Artist Carolyn Murphy with her linocut and collaged work at the pop-up exhibition in Radcliffe

A Radcliffe inspired print

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Artist Carolyn Murphy showed a Radcliffe inspired print at a new pop-up exhibition in the Market Hall, that opened this weekend. The work, called Red Cliff, incorporates linocut and collage. It references the industries that Radcliffe was built on, such as coal, paper, bleach and cotton, as well as features of the town centre and its heritage. ‘Connect, Believe and Change’ are ideas captured within the Market Hall itself, linked to the recent regeneration of this area of Greater Manchester.

The work is part of the ‘Spirit of Radcliffe’ exhibition organised by Two Crows, a studio in nearby Bury. The exhibition is a response to several Spirit of a Place walks and events led by artists Lee Crocker and Andy Marshall. They use storylines created to reference the town’s wonderful architecture and landscapes of the every day to tell stories and inspire creativity. These draw on Songlines, part of ancient Aboriginal culture.

Carolyn visited Radcliffe back in the summer of 2022 and explored local locations captured on the Songlines. “I chose to include the map within this work, because it was clear that the location – on the River Irwell and (a now disused section of) the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal – was so influential on the spirit of the place. I incorporated the Market Hall’s profile and the gable of the Bridge Tavern, which, at the time I visited, had wonderful exposed mosaic signage for Dutton’s Blackburn Ales.”

The pop-up exhibition is expected to continues until May in Radcliffe Market Hall.

Participants in a linocut workshop showing their artwork

Linocut Workshops in Manchester

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Carolyn Murphy regularly runs linocut workshops in Manchester with fellow printmaker Cate Gibson. The pair run the workshops at Sett Art Cafe, on Burton Road, in West Didsbury, a music and art space, with a lively events programme. Individuals can purchase tickets through the Eventbrite page on Sett’s website. There are dates out now for March and April.

Linocut workshop at Sett Art Cafe

The local printmakers have also run introduction to linocut workshops at Didsbury Parsonage. All materials are provided for the workshops, which tend to be 2.5 to 3 hours in length. Carolyn and Cate guide participants through how to create, cut and print their own linocut design. It’s a fun, informal printmaking session, that’s designed for adult beginners. They suggest people come with an idea or image – and wear clothes they don’t mind getting messy in.

Carolyn and Cate also organise group linocut workshops, normally for six to ten people. So, if you’re thinking of a workplace creative activity, either as part of a team building or staff wellbeing day, or for a group of friends, this is an activity that everyone can enjoy. Charity organisation Our Room Manchester included a workshop as part of their staff wellbeing day earlier this month. They provided the following feedback:

“Our staff team thoroughly enjoyed the linocutting workshop with Carolyn and Cate. It was the perfect balance between relaxing and challenging – we were absorbed in the process and loved learning a new skill! It was great to have a laugh together and come away with lovely pieces of artwork. The session was just what we needed for our wellbeing day and we’d highly recommend it!”

Carolyn and Cate announce linocut workshop dates on their social media. You can follow Carolyn on Instagram here. Alternatively, you can get in touch for a quote to your specific requirements, using the Contact page.

Inspired by Manchester

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‘Inspired by Manchester’, a pop-up exhibition in Sale town centre, includes work by Carolyn Murphy. The exhibition, organised by Neighbourhood Gallery, features work by artists from across the North West of England in a range of media. It’s the first time that Carolyn has submitted work, so it was great to see ‘Bridgewater Canal’ on the wall, alongside some fabulous artists. Carolyn also had some of her linocuts in the window and all works were for sale.

Exhibition in Sale town centre

The exhibition runs from 9 February to 2 March with a private view on 8 February 2024. It’s an exhibition of works “inspired by Manchester’s iconic cityscapes, spirited people and vibrant culture”.

Carolyn at ‘Inspired by Manchester’ with her etching of Bridgewater Canal

‘Bridgewater Canal’ is an etching, which captures a hidden level of Manchester, where the canal runs right through the city centre. It’s an atmospheric image and it’s due to feature in a book about Manchester soon.

‘Sale Water Park’, a reduction linocut by Carolyn Murphy, has gone off to new home from the show.

Copy of Copy of Didsbury Parsonage, Stenner lane, didsbury M20 2RQ - 1

Returning to the Didsbury Parsonage

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In August, Carolyn Murphy will be returning to the Didsbury Parsonage for ‘Spectrum 3’, a group exhibition with Cate Gibson, Janet Higgins and Anne Mackinnon. “We have all exhibited together at the Parsonage before and Cate and I have run linocut workshops there too, so it’s fantastic to be returning after quite a gap,” explained Carolyn. The exhibition opens on Sunday 6 August 2023.

Poster for ‘Spectrum 3’ art exhibition

All the artists are based in Didsbury and the South Manchester area. They will be at the Didsbury Parsonage on Sundays from 2pm – 5pm throughout the exhibition to talk to visitors and discuss their work. At these times, they will also have unframed work and cards available for sale.

Work featured in ‘Spectrum 3’ includes painting and printmaking, including linocuts, collagraphs, abstract paintings and pastel and watercolour landscapes.

Work will be shown in Gallery 2, with its wonderful, restored sun dial stained glass window. Classes take place in the gallery spaces at various times (Monday to Saturday) so please call the Didsbury Parsonage ahead on 0161-445-7661 to check access to Gallery 2 at those times. Galleries are open on Sundays. It’s a great spot to enjoy the exhibitions and stroll around the gorgeous Parsonage Gardens. We hope you can join us in August. ‘Spectrum 3’ runs from Sunday 6 August until Monday 28 August 2023.

Welcome Home

New butterfly linocut revealed

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Today, Carolyn Murphy launched a new multi-plate butterfly linocut from her website shop. The linocut design, called ‘Welcome Home’, is inspired by the return of the rare Manchester argus butterfly to its local habitat, after 150 years.

Carolyn, a Manchester-based artist and printmaker created the linocut during the pandemic lockdowns. The BBC featured the positive story of the recent reintroduction of this local species in May 2020. “I was really amazed by the story of this heath butterfly”, explained Carolyn. ” Nature has generally thrived during the pandemic, thanks to more limited human activity, however this small butterfly needed human help to return to its former home. It’s fantastic to see the number of organisations working together to make this possible.”

Back in Manchester

The Manchester argus became extinct in Manchester in 1850, because of land drainage and other pressures on its habitat, according to The Wildlife Trust. The Trust was part of a partnership project, GM Wetland Species Reintroduction Project, which masterminded the butterfly’s return, in conjunction with Chester Zoo. The Manchester argus butterfly returned from other populations in the North West to the Manchester Mosses area. However, because it does not travel far during its lifetime, it needed a helping hand from the project. Let’s hope it goes on to thrive again locally.

New linocut design

The new butterfly linocut design is a stylised image of the butterfly and complements ‘Hard at Work’, her linocut of Manchester bees (2015), in that it has the same image size (25cm x 25cm) and a similar structure and colours. Both reflect the balance between people and our fragile natural world.

‘Welcome Home’ goes on display at an exhibition later this year in Chorlton, Manchester. Further details will follow in due course.

Carolyn’s printmaking work is available for sale via this website. To find out more about the story behind this artwork, why not check out Carolyn’s blog post.

Linocuts at Manchester Art Fair

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Printmaker Carolyn Murphy has five linocuts on the Hot Bed Press stand at Manchester Art Fair this weekend, 12 – 14 October 2018.

Hot Bed Press is exhibiting and selling a selection of members’ work, framed and unframed, on Stand 270, at the Fair taking place at Manchester Central (Formerly GMEX) Windmill Street, Manchester. Nearest tram stop is Deansgate Castlefield.

You can pick up tickets and plan your visit via their website. The exhibition opening times are:

VIP Preview : Friday 12th October 17.00 – 21.00

Saturday 13th October 10.00 – 18.00

Sunday 14th October 10.00 – 17.00

Hot Bed Press members will also be running some exciting Printmaking Demonstrations at Manchester Art Fair during the weekend. Hot Bed Press is based in Salford and the print workshop offers open access to printmaking spaces and equipment, as well as specialist courses.

Everyone is very welcome to Stand 270 to check out the work, talk to the artists and learn more about printmaking techniques.

Carolyn has been a member of Hot Bed Press since 2011. 

Image of a lots of linocut works on the table amongst cups of tea and linocutting tools

Linocutting at Wythenshawe Hospital

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The regular Macmillan ‘Craft & Chat’ group had a go at printmaking yesterday, when Manchester artist and printmaker Carolyn Murphy introduced them to linocutting. The group meets every Monday morning from 10-12 and they love to get stuck into new craft projects. In just 2 hours, the crafters created some lovely work and enjoyed learning and chatting over a cup of tea.

The workshop took place in the new extension to the Macmillan Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, in the room where Carolyn’s ‘Serenity’ linocut commission hangs.

You can see below some of the photos from the session, as well as the Macmillan commissioned work on display, and the greetings cards, now on sale online at Love From The Artist. All profits from greetings cards and digital reproductions of ‘Serenity’ go directly to the Macmillan Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital.

Image of members of the Macmillan Craft & Chat group cutting lino
Macmillan Craft & Chat group cutting lino

Image of Macmillan Craft Group printing linocuts
Crafters printing linocuts

Image of members of Macmillan Craft & Chat group and their linocut work
Some lovely work!

Image of Macmillan Craft & Chat group with their linocut work
More lovely work!

Image of a lots of linocut works on the table amongst cups of tea and linocutting tools
Great work created by lino beginner in 2 hours

Image of the 'Serenity' linocut by Carolyn Murphy on the wall at the Macmillan Centre
‘Serenity’ linocut by Carolyn Murphy

Image of one of the 'Serenity' greetings cards which raise money for Macmillan
‘Serenity’ greetings card raise money for Macmillan

Spectrum 1

New ‘Spectrum’ Exhibition in Didsbury

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The new ‘Spectrum’ art exhibition opens on Sunday 7 October at Didsbury’s Old Parsonage on Stenner Lane, close to the Didsbury pub and Fletcher Moss Gardens. Over 3 years on from the original exhibition, the artists return to this much-loved venue, bringing a range of new printmaking and watercolour work by Cate Gibson, Anne Mackinnon and Carolyn Murphy.

There’s a Preview on Sunday 7 October from 1pm – 3pm in Gallery 1, with refreshments. Everyone is very welcome to come along!

The exhibition runs until 11 November. If you are making a special journey, please contact the Old Parsonage on 0161-445-7661 to check that the Gallery is accessible, as there are meetings and classes in the galleries at various times.

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Linocut commission on Macmillan Centre wall

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Carolyn Murphy delivered ‘Serenity’, her A1 linocut commission, today, on time, to the Macmillan Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital. It didn’t take long for the building contractors to fix it to the wall in the new extension, which will open soon. The official opening will be in a few months’ time.

The original linocut was created by hand using a reduction process from one huge piece of A1 lino. It went through the etching press five times and the full process is captured in Carolyn’s blog

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The huge Macmillan linocut is finished

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Carolyn Murphy’s A1 linocut commission for Macmillan is finally finished and drying. It will be delivered to them, framed, on Wednesday 21 March. The video below shows Carolyn printing the final colour at Hot Bed Press in icy conditions:

The snowy weather tried its hardest to interfere with the tight schedule, however it’s all on track.

Probably Prints published a blog about this exciting project.

All the ‘behind the scenes’ images, the story behind the commission and the development of the A1 linocut print and the prototype quarter-sized print are on Carolyn Murphy’s blog.

You can buy this work online via the website Shop.