About

Nicola Wallis is a printmaker and artist who specialises in creating linocut prints. She obtained a master’s degree in fine art from the prestigious Slade School of Art in 2012, with the support of a bursary from the Arts and Humanities Research Council. After completing her studies at Slade, Nicola was awarded the Adrian Carruthers Award and continues to showcase her work regularly. Now, her time is divided between Wiltshire, Newcastle, and London, where she produces limited edition linocut prints in her personal studio and prints with other professional printmakers at their studios.

Nicola needed a press that could handle the size of her ambitious linocuts, and unfortunately, such presses are scarce in the UK. To meet this requirement, she joined Northern Print, a registered charity, located in the cultural quarter of Newcastle upon Tyne's Ouseburn Valley, close to the city centre. Northern Print provides support for artists who create original prints as part of their professional practice and work with school groups.

Nicola uses Japanese paper made by a sixth-generation family-run paper mill. Although it's machine-made, the paper is created using traditional natural fibres and a combination of ancient and modern techniques. This process increases its longevity, neutralizes pH, and purifies the paper.

Nicola uses Van Son Rubber-based ink for creating large and solid areas that require smooth and even inking. She also works with Intaglio oil-based inks, which she personally mixes to create unique colours. These inks are made from high-quality lightfast pigments and are soy-based. They have a thick consistency with minimal water content and do not contain any toxic driers, making them a safe choice for her work.

The printmaking process can be viewed HERE 

A print edition is the total number of impressions produced from the same plate. This can be a limited edition, with a fixed, relatively small number of impressions determined by the artist. Nicola’s editions are usually between 15 and 20.

The numbering of a print takes the form of a fraction. It shows the number of prints and the total number of prints in the edition. For example, '1/15' means the print is number 1 within an edition of 15.

Each print is signed, dated and editioned by the artist. In addition, each print is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.