Ian O’Halloran
I’m an artist printmaker living and working in Sussex and draw inspiration from the landscape. I originally trained as a Civil Engineer but decided there were enough roads and bridges in the world and left to study art in 1989.
Having trained as a painter I took up printmaking in 2008 and this now forms the main part of my practice.
I have always been inspired by the history and mystery of the landscape (and by artists who depict it, especially Paul Nash, Eric Ravilious and Robert Taverner). I am particularly drawn to ancient places that show signs of earlier cultures (standing stones, hill figures, dew ponds and track ways) and try to capture a sense of my emotional connection with a location.
I’m also a guitarist, writing and recording my own music (soundcloud.com/axe-head) and gardener with my wife at Merryweathers (morethanjustagarden.co.uk).
About my prints:
My prints are entirely hand-made, by me, in my studio. Therefore they are known as original prints and are not to be confused with photo-reproductions. They are made by cutting blocks of lino (one for each colour) to leave raised areas that are then inked up and printed (by hand) onto paper. Thus the image is built up in layers (waiting for each stage to dry) until the print is finished. There will always be very slight variation between each print in the edition as it is impossible to reproduce them exactly alike – therefore each print could be said to be a unique artwork. Each design is produced in a numbered and signed edition and will never be printed again. Because the printing process is so labour intensive I keep my editions small, usually no more than 20 or 25, but often smaller.
A note about colours:
We have tried hard to give an accurate representation of the colours in Ian’s artworks. However, please bear in mind that colours may vary depending on the machine you view them on. The artworks will always look better in real life!
1 The Plantation
Original limited edition lino-cut print.
Price £145 (Unframed. The print comes mounted and ready to frame.)
This lino print is based on a walk that we regularly do only a stone’s throw from the house. When we first moved here (about 27 years ago) this area of woodland had only recently been planted, so the trees were quite small. I thought the neat rows of trees made an interesting composition with the unruly hedgerows surrounding them.
This print was created using multiple blocks and printed using my lipstick-red Rollaco press.
For more details visit www.etsy.com/uk/shop/IanOHalloranArtist
2 Dream Garden
Original limited edition lino-cut print.
Price £160 (Unframed. The print comes mounted and ready to frame.)
This flint wall encountered on the Downs gave the area a garden-like feel. A Downland dream garden, if you will, with a ghostly Hummingbird Hawkmoth for company.
This print was created using multiple blocks and printed using my lipstick-red Rollaco press.
For more details visit www.etsy.com/uk/shop/IanOHalloranArtist
3 The Litlington Horse
Original limited edition lino-cut print.
Price £125 (Unframed. The print comes mounted and ready to frame.)
The Litlington Horse is a chalk hill figure on the South Downs at a place called the High & Over which overlooks the village of Litlington near Seaford in East Sussex.
This print was created using multiple blocks and printed using my lipstick-red Rollaco press.
For more details visit www.etsy.com/uk/shop/IanOHalloranArtist
4 Ash Bole
Original limited edition lino-cut print.
Price £50 (Unframed. The print comes mounted and ready to frame.)
Ash trees are one of the tree species traditionally coppiced for wood. This Ash bole has clearly been coppiced in the past, creating its wonderful knarled character.
This print was created using a single block and printed using my lipstick-red Rollaco press.
For more details visit www.etsy.com/uk/shop/IanOHalloranArtis
5 Folkington Hill – after the harvest
Original limited edition lino-cut print.
Price £125 (Unframed. The print comes mounted and ready to frame.)
This lino cut is of the landscape near the tiny downland hamlet of Folkington (just before the Long Man of Wilmington). The barley has just been harvested and the fields at the foot of the hills have that pale, ochre colour so reminiscent of late summer on the Downs.
This print was created using multiple blocks and printed using my lipstick-red Rollaco press.
For more details visit www.etsy.com/uk/shop/IanOHalloranArtist
6 Towards Butt’s Brow
Original limited edition lino-cut print.
Price £130 (Unframed. The print comes mounted and ready to frame.)
Butt’s Brow is a local landmark on the South Downs above Willingdon in East Sussex. I have a long association with this spot, having played there as a child and I have used colour as a way of capturing my emotional connection.
This print was created using multiple blocks and printed using my lipstick-red Rollaco press.
All works available for sale at Ian’s Etsy shop at www.Etsy.com/uk/shop/IanOHalloranArtist or by contacting him direct by email at ianandliz@gmail.com