About us
Ann d’Arcy Hughes
Ann d’Arcy Hughes takes her inspiration from the spiritual journey of life, using Etching, Collagraph, Relief and Lithography techniques to create a vision of the ethereal. “I use the language of imagery, through printmaking, to express what cannot be relayed verbally. The theme is the human passage through life and further. The stormy, or still waters, are the times of trouble or joy, the Angels or Spirits are the forces of guidance.”
A printmaker of vast experience, Ann’s work is held in various collections, including the V & A and the Slade.
With Hebe Vernon-Morris, she is co-author, of ‘Printmaking – Traditional and Contemporary techniques, published in 2009, in English, French, Spanish and Italian and reprinted in 2017. Currently revising the book for a new edition to be published in 2023 by Chronicles.
In May 2010, with Helen Brown and Hebe Vernon-Morris, she founded bip-Art.
‘Learn to listen’ – Multi-plate Etching
‘Beyond Time’ – Collagraph
Hebe Vernon-Morris
Hebe Vernon-Morris uses Lithography, Etching, Collagraph and Relief techniques to create her prints.
Following years of travel and years spent living abroad, she has developed a fascination for the details that tell the story of buildings and, in turn, the humans that exist within and around them. She is inspired by the way architecture mirrors the culture, character and soul of the human. Humans create structures in which to shelter, rest, love, eat, work and worship and these spaces hold the spirit of the lives that have been led within their boundaries. In her prints, she uses buildings to reflect the human condition and the houses differ in shape, size, detail and colour. They have a soul and a personality and through the stance and clustering of the buildings, the structures represent some of the situations, thoughts and dilemmas of the human experience.
With Ann d’Arcy Hughes, she is co-author of ‘Printmaking – Traditional and Contemporary techniques, published in 2009, in English, French, Spanish and Italian and reprinted in 2017. Currently revising the book for a new edition to be published in 2023 by Chronicles.
In May 2010, with Ann d’Arcy Hughes and Helen Brown, she founded bip-Art.
‘The Sun keeps me afloat’ – Lithograph
‘Dreaming’ – Etching
Helen Brown
Helen is a woodcut printmaker based in Sussex. She co-runs bip-Art Printmaking Workshop in Brighton, where she prints all of her work on a lovely old Colombian press made in 1844. The technique she uses to make her work, is equally as old and more so.
The subject of her work is the South Downs, as this is her home and a great love. She feels blessed to live in such a beautiful place.
She loves walking on the South Downs to sketch the views, which she then transfers, in reverse, to wooden blocks. She then carves into the blocks and prints from them. All of her work is handmade and each one of her pieces is given individual life though chine colle (paper overlay) and hand tinting, just as the mood of a scene shifts with light, time and experience.
She spends time in the places her work depicts, returning to them. Her prints are imbued with the emotion of place. Working outdoors enables her to connect with the spirit of the place, capturing the line and fluidity of scenes and localities.
The Hill on the Downs – Woodcut
Chanctonbury Ring – Woodcut
Studio History
The Mews was built in 1868 as the stable block for Lewes Crescent and has since evolved into the thriving, artistic environment that we are lucky enough to be a part of today.
Setting up the Studio
In April 2010, Ann, Helen and Hebe established bip-Art Printmaking studio in Unit 1a, Arundel Mews. This unit has previously been a stable block, a Garage, a Parcel Distribution Centre, an Architect’s office and most recently, an Oven and Washing machine repair shop. With the workmanship and carpentry skills of carpenter Olly and his team, we were able to mould the empty and open space to fit sinks, hot plates, storage, an office and an Aquatint room. It is to Andrew Purches and Howard Kent, that we owe our eternal thanks for their expertise and sheer enthusiasm in moving in and setting up the presses. A feat that required ingenuity, strength, knowledge and incredible skill. It is with their support that we were able to build bip-Art Printmaking into the studio that it has developed into today.
Lunch in the Etching area
The Rochat and Electric Etching presses arriving
The flying Rochat Etching press
Andrew Purches steering the Rochat press
The first Offset Globe Lithography press enters the building.
The Columbian Relief press in the air
The Columbian Press in situ
The Metal Guillotine on the move
Howard Kent, Andrew Purches and colleague construct the Deffa Lithography press framework
The blanket for the Deffa press