgarveLivreDePetróleo
Horror vacui #10, the finished piece hanging on the wall in my studio.

Exhibited at the Real Marina Hotel & Spa, Olhão in November 2016.

Work in progress - figuring out what goes where !

Friday 20 January 2017

Gyotaku Postcard for Visual Aids

The 19th Postcards from the Edge exhibition for Visual Aids was held at Metro Pictures, New York and featured 1,432 postcards from artists around the world. Over 1,100 people visited the show and so far 94,000 USD has been raised.