Edinburgh Printmakers exhibition: Eminent artists on display at major event celebrating six decades

A major exhibition has opened at Edinburgh Printmakers showcasing work from eminent artists including Tracey Emin.

Celebrating nearly six decades, the gallery team say it will give visitors the rare opportunity to see works from internationally renowned artists, many of which have never been shown in Scotland.

These artists are using techniques that have been around since the first century.

And some of the most renowned masters of this craft now have their work on display right alongside them.

With two new exhibitions launching this month, the studios’ diamond anniversary is about marking the vibrancy and depth of this art form.

“I think this is a very interesting exhibition, because it pulls together so much historically that Edinburgh Printmakers has done,” painter Victoria Crowe said.

Edinburgh Printmakers celebrate 60 years

“For someone who’s primarily a painter, I’ve only ever used the workshops to achieve the prints. So it’s very good. Of course the historical aspect of this is quite interesting as well.”

The collection contains works created in Edinburgh Printmakers studios across four locations since opening as the UK’s first open access print studio in 1967.

There will be two exhibitions running together – the first runs from April 4 to June 29 and will feature work from Jerwood Collection including Ian Davenport, John Hoyland RA, Gerald Leslie Brockhurst RA, Bridget Riley, Tracey Emin DBE, RA, Lucian Freud OM, CH, Ben Nicholson, Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Eva Rothschild RA, David Hockney RA, Angela Gill, Maggi Hambling, Kim Lim, Paula Rego DBE, RA, Augustus John RA, Hurvin Anderson RA, Julian Trevelyan RA, and Frank Auerbach.

In the second, works by eminent artists such as John Byrne, RSA, Barbara Rae, RA, CBE, Victoria Crowe, RSA, OBE and Rachel Maclean will be displayed. The art has been created in any one of its four locations – Victoria Street, Market Street, Union Street and now Castle Mills.

The three-month exhibition follows recent large-scale retrospectives of printmaking at National Galleries of Scotland and City Art Centre, and is the third such exhibition to be hosted in Scotland’s capital in the past 18 months.

Alastair Clark has worked at the Edinburgh Printmakers for over 30 years and is their head of editions.

“I think what’s most exciting about printmaking is that if the artist wants to engage with it that much, and spend the time creating something new, then you’re both on a journey together making something.

“That’s when the best work is made, I think.”

Artists have been coming to the Printmakers in Edinburgh since it opened in 1967 STV News

Printmaking holds an important place in art history – its arrival was revolutionary.

Unlike one-of-a kind oil paintings most often reserved for the very rich, this allowed everyday people to take a fine piece of work and have it in their own home.

The team at the gallery hope to capture this history and share it – they’ve already built a collection of over 1,500 prints.

Chiefs say they are working towards becoming an official museum.

CEO Janet Archer said: “We brought art making into this space, and we’re becoming a town hall, if you like; a community hub for people to come to and connect both with art and each other.

“I think the world’s a very noisy, disturbing place at the moment. This is a place where people can find solace and access for free.

“I think that’s really important in our world today.”

The works will be on display until June 29.