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Anthony Burrell – Print Maker

INTERVIEW WITH ANTHONY BURRILL – RENOWNED GRAPHIC ARTIST AND PRINT MAKER

Anthony, your work is renowned for its direct, persuasive style. Can you tell us how you developed this approach, and how it influences the screen-printing workshop you’re leading at Tillingham?

I love working with analogue means such as screen-print and letterpress. I’ve always been drawn to tactile ways of working to produce my work. I went to art school in the eighties and trained in traditional techniques. Computers were still something out of science fiction in those days and all the cool kids (me included) thought they were for nerds. I’ve continued working with non-digital means ever since and it’s something that is integral to my work. I use a computer to help with my work now, but still retain a connection with those hand-made roots.

You’ve exhibited at prestigious venues like the Tate Modern and the V&A. How do you balance creating art for high-profile exhibitions with more hands-on, interactive workshops like this one?

My work has taken me around the world to some amazing places and I’ve had really fun experiences. I’ve led workshops in Brazil, Korea, Kenya and now it’s time to work slightly closer to home. My work is about connecting with people through creativity. By making work together and exploring screen-printing techniques we all go on a journey of discovery together. I get as much inspiration from leading workshops as everybody else, it’s great to be excited about making new work and finding out new things.

In this workshop, participants will be experimenting with six graphic elements and different paper types to create their own designs. What excites you most about seeing non-artists engage in this creative process?

I think it opens up everybody’s natural urge to create. By using simple elements as a starting pint the process will lead us along. It’s about getting involved and losing your inhibitions about making art. There are no right answers and it’s all about having fun, getting a bit messy and creating something that look great. You can always tell when someone has had fun making a piece of art, it comes through in the spontaneous look and feel of the finished piece.

The concept of ‘happy accidents’ seems to be an important part of this workshop. How does embracing trial and error factor into your own design work, and how might participants benefit from this approach?

I believe in trying things out to see if they work. I like to jump in and make work without any pre-conceived ideas and let the process develop. When you have a few elements to work with you become more experimental. Strangely having restrictions frees you up to play and experiment. It’s a good way of following your instincts rather than planning things out too much.

This workshop is a unique collaboration between you, Tillingham, and The Private Press. How did this partnership come about, and what are you hoping participants will take away from both the experience and their final prints?

Gary from The Private Press is an old friend. We’ve worked together on lots of different projects, most notably screen-printing at Glastonbury over the past few years. It’s always fun hanging out, he’s super enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable about screen-printing. I’m hoping participants will see the potential of screen-printing to be a creative and fun way of making artwork. It’s simple to set-up and once you’ve understood the basics something that can lead to amazing work.

Whats your proudest piece of work you have been asked to do?

The ‘YOU&ME’ mural in Leeds. It’s a large scale public artwork in the historic centre of the city. I studied in Leeds so it’s got a place in my heart. The artwork is about community and human connection. It’s become a landmark in Leeds and that’s something I’m very happy about.

Why did you choose to partner with Tillingham for this workshop

I’m a local and have been visiting Tillingham for a long time. The culture at Tillingham is creative in so many ways; great wine, amazing food and beautiful natural setting, all the good stuff! It’s an inspirational place and combining it with art and creativity is going to be magical.

BOOK IN for an Experimental screen-print workshop with Anthony Burrill HERE

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