Science, technology and art work hand-in hand in original printmaking and artists are required to hone their skills not only in their creative thinking and means of expression but also in refining their practical abilities.

The Lumen Print collection, curated by Northern Print, the North East’s centre for original printmaking, celebrates talent from across the UK on a theme of ‘light’. Three of the six selected artists are based in the North East: Anja Percival and Eunice Routledge have studios in County Durham and Rachael Clewlow is a graduate of Newcastle University and is now based at Cobalt Studios in Newcastle’s cultural quarter of Ouseburn

Northern Print has worked with Rachael Clewlow a number of times since her 2013 exhibition Orders of Scale alongside Alex Charrington and Nick Kennedy. Her process of depicting  transferring details of the journeys she makes from painstakingly neat diaries to graphic form is methodical to the point of becoming almost scientific in nature.  A short film for Lumen by Newcastle based filmmaker Alan Fentiman documents Clewlow’s rigorous process from conception to realisation. It is part of a series of films made to launch The Lumen Print Collection.

Reflecting upon Clewlow’s work Northern Print’s Director Anna Wilkinson said,

“We really value being able to support the region’s graduates as they develop their professional practice. Part of this is about getting to know each artist and understanding their work and interests over a longer timeframe. This means we can match artists to projects and shape opportunities to be even more valuable. The idea of a commission relating to Joseph Swann and the connection to the city seemed really suited to Rachael’s way of working and avoided perhaps more obvious responses to the theme. We hope that the commission opened up new ideas for Rachael in her work  as well as showcasing the quality of printmaking in the city."

At a time when for many people working in the cultural sector is proving to be a challenge, The Lumen Print Collection project has been a very positive collaboration between the creative industries and private sector. The series of artist films by Alan Fentiman will continue to be released throughout September and October.