In Autumn 2011, we asked print studios around the country to nominate the best printmakers in the UK.  Kelly was nominated by Edinburgh Print Studio and was chosen from a short list of artists by a selection panel comprising Printfest organisers and artists.

Born in Sydney Australia, Kelly studied a Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) Hons, majoring in illustration at the University of Western Sydney followed by a further year of printmaking. In 2000 she moved to Edinburgh to pursue her career in illustration and to be amongst traditional architecture. Drawing European traditional architecture fulfilled a passion that she craved, having been surrounded by predominantly modern architecture in Australia. Edinburgh became a constant source of inspiration and she began to draw quirky architectural sketches and street scenes combined with mark making and handwritten text. Equally, Kelly has a love of all creatures great and small so animals regularly feature in her work.

Kelly joined the Edinburgh Printmakers workshop in 2001 and in this time has dedicated most of her art making to the medium of silkscreen printing. She enjoys the drawn line and quite often varies the line quality, whether it be from a pencil, a graphite stick, charcoal or a nib and combines them into the one artwork through the screenprinting process. Screenprinting offers limitless opportunity in combining the drawings with found textures, photographic imagery and text.

Kelly has exhibited in galleries throughout the UK as well as open exhibitions such as the Visual Arts Scotland at the RSA, the Royal Glasgow Institute of fine arts and Aberdeen Artists society exhibition. Permanent collections are in Howies Restaurants (Edinburgh and Aberdeen) as well as in the Budongo Chimpanzee House at Edinburgh Zoo.

www.skellydesigns.com


Kelly Stewart – Printmaker of the Year