Sarah Seddon

I studied Fine Art at University College, Falmouth obtaining my degree in 2010. I work from my studio at home and the John Howard studio in Penryn and I exhibit my work at Whitewater Gallery, Polzeath and in exhibitions locally. My work has been selected for the “Imagine” exhibition at Falmouth Art Gallery.

My prints are developed using traditional metal plate etching, where each final image is individually hand wiped and a set number (usually 10) produced.

In 2020 I had a solo exhibition to celebrate the completion of my series of 20prints based on the Goya “Les Caprichos” which I created during and since my degree. For me they are a way of expressing concerns about things that have affected me, and current issues of our time. By setting them in an allotment, I hope that they work both on face value and with a deeper meaning for the viewer’s interpretation. Goya similarly used allegory to express his feelings about the state of his country in his day. I also admire his compositions and print techniques; he was a leading light in the use of aquatint, which is of special interest to me.

working on a plate in the studio

A work in progress

This is a plate I am working on at the moment.

I grow artichokes in my vegetable garden. This year they have been especially magnificent and when we sat down to eat one I thought I must make this into a print! I always take several photographs and make sketches before deciding what to make into a print. I was interested to see how the outside leaves curved and locked together, but a cut section showing the inside fascinated me as well.

There are many methods of getting an image on a plate, but I will explain the one I have used here. I start by putting a ground (like melted wax) on the plate, and with needle like tools push through this to make a line drawing. The plate is then put in acid to “bite” where the metal has been exposed with the drawing.

The next process is to add the tones if required. Having engraved the initial line drawing on the plate, a fine dust is shaken on the plate (this process is called aquatint). A stop out varnish (a treacle like liquid which prevents the acid getting to the image) is gradually painted between dipping in acid, working from light tones to dark.

Once the darkest tone has been achieved the stop out ground is removed. The plate has ink spread all over it and pushed into the surface, then gradually wiped off, leaving the ink to stay in the bitten areas. Each image is individually hand wiped.

Finally the plate is placed on the press and damp paper put on top before going through the press and revealing what you hope is a magical image! I like to use zinc for a metal and for my final images, Somerset paper.

Exhibitions

2024
Imagine, Falmouth Art Gallery
Members exhibition, The Poly, Falmouth
Cornish Seaweed Festival, Marazion

2023
Creek Art and Crafts, Devoran
Prime Women Artists, Truro High School
Open studios, Devoran

2022
Imagine, Falmouth Art Gallery
Source Exhibition, Devoran – a collaborative exhibition with 7 other artists following the two rivers leading into Devoran Creek.
A1 monoprints shown during a performance of the poem Enoch Arden in St Buryan
John Howard Exhibition, Falmouth
Creek Arts and Crafts Exhibition, Mylor

2021
A1 mono prints shown during a performance of the poem Enoch Arden in St Anthony in Meneague Church.
Creek Art and Crafts Exhibition, Devoran

2020
20 Etchings Solo Exhibition, Penryn
20 Etchings Artist of the month, Whitewater Gallery, Polzeath
John Howard Print Exhibition, Falmouth

2019
John Howard Print Exhibition, Falmouth
Imagine, Falmouth Art Gallery
Creek Arts and Crafts Exhibition, Devoran

2023
Kober ,open Print exhibition, Truro School
John Howard Print Exhibition, Falmouth
Creek Arts and Crafts, Devoran
Fuse Exhibition, Falmouth
Kober, Open Print exhibition, Truro School
John Howard Print Exhibition, Falmouth

2017
Whitewater Gallery, Polzeath
John Howard Print Exhibition, Falmouth
Creative Arts and Crafts, Devoran, Cornwall (March)
Creative Arts and Crafts, Devoran (November)
Art Fund, Cornwall Branch, Private exhibition, Polzeath

2016
Open Studios, Devoran, Cornwall
John Howard Print Exhibition, St Ives, Cornwall
John Howard Print Exhibition, Falmouth
Imagine Falmouth, Falmouth Art Gallery’s Open submission exhibition.
Creative Arts and Crafts, Falmouth

2015 John Howard Print Exhibition, Falmouth

2014
Open Studios, Devoran, Cornwall
John Howard Print Exhibition, St Ives
John Howard Print Exhibition, Penryn
Blue Space, Mixed Exhibition, Porthleven
Artist of the month, Alverton Gallery, Penzance

2013
Out of Context Exhibition, Morvah, West Cornwall
John Howard Print Exhibition, Falmouth

2012
Out of Context Mixed Exhibition, Trelissick, Truro
Out of Context Group Exhibition, Love Cornwall, Morvah, West Cornwall
John Howard Print Exhibition, Falmouth

2011
Out of Context Group Exhibition, Trelissick, Truro
Open Studios, Devoran, Cornwall
John Howard Print Exhibition, Falmouth
Chapel Gallery, Gluval, Penzance
A4 Print Exhibition, Falmouth

2010
John Howard Print Exhibition, Falmouth
Fine Art degree show
A4 Print Exhibition, Penryn

2009 John Howard Print Exhibition, Falmouth.

2008
John Howard Print exhibition, Falmouth
Fine Art mid term exhibition, Falmouth

2005 Mixed exhibition of the work of 5 Foundation artists