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.
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