Ironbridge Fine Arts

At Ironbridge Fine Arts, we are delighted to share the remarkable journey of Wayne Longhurst, the proud winner of our 2023 Printmaking Competition. Wayne's inspiring story, from discovering printmaking to achieving excellence, is a testament to the passion and dedication that fuels the art community. We hope his journey will inspire many more artists to participate in our upcoming competitions.

Wayne Longhurst's adventure into the world of printmaking began in the picturesque village of Crickhowell, South Wales, back in 2011. While on a camping holiday, Wayne and his wife stumbled upon an artist open house event where they encountered the works of linocut artist Lee Wright. Intrigued by the intricate prints, Wayne's curiosity led him to purchase an Essdee 'Intro to Linocut' kit upon returning home.

"Lee was really enthusiastic about the processes involved, and let’s cut a long story short; I ended up buying myself an Essdee ‘Intro to linocut’ kit when I got home."

This initial spark of interest ignited a 12-year journey filled with experimentation, learning, and creating numerous prints, each contributing to his evolving skillset.

Fast forward to May 2023, Wayne decided to submit three of his recent prints to the Ironbridge Fine Arts Printmaking Competition. With modest expectations, he was thrilled to learn that all three of his submissions had been selected for the exhibition.

"If I’m honest, I wasn’t expecting to be selected, and that’s how I left it.  A couple of months later I got the confirmation that all three of had been selected -  I was over the moon!  I hadn’t visited Ironbridge Printmakers before, but I had been following their account on Instagram for a while, so getting my prints to them in person, and attending the opening night of the exhibition felt like a bit of a pilgrimage. The opening night was great, Jenny, Sarah and the rest of the team put on a great display of the chosen pieces and had selected amazing prints from the wide spectrum of printing techniques for the exhibition.  (Sneak peek behind the scenes……..Sarah had phoned me to check that I was attending the opening event, and did say that I had been selected for a prize, but not which one. Just to be selected as part of the exhibition was good enough for me, but a prize?!?  Blimey….!)  

The opening night was a celebration of diverse printmaking techniques, with a stunning display curated by the Ironbridge Fine Arts team. Wayne recalls the suspense and surprise of the prize announcements:

"The prizes were being read out, and my name hadn’t been read out until the last prize. At this point, I assumed that a mistake had been made... But I was wrong, and my name was called out! My 'Bull of Iffley' reduction linocut print had been chosen as the overall winner!"

Wayne's "Bull of Iffley" stood out among the impressive collection, earning him the top prize and the coveted Gunning Etching Press.

"Now I’m the proud owner of a "Gunning Etching Printing Press”, and I can say that it’s a real game changer. After getting used to using it initially (I’m still learning), it really does make the process so much quicker and easier.  Jenny has been so kind with her time, answering questions and helping me to get it set up correctly. I primarily make reduction linocuts, so getting the registration spot on, and the right pressure is key.  Once that’s all sorted, then away I go!"

Wayne currently has two prints in progress that he hopes to enter into this year's exhibition, showcasing the capabilities of his new press.

Inspired by Wayne Longhurst's journey? We encourage all UK-based printmakers to participate in the 2024 Ironbridge Fine Arts Printmaking Competition. Whether you are a seasoned artist or just starting, this is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work, gain recognition, and be part of a welcoming and supportive art community.

"To anyone that is thinking of entering, I would say 'Yes - you absolutely should!' Put your best foot forward, submit a good quality photo of your work, and who knows, you might get to be a part of a wonderful, welcoming printing exhibition."

Find out more: www.ironbridgeframing.co.uk/blog/wayne-longhurst-winner-of-the-2023-gunning-etching-press-printmaking-competition