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‘Verdant’ exhibition opens in Mile End

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The Middlesex University MA ‘Verdant’ exhibition opens at Mile End Art Pavilion from Friday 8 July to Wednesday 13 July, from 11am to 6pm. Artist and Printmaker Carolyn Murphy has 5 pieces of work on show, with fellow MA Fine Art and MA Fine Art Printmaking students.

Carolyn Murphy at the private view
‘A shift in the direction of the wind’, monotype by Carolyn Murphy
‘See how easily they fall away’, monotype by Carolyn Murphy

Carolyn created work specifically for the Art Pavilion space, to make the most of the light, the scale and the lakeside setting. Her monotype ‘Reclaiming’ is 2.4m high and has 4 panels. Other work was created for the floor: ‘No stone unturned’, consisting of ‘rocks’, which Carolyn cut and folded from paper she hand-printed, using a monotype technique.

‘No stone unturned’ by Carolyn Murphy

The ‘Verdant’ exhibition also includes work by Middlesex University MA Graphic Design, Photography and Illustration students, as well as postgraduate research students. It’s free and in a lovely spot in the park, just 5 minutes from Mile End underground station.

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(re)FLEX exhibition

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Carolyn Murphy will be part of the (re)FLEX exhibition, with other Middlesex University MA Fine Art and Fine Art Printmaking students, this Easter. It’s the first time this group of emerging artists has exhibited together. The group will show new and experimental work at Filet gallery, in Hoxton, London.

The exhibition opens on Thursday 14 April 2022. Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate this contemporary and playful new show with artists at different stages of their practice.

(re)FLEX exhibition at Filet

“For Fine Art staff and students at Middlesex University, public exhibition is an essential part of art practice, and this exciting show is an engaging snapshot of the diverse and dynamic range of practices currently being explored by the emerging contemporary artists undertaking postgraduate study on the Middlesex Fine Art programmes”, said John Timberlake, Programme Leader for MA Fine Art and MA Fine Art Printmaking.

Carolyn will be showing two new pieces of work – both monotypes, inspired by the poet Imtiaz Dharker’s poem ‘Tissue’.

(re)FLEX is open 11.00 until 17.00 from 14 April to 19 April 2022 (inclusive) at Filet, 103 Murray Grove, Hoxton, London N1 7QP.

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Postcard for Twitter Art Exhibit 2022

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Carolyn Murphy is donating a postcard-sized original artwork to this year’s Twitter Art Exhibit in York. A regular contributor to TAE, Carolyn created an etching for the 2022 charity art sale. ‘Staying local’ is hand-coloured with watercolours and it’s based on a sketch she made during the lockdowns last year. The work shows a scene on her doorstep and holds onto the small patches of nature in the urban environment.

‘Staying local’, an original etching by Carolyn Murphy

‘Staying local’ and over a thousand other artworks will go on sale at the charity art sale on Saturday 25 June, and online, in aid of the Encephalitis Society. To find out more about Twitter Art Exhibit, check out them out on Twitter @twitartexhibit or via the Twitter Art Exhibit website. This year, Carolyn has contributed blog posts as one of the volunteer official Twitter Art Exhibit bloggers. You can see posts from Carolyn and others here.

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New member of the Printmakers Council

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Carolyn Murphy is now a member of the Printmakers Council. Carolyn joined in August this year after following some of the zoom talks by artist members on the organisation’s website. “I really enjoyed watching the member talks on the website, during recent lockdowns. I also got the chance to see the ‘Natural World’ online exhibition of members’ work. These inspired me to join,” explained Carolyn. “I am planning to balance my time between London and Manchester, over the next few years, so I hope to be able to visit future London shows in person and contribute fully to the Printmakers Council in time.”

The organisation formed in 1965 to promote new developments within printmaking and it has consistently promoted the place of printmaking in the visual arts since then. The organisation is artist-run and non-profit-making. In recent years, the Printmakers Council has organised exhibitions in London, across the UK as well as internationally.

‘Singing Ringing Tree II’, linocut, by Carolyn Murphy

Carolyn is excited to be a new member of the organisation and plans to contribute work for selection to future exhibitions. You can check out her profile page here. Her linocut ‘Singing Ringing Tree II’ was accepted into the Printmakers Council Archive at Scarborough Museums Trust. The archive dates from 1992.

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.

20:20 time of year

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This is that time of year when around 500 printmakers, up and down the the country, and some overseas have submitted their 20:20 edition of prints. Carolyn Murphy has taken part in this print exchange since 2011, as part of Prospect Studios Printmakers or Hot Bed Press, or both.

The 20 x 20 cm prints are now being sorted in Salford at Hot Bed Press before being redistributed back to all the print workshops who are participating this year.

Previews below of Carolyn’s 20:20 linocut, called Regenerating:

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New to North Wales Print Fair 2018

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On Saturday 10 November and Sunday 11 November, Carolyn Murphy joins a fantastic line-up of over 45 printmakers from across the UK at this year’s North Wales Print Fair. The Print Fair takes place at Llandudno’s Mostyn Gallery, with its beautiful Edwardian spaces.

The North Wales Print Fair is in its second year and is organised in partnership with the Regional Print Centre in Wrexham. Open 10.30 am to 5pm both days, the Fair is a fantastic opportunity for shoppers to buy affordable and original art direct from the artists, in plenty of time for Christmas.

‘View from the Top’ linocut by Carolyn Murphy
‘Gulls’ linocut by Carolyn Murphy

This is Carolyn’s first time at the North Wales Print Fair. She’ll be showing original limited edition linocuts and etchings on her stall, some created specifically for the event, alongside her cards and new Christmas cards.

Everyone is very welcome. There will also be relief print and monoprint workshops and demonstrations from Ffowndri and a pop-up café at Mostyn over the Print Fair Weekend.

Work currently available to buy can be found in the Shop.

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. 

Heading for North Wales Print Fair in November

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Carolyn Murphy will be taking part in the 2018 North Wales Print Fair / Mostyn Print Fair, which takes place in Llandudno on November 10-11. This is the first time she has shown work in North Wales. Carolyn will have new work for sale, both framed and unframed, at the Print Fair.

“I’m delighted to be going to the North Wales Print Fair both days and I’m really looking forward to talking to visitors and meeting lovers of printmaking and affordable art”, said Carolyn.

You can now also buy unframed work on-line via Carolyn’s website Shop.

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