Norman Ackroyd is a master etcher, he understands this medium intimately, having learned minor but crucial technical processes from past masters like Norman Webster and Julian Trevelyan. Norman's etchings are landscape based, this lifelong inspiration is drawn from his empathy with British and Irish landscape, its changing moods and its vast and dramatic wilderness.

William Packer, Art Critic at the Financial Times describes Norman as "a truly remarkable artist who is to etching what Turner was for watercolour."

Norman Ackroyd is a well renowned and established etcher. He was born locally and studied at Leeds College of Art and Design and subsequently at the Royal College of Art, London from 1961 - 64. He now lives and works in London but throughout his practice he has retained strong links with Yorkshire and The Craft Centre & Design Gallery. The gallery previously exhibited work by Norman in a vey succesful and memorable solo show over the Christmas period 1995 - 96.

"Autumn Morning - Bransdale" Etching 30"x24"

 

 

"Windermere - Sunrise" Watercolour 10" x 17.5"

Norman often works in the open air creating freedom by flooding acid directly onto the copper plate. He finds this to be the truest way of etching because he is within the environment he is depicting. He is constantly searching for the 'purest essence of landscape' and strives to portray this without becoming literal. Norman's etchings are poetic and romantic, yet he is able to achieve a dream like milieu of past heritages within these emotional and sensational scenes.

There will be sixteen unframed landscape etchings on display from 2nd November 2002 until 28th February 2003. All prints will be available for sale and can be collected at the end of the exhibition.

 

"Donegal from Downpatrick Head" Etching on Japanese paper
24" x 35"