Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair was established in 2016 and has become the UK’s largest fair of its kind.
This year, it ran from the 26 -29 October in Woolwich, London.
The bright space and bustling crowd gave the amazing artwork the perfect backdrop to be admired and, for some, bought.
There was a myriad of different styles, compositions and themes, ensuring everyone who attended could find something they enjoyed, as well as something to discuss.
Amanda Powell-Smith said: “I love the variety, and also the fact that these prints are so affordable; we can all have original art that we can enjoy.”
The fair’s mission is to ‘educate collectors and novices alike’ on everything print, from printmaking processes and techniques to giving emerging artists a platform.
This unique aim allows it to continue to be a pioneer in the world of contemporary print.
Printmaking is the activity or occupation of making pictures or designs by printing them from specially prepared plates or blocks.
It is a process that typically allows artists to make multiple original works of art, creating an image on a myriad of materials, such as metal, stone or wood.
As well as the main exhibition, the Young London Print Prize displayed an impressive selection of prints from this amazing opportunity.
The competition invites young Londoners between the ages of 9 and 11 to express their personal response to the climate crisis through print.
The winners this year were spectacularly revealed on the Piccadilly Lights on the 26 October, with the winner depicting a red and black jellyfish drifting in the ocean, entitled ‘Alone, Darkness’. This was created using mono printing with lino blocks.
This amazing scheme runs free sessions of teacher training to kickstart the competition, designed to enhance the skills and aspirations of art teachers in primary schools, then teach pupils how to make prints during in-school workshops, all themed around climate art.
During the fair, they offered many interactive have-a-go stalls, including techniques such as screen-printing, as well as artists creating their work live.
These helped the guests to understand the intricacies of printmaking and admired the work before them even more.
Their approach of working directly with creatives allows them to ‘push the limits of print’, which was shown spectacularly in the exhibition.
With prices starting from £12 (including a free drink!), this was an affordable, enjoyable evening that brings a new perspective to the world of print and shines a new light onto the skills of the artists.
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