Residency at Tyrone Guthrie Centre

As I first drove through the gates of Annaghmakerrig House I wasn’t sure what awaited me. I knew the Tyrone Guthrie Centre as a place of pilgrimage for creative souls and I was honoured, if a little daunted, to be counted among its brethren for a whole seven days. Some months earlier, I was awarded a residency from Illustrators Ireland, which meant free rein in the Tyrone Guthrie print studio along with a room in the house and three hearty meals a day, all served up with the warm hospitality for which the centre is renowned.

Printing

Previously, I had been tinkering with my xcut xpress in my home studio – a small die-cutting machine that doubles up as a cheap and cheerful A4 printing press. For printing plates I reused empty foil-backed cartons, scratching an image into the foil with an etching needle. The results produce interesting textures and fine lines when inked and printed as you would using intaglio on a drypoint plate. The natural creases in the folded-out carton only add character to the print. During my residency, I had the opportunity to print on a large press using my Tetra Pak plates and to experiment with chine-collé to incorporate colour.

Immersion in nature

Annaghmakerrig House, built in the style of Gothic revival, overlooks a twinkling tree-lined lake. Each day, I walked through the adjoining forest, often ending up at the lakeside where I’d settle down with my binoculars to watch the great crested grebes slide over the water. Their neck collars of bright orange and elegant silhouettes had me transfixed. The place was peacefully quiet, bar sublime birdsong, a drumming woodpecker and the occasional jay squawk. Evenings were more sociable. At 7pm, residents gathered around a long table to eat dinner together, where stories were shared and friendships were made. Many of the residents saw the infamous Annaghmakerrig hare early one morning as he lolloped past the house, over the gardens, onto the fields beyond. On sunnier days, the lake enticed several of us to take a bracing dip in the peaty water – the colour of weak tea.

To be free of domestic obligations, immersed in nature and surrounded by fellow creatives for an entire week was a tonic for the spirit. Mentally and creatively refreshed (and a few pounds heavier) I returned home from the residency with a renewed sense of purpose – inspired to crack on with projects in hand while dreaming up new ones.

See more work created from the residency here