Peter Green: Sixty Years of Printmaking

Peter Green studied at Brighton College of Art, and later at the Institute of Education at the University of London. He later became Head of Art Teacher Training at Hornsey College of Art, and then Dean of Art and Design at Middlesex University. Alongside teaching, Peter has always continued to make his own prints, and in 1958 he was elected to the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers. In the 1960s and 70s he made a series of prints, mainly woodcuts and stencils, for London Graphic Arts. In 1988 he was awarded the OBE in recognition of his work.

Peter Green has always been anxious to demystify the printing process, making it as simple and accessible as possible. For his relief printing, he does not use a press. Although this was initially a practical response to limitations of space and money, Green soon realised the advantages of printing by hand. Producing work in this way allowed him to explore the full depth of a cut block, and to control gradations of pressure and tone without any limit on paper size. Much of Peter's work also features the use of paper stencils, where colour is rolled through a cut shape directly onto the paper's surface.

The images Green produces have a variety of origins, but usually emerge as part of the printing process itself rather than from extensive preliminary drawings. The initial proofed image may suggest, for example, a fantasy landscape form, which progressively grows into something more abstract, composed of vibrant colour and shapes.

Working with St Jude's and with the Emma Mason Gallery, this exhibition brings together a selection of Green's work from the past sixty years, which is being exhibited alongside new works produced this year.

Curator of Mascalls Gallery, Rebecca Hone, says 'we are delighted to be exhibiting the work of Peter Green in Paddock Wood. I am personally a huge fan of his work, and I am sure that this exhibition will be appreciated both by those already familiar with his work and those for whom he is a new and exciting discovery”.

The exhibition continues until Saturday 5 September 2015.

Events

Saturday 4 July

9.30-4.30pm

Looking at the printmaking techniques of Peter Green, join artist Elizabeth Harbour in a linocut and stencil print workshop.

Tickets £42 (inc materials)

Saturday 8 August

4pm

Join Peter Green in conversation as he discusses his prolific career as a printmaker and the work he is currently producing.

Tickets £7 (£5 concessions)

Thursday 3 September

10-5pm

A tour of selected printmaking studios in West Kent, to meet artists and watch demonstrations of a variety of printmaking techniques.

£24 (minibus provided)