“Bwenge” - original linocut print. oil based ink on Somerset paper.

In 2008 the status of Mountain Gorillas changed from “Critically Endangered” to “Endangered”. They are the only great ape whose numbers are increasing, from 480 to just over 1000 in 2018. They are found in small areas of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I have been lucky enough to track gorillas twice, once in Rwanda and once in Uganda.


Bwenge was the son of legendary gorilla Titus, he was head of his own small family group. I had the honour of sitting with them for a short while, in the wilds of Parc des Volcans, Rwanda. Despite growing numbers, the fate of mountain gorillas still hangs in the balance. They face many challenges, one of which is increasing numbers living in decreasing areas of habitat. The chance of family groups coming into contact with lone silverbacks is higher, often with tragic consequences. Bwenge died in his prime, at the age of 25, after a such an altercation with a lone silverback. There is much to do in finding a balance between conserving a species, and giving both gorillas and humans the land they need to survive.

A new bestiary and herbarium for at risk species by artists from Northern Print.

“Endless Forms Most Beautiful” is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to support visits, new printmaking and school’s programme for this project.

Northern Print artists bring together traditional printmaking and the natural world with a series of new prints highlighting the diversity of species that are categorised as ‘at risk’.

The ‘endless forms’ include marine life; plants; birds; insects and mammals with many familiar and much-loved species as well as less known and intriguing creatures that have captured the imagination and hearts of Northern Print’s artists.

This exhibition of 45 new prints has been made following a series of visits to our region’s natural history collections and habitats and represents the tiniest tip of the iceberg of our natural world under threat.

The artwork includes a range of approaches and printmaking processes – including heritage craft skills also deemed at risk including letterpress and mould-made papers