Nigel Davison
The intricate culture of the County of Kent is often overlooked. I am aiming to embrace the meaning and significance behind all aspects of the county through an exploration of its landscape. This embraces profound universal themes of how we have integrated and always interacted with the environment we inhabit.
My intention is to create a genuine sense of place, interpreting through lino prints and wood engravings what is unique and truly compelling about Kent. I am exploring the landscape in cultural and human as well as ecological contexts and use close scrutiny and observation to develop and resolve ideas. This research often takes the form of sketchbook work within walking distance of where I live. The landscape sketches often include experiential notes on heard sounds and random incidental occurrences. My aim is to convey the spontaneity of initial painted responses to the landscape in my final printed work.
I have been developing skills with lino cut and wood engraving relief printmaking processes for nearly 20 years now. My aim is to acquire new skills continually, within this practice, in close synchronicity with the rural subject matter I am exploring. This takes the form of experimentation with traditional lino tools and also non-traditional lino engraving methods.
Lived Experience
On leaving UCA Farnham with a BA in Three Dimensional Design and Printmaking I won first prize in a national printmaking competition. This led to a collaboration with Circle Press on an artist’s book project. Subsequently, I worked with poets who actively explore Kentish themes, by illustrating and printing three separate artist’s books about Kent.
As an exhibiting member, I help to run the Pilgrims Way Artists Group, which hosts an annual exhibition featuring 15 member and 17 guest artists. I have also had one man exhibitions of prints at the Grabowski Gallery, London and the OneOneSix Gallery in Tenterden. I have also had a sell out one man show with the Trinity Arts Centre, Tunbridge Wells. I have work in the collections of Adelaide University Library, British Library, Saison Poetry Library and many other private collections worldwide. I have also taken part in many group exhibitions including the inPrint open submission show in Whitstable earlier this year.
Nigel Davison Artist Printmaker cv
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
The intricate culture of the County of Kent is often overlooked. I am aiming to embrace the meaning and significance behind all aspects of the county, through a meaningful exploration of its landscape through painting, drawing and printmaking. My intention is to create a genuine ‘sense of place’, interpreting through lino prints and wood engravings what is unique and truly compelling
about Kent. I explore the landscape in cultural and human as well as ecological contexts and use close scrutiny and observation to develop and resolve ideas. This research often takes the form of en plein air sketchbook work within walking distance of where I live. My aim is to convey the spontaneity of initial painted responses to the landscape in my lino prints and engravings. These are printed in limited editions on my 1830 Columbian Printing Press on Japanese Senka papers.
AWARDS
1984 Schools Curriculum National Award - First Prize for printmaking
EXHIBITIONS
Jan 2026
Horsebridge Art Centre, Whitstable, Kent
inPrint Group Exhibition
May 2025
Annual exhibitor of a body of new work since May 2011
Pilgrims Way Artists, Lenham, Kent
Summer Group Exhibition
June 2019
Kent Guild of Printers Exhibition, Nucleus Gallery,
Gillingham, Kent - Group Exhibition
June 2015 West End House Gallery, Smarden, Kent
Group Exhibition
June 2010 and 2012
116 Gallery, Tenterdan, Kent
Solo Exhibitions - ‘Sense of Place’
June 2011 and 2012
Allington Library Gallery
Solo Exhibitions - ‘New Works about Kent’
ARTISTS BOOKS
Jan 2013 Get to the Point Press
The Singing Line - vol 1 and 2 - Bob Kenward
36pp edition of 100 copies, casebound with dust jacket
Jan 2016
Get to the Point Press
The Marsh - Richard Selby
36pp edition of 100 copies, casebound with dust jacket
Jan 1986
Circle Press Publications
Deluvio Noe
36pp edition of 100 copies, looseleaf with dust jacket
EDUCATION
Mar 1997 to 1999
London College of Communication
MA Typographic Studies
Sept 1981 to 1984
University of Creative Arts, Farnham
BA(Hons) Three Dimensional Design 2.1
Ceramics and Printmaking
Continuing Professional Development
May 2014 - West Dean College
Wood Engraving - short course - Tutor Chris Daunt
May 2016 - West Dean College
Multiblock Wood Engraving - short course - Tutor Chris Daunt
May 2020 - West Dean College
Embossing - short course
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