Adam Ashdown

Being a printmaker, it is all about the reveal. Often the unintentional outcomes end up being my favourite pieces, working exclusively with marine life these happy mistakes are a regular occurrence.

I have adopted the 19th century Japanese technique known as Gyotaku, where traditionally sumi-e ink was applied to a fresh fish, a sheet of rice paper is then manipulated over the fish to produce a beautifully simple mirror image.

Experimentation has been paramount for my growth as an artist. Although Gyotaku is seemingly a very simple process, it has led me to change up the traditional basics of the art form using an array of different mediums. Layering and subject manipulation can really animate a piece bringing both depth and movement.

This year I have combined a group of contrasting pieces, showcasing Gyotaku from its very basic form, through to multilayered pieces featuring the diversity and obscurity of our coastal waters.