The story of the Scott 250 print

I was commssioned to produce a series of limited edition prints to celebrate the 250th annversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth in 2021. I’m an artist and printmaker based in the Scottish Borders, and started off by visiting Abbotsford House with my sketchbook. The house and grounds are just beautiful and so full of Scott’s character. On my first visit I toured the house and grounds, sketching and gathering materials from the grounds to print. It is difficult not to be struck by how much Scott loved nature - the gardens, the trees, the Tweed - and although the landscape has changed considerably over the last 200 years, the essence remains. In every room in the house, I could imagine Scott gazing out of the window, longing to be out there.

Having this sense of Scott’s love of nature, which was really brought to life by his diaries, I chose to focus on that, using the quote “Wood, water and wildness have an irresistible charm for me” The limited edition drypoint etching and monoprint was hand printed onto handmade paper (from Tidekettle in Berwick) on my etching press. It depicts Scott and his beloved dog Maida gazing out to the Tweed. The leaves and feather were gathered on a trip to Abbotsford, inked and printed directly onto the paper. There is a limited edition of 20, and each one is unique - the combination of handmade paper and natural elements made each one a surprise!

In addition to the set of original prints, they are also available as an A4 giclee print and additional products.

How the print was made

Each of the twenty original prints is unique and combines two printmaking techniques drypoint (the drawing) and monoprint. They are all on handmade paper, which contributes to the natural, one of a kind look.

Drypoint etching

This is an intaglio printing method. The design is scratched into the surface or plate using sharp tools like needles, etching wheels or blades. The plate is covered in ink, wiped and printed onto damp paper using my coverted mangle press.

Drypoint plate

The prints

Mangle press

Snapshot of the print

Monoprinting leaves

I collected a selection of leaves and feathers from Abbotsford in the Autumn. Some of these leaves were inked with printmaking ink (I use environmentally friendly AKUA soy based inks) on the printing press.