I don’t always know where an idea for a print will end up when I begin a piece of work. My designs tend to grow from experience rather than intention — a moment, an observation, or a feeling rooted in a particular place and time that lingers longer than expected.
When I was invited to take part in a group exhibition in a Lincoln gallery, with Cityscapes as the theme, I jumped at the chance. Although my work usually leans towards rural scenes, gardens and still life compositions, this felt like a wonderful opportunity to broaden my practice — to explore architecture, a different kind of skyline, and a new setting altogether.
As with all my linocut prints, the process began with sketches drawn from observation, so I arranged a visit to this fascinating ancient city.
Lincoln is a joy to wander. A cathedral crowns the hill, a castle sits nearby, there are countless historic buildings and, standing between terraced houses, there is a windmill. Even as I drove towards the city, the cathedral rising majestically in the distance, I knew this place would offer rich inspiration for a new print or two.
When I stepped through the vast doors of the cathedral, I was met with an unexpected sight — a camera crew preparing to film in a discreet corner of the building. I later discovered they were there to capture footage of a pair of peregrine falcons that had chosen one of the cathedral’s towers as a safe place to raise their chicks.
The idea stayed with me. How remarkable that these ancient stones, high above the city, continue to provide sanctuary — not only for people across centuries, but now for wildlife too.
From there, I made my way to the castle, just a short walk along the cobbled street. With an audio guide in hand, I wandered the ramparts, absorbing both the history and the sweeping views across the city.
Looking out over the rooftops towards the cathedral, I paused to make a quick sketch. Below me were generations of homes and businesses — lives lived and layered over hundreds of years — all under the constant, watchful presence of the cathedral above.
Back in my studio, the real design process began. I asked myself the usual questions: What size and shape should the print be? What elements should I include? Which techniques and colours would best serve the story I wanted to tell?
After further sketching and note-taking, I transferred the final design onto lino. The composition brings together the clustered rooftops beneath the castle walls and the intricate architecture of the cathedral — a structure shaped by the hands of countless craftsmen over many years. And there, soaring towards its nest, is the peregrine falcon, finding sanctuary high above the city within the cathedral walls.
I chose to use a multi-block printing method so I could experiment with different sky colours, creating a varied edition. The simplicity of the sky allows the detail of the main print to really sing — drawing the eye to both the city below and the quiet story unfolding above it.
You can find this print in my Shop
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