Michael Atkin printmaker of etchings, lino-prints and wood engravings

The Fylingdales Group of Artists

Founders Page

Michael Atkin

Secretary of

The Fylingdales Group of Artists since 2006

Member since 1996

Email: Michael Atkin

Web site: Michael Atkin

www.brackenpress.com

Printmaker

Publisher

Etchings

Linocuts

Wood Engravings

Limited edition books

My prints have a storyline quality, they are interpretations of an incident that I may have seen or heard and developed, and eventually committed to either the etching plate, lino print or limited edition book The curve in a particular field set against a backdrop of trees or buildings can conjure a setting in which I create my imagery. The people in my etchings help to give scale to the landscape, often dwarfed by the trees, a chance encounter, an amusement of one sort or another. Each image tells its own story of people within the encompassing landscape. Recently I have started to wood engrave on boxwood end grain, a difficult medium, but it does allow for greater detail.

I prefer to work from prepared drawings to the size of the intended plate using either copper or zinc. Several proofs are taken before a fine rosin aquatint is laid which when bitten creates the tonal qualities of the print. Etching is not a precise science, one has to adapt to the vagaries of nitric acid, which often is unpredictable. I print editions of up to 60 prints with six artist’s proofs, after which the plate is destroyed. Recently i have reduced the edition size to just 30 copies + 3 artist's prrofs to enable me to create more images.

During my etching career, I have worked as a printer at Thomas Ross’s (London), Ebenezer Press (Graham Clarke) and Petersburg Press (London), Atelier Bellini, Paris; editioning etchings and lino prints. Founded Bracken Press in 1974 to publish the artist's limited edition prints and books.

My prints retail between £45.00 and £350.00.

Limited edition fine art ‘private press’ books £100 to £2500.00

Michael is also an Exhibiting Member of Leeds Fine Artists.

One Man Exhibitions:-

Billingham Art Gallery. '82. Crescent Art Gallery, Scarborough. '75. '77. '78. Dovecot Arts Centre, Darlington. '81. '82.Gallerie Du Chapitre, Paris. '77. '78. '79. '80. Hotel Drout, Paris. '77. '80. Middlesbrough Art Gallery. '80. Pannett Art Gallery, Whitby. '74. '77.2007. Theatre in the Round, Scarborough '78. '80. '82. '86. '90. '95. '99. 2002.2005 2007 2010. Sewerby Hall 2005, Pannett Art Gallery, Whitby 2007,

Mixed Exhibitons:-

Artcurial, Paris. '81. '84. '86. Blackheath Gallery, London. '95. '96. '98. Cleveland Printmakers Response Exhibition. '78.Cooper Art Gallery. Barnsley. '80. (Touring) Ferens Exhibition, Hull. Yearly '84- - 2006 Fiac, Paris. '77.'79. '84.'86 Print 2000, York City Art Gallery. Graffik Exhibition, Scunthorpe. '95. '97.Jeunes Gravures Anglais, Paris. '76. '80. '82. '84. Manchester Academy of Fine Arts Open. '93. '94. Middlesbrough Open. '93. '94. '99. New English Art Club, Mall Galleries. '92. Scarborough Open. '91. '92. '94. '96. '98. '2000. 2003. Szcecin, Poland. '79. '85. The Open & Closed Book. V & A Museum, London. '79. Yorkshire Artist's Biennial. '85. '87. '90. '92. '94. '96. '98. Dover Prize. '98. '99. Silver Longboat Competition (Prizewinner '88.'89.'90'.) Artist in Industry (Touring) '80. Sewerby Hall, Bridlington 2005 Open Studios Exhibition Mercer Gallery, Harrogate 2006, First Class Exhibitions, Maidstone, Kent 2006, Ashford, Kent 2006, Dartford, Kent, 2006, Folkstone, Kent 2006. Spiral Gallery, N.Yorkshire 2005. Beverley Art Gallery Jan-April 2008 Tatham, Lancashire 2008, Stockdale Gallery, Whitby. Wave Contemporary, Robin Hood's Bay. Calder Gallery,'09.'10, '11, '12. Craft & Design Centre Leeds,'09. Cooper Art Gallery, Barnsley, '09. The Fylingdales Group of Artists yearly 1996-2017 Chantry House Gallery, Artsbank, Yorkshire Wolds Gallery, Calder Gallery, Potterton Books, London. The Davies Company. The Great North Art Show. Newcastle Art fair. Neiman Fine Art, Germany. The Picture Place Gallery. Coast Gallery. Harrogate Art Show 2013, Ferrers Gallery ‘Fine Lines exhibition 2013. 2014 Scarborough Open, Green Man Gallery, Bianco Nero, Window Gallery, Brighton Cafe 68, Gillygate, York Dean Clough 2015,2016. Zillah Bell 2015/ 2016/2017 Maidonbridge Arts Centre 2015,2016,2017.

Books:-

'An Alphabet of Scarborough'

Limited edition book, 26 images of Scarborough, hardbound by Smith Settle

Edition of 26 copies. Spring 2017

'The Scarborough Tragedy' Limited edition book, 18 etchings, un-sewn, full leather binding with gold blocked spine. Edition 75 copies , 7 artist's proofs. May 1974. (SOLD OUT)

'Beggars Bridge' Limited edition book 18 etchings, un-sewn, 1/4 leather decorated end papers, gold blocked spine. Edition 75 copies 7 artist's proofs. May 1977.(SOLD OUT)

'Blue' Limited edition book, 10 etchings, hardbound 1/4 cloth with decorated endpapers Edition 56 copies, 5 Artist's proofs. February. 1990. (SOLD OUT)

‘A tail of a cat’ Limited edition booklet. 7 lino-cuts with 1 etching. Edition of 30 + 3 artist’s proofs. Paper stiched, hand made paper. March 2013 £100.00 per copy.

'An Almanack' Limited edition

Public Collections:-

Victoria and Albert Museum, London. British Museum, London. Ohio State Library, USA. Bibliotecque Natonale, Paris. National Library of Wales. London College of Printing. Maidstone College of Art. Middlesbrough College of Art. Hartlepool Art Gallery. Cooper Art Gallery, Barnsley, Yorkshire. New York State Library, USA. Canterbury College of Art. Texas State Library. Johannesburg Library.

Private Collections:- Ian Carmichael. Ms L .Kitchingham. Mr & Mrs S.Wood. Bob Watson. Cleo Laine, Sir Alan Ackybourne Texas State University U.S.A. Northern Arts, Newcastle, Ohio University U.S.A.,Stephen Joseph Theatre, London College of Printing, Canterbury College of Art, Hartlepool Council, Des Beux Arts, Paris, Leeds City Council, V & A Museum, London, Teesside College of Art, The British Museum, London, Dover Construction Plc., Middlesbrough Council, Hargreaves Quarries Plc,. George Melly, British Petrolium Plc., Bibliotec Nationale, Paris, Maidstone College of Art, Paul Russell, Inc. Singapore, Liverpool Polytechnic Beverley Art Gallery, National Library of Australia, Beverley Art Gallery, Scarborough Art Gallery. Shell UK. University of Southampton. Stockton Art Gallery.

Work Experience Thomas Ross & Co. Ltd (Printer of antiquarian engravings.) Petersburg Press, London (Printer of artists etchings.) Ebenezer Press, Kent (Studio assistant, books/ etchings/ Lino-prints) Atellier Bellini, Paris (Commissioner of artists prints.) Atellier du Chapitre, Paris (Gallery Manager)

Awards Artist in Industry. '79.‘81, Elected Member of Fylingdales Group. 1996, Highly Commended Silver Longboat Competition. '94. '95., Northern Arts Travel Award. '77. '79. ’82. Printmaker in Residence Teesside College of Art. '84. '86. Prizewinner Silver Longboat Competition, '92.Exhibtiing art with Leeds Fine Artists 2014 - onwards