Rachel's artwork explores the concept of 'nature' and its relationship with human beings.
She creates contemporary still lifes, more accurately natureza morta (dead nature). The majority of Rachel's prints depict animals, plants and objects which float in 'empty space', devoid of background or context. These works pay homage to the transience of living beings and allude to the effects of human activity upon the natural world. They reflect her interests in cabinets of curiosities, anthrozoology, natural history and the cultures of the Far East and Portugal.
Actual three dimensional specimens of flora, fauna and occasionally man-made objects provide the basis for her printmaking.She uses these objects to produce life-size gyotaku and nature prints. These particular techniques provide a means of working through ideas. Sometimes these are developed further, translating them into other printmaking mediums or combining them with other printmaking processes.
Rachel produces limited editions and unique pieces including artists books, printed collages and installations. Aromas are an integral element of her installations. A waft of fragrance helps to evoke memories and create an emotional response which goes far beyond and deeper than the purely visual experience.
In 2005 Rachel settled in Olhão, Portugal. A place which informs her work and provides a wealth of subject matter. Previously, she lived in London for twenty-one years where she studied printmaking and worked in art colleges, universities and community arts projects. Also, part-time, voluntary work as a member of East London Printmakers, helping to acquire equipment and materials to establish safe printmaking practises.
Rachel was born in Kowloon, Hong Kong and grew up beside the sea in Suffolk, UK.
Education
2009 - 2014 PhD Art & Design, by research thesis.
Faculdade de Belas Artes, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Thesis title, Gyotaku: Its Origins and Relationship with Art and Science.
1992 - 1994 MA Fine Art (Printmaking)
Royal College of Art, London, UK.
RCA Japan Scholarship, one semester at the Kyoto City University of the Arts, Kyoto, Japan.
1989 - 1992 BA (Hons.) 2:1 Fine Art (Printmaking)
Central St. Martins College of Art & Design, London, UK.
Erasmus Programme, one semester at the Hochschule der Kunst, Berlin, Germany.
Artist in Residence
May - June 2022 - ECRN, European Creative Rooftop Network. Antwerpen, Chemnitz & Faro partners
My project 'Urban Nature' was selected for the ECRN artist in residence, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. Based in Faro, Portugal and Chemnitz, Germany. I created a series of new prints on pre-used textiles and provided nature printing workshops at the 2022 Kosmos - Chemnitz Festival and the Acoteia num dia at the Fábrica de Cerveja in Faro.
31 October 2013 - May 31 2018 I was invited as the gyotaku artist for CACHE-ITN.
This science project, 'Calcium in a Changing Environment' studied the impact of climate change in oysters, mussels, clams and scallops. This project was funded by the European Union, Marie Curie Initial Training Network. www.sams.ac.uk/science/projects/cache
October 2016 - Leaping Salmon Gyotaku, Northumberland, UK.
I was invited as the gyotaku artist for the Leaping Salmon Project. The annual salmon migration along the North Tyne river formed the inspiration for this project developed in partnership with; Queen's Hall Arts, Northern Print, the Environment Agency and Northumberland National Parks as part of the 2016 International Print Biennale. This residency was funded by Northumbrian Water.
August 2015 - Fundação Bienal de Cerveira, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal.
I was awarded a residencey from the Fundação Bienal de Cerveira which enabled me to stay in the Jaime Isidoro's Artist's House during the biennial exhibition. I created prints based on the Moinho river.
August 2014 - Seacourt Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Bangor, Northern Ireland.
I was selected as artist in residence and created a new series of prints based on the seaweeds of the Irish Sea.
The six week residency was funded by North Down Borough Council, Northern Ireland, UK.
Short courses
2012 Scientific Illustration - Taught by Professor Pedro Salgado
Faculdade de Belas Artes, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
2010 The Nature Printing Society Annual Workshop
Direct gyotaku taught by Dr. Chris Dewees PhD, indirect gyotaku taught by Master Mineo Yamamoto.
Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Coos Bay, Oregon, USA.
2009 Intensive Japanese Woodblock Printing- Taught by Professor Hiroshi Maruyama
Faculdade de Belas Artes, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
2008 Intensive Scientific illustration Course- Taught by Dr. Fernando Correia
Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal.
Membership
Since 2006 I have been a member of the Nature Printing Society.
In 2010 I attended the NPS Annual Workshop at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Coo's Bay, Oregon, USA.
I became a Lifetime Member in 2014. www.natureprintingsociety.org
2012, I was invited to be a founder member of Oficina Bartolomeu dos Santos, Print Studio, Tavira, Portugal.
1998 - 2018 I met Rory Brooke and became one of the founder members of his newly formed group
East London Printmakers. www.eastlondonprintmakers.co.uk
She creates contemporary still lifes, more accurately natureza morta (dead nature). The majority of Rachel's prints depict animals, plants and objects which float in 'empty space', devoid of background or context. These works pay homage to the transience of living beings and allude to the effects of human activity upon the natural world. They reflect her interests in cabinets of curiosities, anthrozoology, natural history and the cultures of the Far East and Portugal.
Actual three dimensional specimens of flora, fauna and occasionally man-made objects provide the basis for her printmaking.She uses these objects to produce life-size gyotaku and nature prints. These particular techniques provide a means of working through ideas. Sometimes these are developed further, translating them into other printmaking mediums or combining them with other printmaking processes.
Rachel produces limited editions and unique pieces including artists books, printed collages and installations. Aromas are an integral element of her installations. A waft of fragrance helps to evoke memories and create an emotional response which goes far beyond and deeper than the purely visual experience.
In 2005 Rachel settled in Olhão, Portugal. A place which informs her work and provides a wealth of subject matter. Previously, she lived in London for twenty-one years where she studied printmaking and worked in art colleges, universities and community arts projects. Also, part-time, voluntary work as a member of East London Printmakers, helping to acquire equipment and materials to establish safe printmaking practises.
Rachel was born in Kowloon, Hong Kong and grew up beside the sea in Suffolk, UK.
Education
2009 - 2014 PhD Art & Design, by research thesis.
Faculdade de Belas Artes, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Thesis title, Gyotaku: Its Origins and Relationship with Art and Science.
1992 - 1994 MA Fine Art (Printmaking)
Royal College of Art, London, UK.
RCA Japan Scholarship, one semester at the Kyoto City University of the Arts, Kyoto, Japan.
1989 - 1992 BA (Hons.) 2:1 Fine Art (Printmaking)
Central St. Martins College of Art & Design, London, UK.
Erasmus Programme, one semester at the Hochschule der Kunst, Berlin, Germany.
Artist in Residence
May - June 2022 - ECRN, European Creative Rooftop Network. Antwerpen, Chemnitz & Faro partners
My project 'Urban Nature' was selected for the ECRN artist in residence, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. Based in Faro, Portugal and Chemnitz, Germany. I created a series of new prints on pre-used textiles and provided nature printing workshops at the 2022 Kosmos - Chemnitz Festival and the Acoteia num dia at the Fábrica de Cerveja in Faro.
31 October 2013 - May 31 2018 I was invited as the gyotaku artist for CACHE-ITN.
This science project, 'Calcium in a Changing Environment' studied the impact of climate change in oysters, mussels, clams and scallops. This project was funded by the European Union, Marie Curie Initial Training Network. www.sams.ac.uk/science/projects/cache
October 2016 - Leaping Salmon Gyotaku, Northumberland, UK.
I was invited as the gyotaku artist for the Leaping Salmon Project. The annual salmon migration along the North Tyne river formed the inspiration for this project developed in partnership with; Queen's Hall Arts, Northern Print, the Environment Agency and Northumberland National Parks as part of the 2016 International Print Biennale. This residency was funded by Northumbrian Water.
August 2015 - Fundação Bienal de Cerveira, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal.
I was awarded a residencey from the Fundação Bienal de Cerveira which enabled me to stay in the Jaime Isidoro's Artist's House during the biennial exhibition. I created prints based on the Moinho river.
August 2014 - Seacourt Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Bangor, Northern Ireland.
I was selected as artist in residence and created a new series of prints based on the seaweeds of the Irish Sea.
The six week residency was funded by North Down Borough Council, Northern Ireland, UK.
Short courses
2012 Scientific Illustration - Taught by Professor Pedro Salgado
Faculdade de Belas Artes, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
2010 The Nature Printing Society Annual Workshop
Direct gyotaku taught by Dr. Chris Dewees PhD, indirect gyotaku taught by Master Mineo Yamamoto.
Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Coos Bay, Oregon, USA.
2009 Intensive Japanese Woodblock Printing- Taught by Professor Hiroshi Maruyama
Faculdade de Belas Artes, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
2008 Intensive Scientific illustration Course- Taught by Dr. Fernando Correia
Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal.
Membership
Since 2006 I have been a member of the Nature Printing Society.
In 2010 I attended the NPS Annual Workshop at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Coo's Bay, Oregon, USA.
I became a Lifetime Member in 2014. www.natureprintingsociety.org
2012, I was invited to be a founder member of Oficina Bartolomeu dos Santos, Print Studio, Tavira, Portugal.
1998 - 2018 I met Rory Brooke and became one of the founder members of his newly formed group
East London Printmakers. www.eastlondonprintmakers.co.uk
Public Collections
Alexandria Library, Artists Book Collection, Print Collection, Cairo, Egypt.
Biblioteca Municipal do Barreiro, Graphic Arts Collection, Lisbon, Portugal.
Cornell College, Print Collection, Mount Vernon, Iowa, USA.
Eastern Oregon University, Print Collection, Oregon, USA.
Grafisk Vaerksted, Print Collection, Naestved, Denmark.
Fundação Pedro Ruivo, Art Collection, Conservatório Regional do Algarve Maria Campina, Portugal.
Metropolitan University, Artists Book Collection, London, UK.
Penang State Museum and Art Gallery, Print Collection, Penang, Malaysia.
Port Authority of Santander, Miniature Print Collection, Faro Cabo Mayor Art Center, Cantabria, Spain.
Royal College of Art, Print Collection, London, UK.
Sakima Art Museum, Print Collection, Okinawa, Japan.
Seacourt Print Workshop, Print Collection, Bangor, Northern Ireland, UK.
Sir Kenneth Green Library, Artists Book Collection, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
Tate Britain, Library & Archive Collection, London, UK.
Ty Pawb, Art Gallery, Art Collection, Wrexham, Wales, UK.
Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Prints & Drawing, London, UK.
Private Collections
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA.
Alexandria Library, Artists Book Collection, Print Collection, Cairo, Egypt.
Biblioteca Municipal do Barreiro, Graphic Arts Collection, Lisbon, Portugal.
Cornell College, Print Collection, Mount Vernon, Iowa, USA.
Eastern Oregon University, Print Collection, Oregon, USA.
Grafisk Vaerksted, Print Collection, Naestved, Denmark.
Fundação Pedro Ruivo, Art Collection, Conservatório Regional do Algarve Maria Campina, Portugal.
Metropolitan University, Artists Book Collection, London, UK.
Penang State Museum and Art Gallery, Print Collection, Penang, Malaysia.
Port Authority of Santander, Miniature Print Collection, Faro Cabo Mayor Art Center, Cantabria, Spain.
Royal College of Art, Print Collection, London, UK.
Sakima Art Museum, Print Collection, Okinawa, Japan.
Seacourt Print Workshop, Print Collection, Bangor, Northern Ireland, UK.
Sir Kenneth Green Library, Artists Book Collection, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
Tate Britain, Library & Archive Collection, London, UK.
Ty Pawb, Art Gallery, Art Collection, Wrexham, Wales, UK.
Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Prints & Drawing, London, UK.
Private Collections
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA.
I don't kill animals to make my art
Please note all aquatic and land based specimens for gyotaku and nature printing are acquired from; sustainable fishing supplies, donated from scientific research projects, or found in various habitats when already dead.
Botanical specimens are either grown by myself, family or friends, purchased at local markets, or on the rare occasion that they are collected from nature the environmental impact is always considered.
Please note all aquatic and land based specimens for gyotaku and nature printing are acquired from; sustainable fishing supplies, donated from scientific research projects, or found in various habitats when already dead.
Botanical specimens are either grown by myself, family or friends, purchased at local markets, or on the rare occasion that they are collected from nature the environmental impact is always considered.