Graham Clarke: A Retrospective – 65 Years of Printmaking

About

Graham Clarke is internationally renowned for his wonderfully detailed, often humorous arch-topped limited-edition etchings, produced entirely by hand from start to finish. They celebrate his love of the Kent countryside, boats and the sea, Cornwall, travel to Europe and beyond, comic misinterpretations of history, Shakespeare and much more besides.

Graham sold his first work to a neighbour at the age of eight and at this point his career as an artist began. His interest in printmaking developed during his time at Beckenham School of Art and the Royal College of Art. He set about depicting the beauty of rural life and went on to learn the process of copperplate etching enabling him to include more detail in his images. His work won him recognition from the foremost art patron of the day, Sir Kenneth Clark. In 1973 he came to public attention when his etching ‘Dance by the Light of the Moon’ featured in the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition where the edition sold out. His work is now held by many collections and museums including the Victoria and Albert Museum, British Museum, Tate Gallery, New York Public Library and the Hiroshima Peace Museum; but what pleases him most is that it is enjoyed in homes all over the world. The most frequent comment being, ‘We’ve had this on our wall for years and we still keep finding something new to enjoy’.

The exhibition will be an opportunity to see a vast collection of Graham’s etchings, watercolours and block prints, alongside sketchbooks and paraphernalia used to inspire and produce his work. It promises to be an entertaining glimpse into the world of Graham and his work of the past 65 years. Guaranteed to lift your spirits and make you smile.

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