Edwina Ellis
Edwina Ellis is a pioneering Australian-born printmaker and engraver renowned for some of the most technically elaborate engravings ever made.
We first came across her prints in the Oxford Gallery in 1984 and couldn’t believe that they were handmade prints; the detail was exquisite and they were so far removed from the traditional idea of a wood engraving with their vibrant colour and exotic subjects.
The technical expertise required to conceive, engrave and print three colour blocks for each image - in editions of up to 100 - with such precision is astonishing. To achieve this Edwina developed unique engraving and printing methods, often using a mix of traditional tools and modern technology, including the use of polymer blocks rather than traditional boxwood - which didn't have the precision necessary.
Since 1985 we have had many exhibitions of her prints, particularly her engravings inspired by outback journeys in Australia and travel to India, Spain, Morocco and Africa. Her still lives and garden pictures were always particularly desirable. In an exhibition in 1989 we sold the larger part of the Ginger Jars edition - the last two remaining from the archive are available for sale here.
Beyond her fine art prints held in international collections, Edwina is widely recognized for her significant design commissions, including the "Bridge" series of British one-pound coins for the Royal Mint which you may have frequently held unkowingly in your hand, the masthead for The Times newspaper, and a notable architectural poster for London Transport, two images from that series are included here. Her recent work has expanded to include lino and vinyl cuts, often incorporating a sly sense of humour and a sophisticated interplay of image and abstraction.
To mark our 40th Anniversary exhibition, Edwina has sent a selection of the early prints from 1985-1996.
In most cases these are the last prints available from the edition.
We first came across her prints in the Oxford Gallery in 1984 and couldn’t believe that they were handmade prints; the detail was exquisite and they were so far removed from the traditional idea of a wood engraving with their vibrant colour and exotic subjects.
The technical expertise required to conceive, engrave and print three colour blocks for each image - in editions of up to 100 - with such precision is astonishing. To achieve this Edwina developed unique engraving and printing methods, often using a mix of traditional tools and modern technology, including the use of polymer blocks rather than traditional boxwood - which didn't have the precision necessary.
Since 1985 we have had many exhibitions of her prints, particularly her engravings inspired by outback journeys in Australia and travel to India, Spain, Morocco and Africa. Her still lives and garden pictures were always particularly desirable. In an exhibition in 1989 we sold the larger part of the Ginger Jars edition - the last two remaining from the archive are available for sale here.
Beyond her fine art prints held in international collections, Edwina is widely recognized for her significant design commissions, including the "Bridge" series of British one-pound coins for the Royal Mint which you may have frequently held unkowingly in your hand, the masthead for The Times newspaper, and a notable architectural poster for London Transport, two images from that series are included here. Her recent work has expanded to include lino and vinyl cuts, often incorporating a sly sense of humour and a sophisticated interplay of image and abstraction.
To mark our 40th Anniversary exhibition, Edwina has sent a selection of the early prints from 1985-1996.
In most cases these are the last prints available from the edition.
