While I was happily confined by the snow in January I sifted through the detritus of ideas and materials piled up from 2012.  Then, from there, I gradually began to assemble some ideas for a creative route into 2013.

Once into February life accelerated. Next weekend February 23rd & 24th I am at Bishops Castle Arts Festival. I will be there exhibiting with other book artists from ‘Marches Book Arts Group’ sharing space with ‘Castle Artists’  http://www.bishopscastleartsfestival.co.uk

The results of the Encyclopaedia Britannica Project on which  I have been working jointly with Angela Martin can now be seen on line at http://www.sidneynolantrust.org and the Dunaire Print exhibition that opened in Dublin  in December has moved from Cork Street to Edenderry Co. Offaly and can be seen at Public Access Arts https://www.facebook.com/pages/Public-Access-Arts/490324477644253

Then, last week,  I  set aside my half etched plates, my half printed collagraphs and half made books to rediscover and experiment with letterpress and viscosity inking.

Using the press in the Regional Print Centre in Wrexham I assembled and printed from an eclectic mixture of wonderful wooden letters. It was a delight to sort, handle and print from them  responding to the unknown utilitarian history that is recorded in the patina of old ink, worn surfaces, woodworm holes and smell.