Artworks by Sue Roe

I am an artist/printmaker living in South West London. I work from home and my most prized possession is my printing press.

When I'm working I am totally absorbed in the process and although printmaking can be frustrating, it is also very rewarding. In my opinion you cannot achieve the look of the original hand produced print with any other media.

I am particularly interested in capturing texture in my prints and I love the embossed look of collagraph prints. Collagraph printing plates can be made from anything that will go through the press and not damage the blankets or rollers.  This could include cardboard, paper, sandpaper, sand, tea leaves, rice, glue, paint - the list is endless.

Every item used will hold a different amount of ink and therefore print a different tone. The more texture an item has the more ink it holds eg. sand will print very dark, gesso prints a middle tone, whereas varnish will print a very light tone.

Once everything is securely glued to the printing plate (usually mountboard), it is sealed with acrylic varnish to make it more durable.  The plate can be printed intaglio or relief or both.  The way the plate is inked and wiped determines the tones within the image.

I am a very experimental printmaker and I don't believe you ever stop learning.

in addition to printmaking I enjoy working with watercolours. I love playing with colour and light.