Sophie Brogden
![IMG_0334[1] BW.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/132ff4_24ce749a769641a097e1451a3d35b4ac~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_362,h_516,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG_0334%5B1%5D%20BW_JPG.jpg)
About Me
Welcome to Fairlight Prints, a home Art studio that specializes in creating nature-inspired lino and etching prints, all handmade in Art cabin at the bottom of my garden. My prints capture the beauty, life and movement of flowers and some reflect the daily joys of gardening and nature.
I create detailed sketchings from observational drawings, I then transfer my designs onto grey hessian backed lino and start to carve with specialist tools. Once I am happy with the lino I use my wonderful Rollaco printing press to transfer the image onto specialist paper. I normally make a limited edition of each print. I also make etchings with zinc and steel plates and use the process of aquatint to create tonal depth to my etching prints.
A selection of my Linocut prints are in on show and on sale in The Wisley Gallery, RHS Garden Wisley, The Lightbox Woking, Number 15 Studio Gallery.
My favourite part is the reveal, lifting the paper from the print. If you look on my Instagram page @fairlightprints or look on the Gallery page you can see many of these peel reveals !
I mainly use Fabriano paper in my studio. Heavier Somerset paper is used for etching prints as the paper needs to be soaked and dried before it is placed onto the prepared plate and rolled through the etching press.
Once a week I travel to North London to a specialist Art studio to create etchings and aquatints on zinc plates. A process which hasn't changed much since Rembrandt, a plate is carefully cleaned and prepared,
I draw onto the plate, etching through the 'ground' a layer on the plate, this is then placed in acid to allow a 'bite' into the metal. The etched lines then hold the ink which is applied, then damp paper is laid onto the plate and a hand powered etching press transfers the image to the paper.
A further process can also be applied, 'Aquatint' an intaglio printmaking technique, a process which produces tonal effect, the plate has a fine layer of powdered rosin applied and I paint directly onto the plate working in reverse working from light to dark to create a watercolour tonal effect. A time consuming but exciting process !
