Sally Spens studied Textiles and Fine Art at the prestigious Goldsmiths’ College in London; it was here that she was introduced to various printmaking techniques. She went onto work as a textile designer in London and Japan eventually finding her true calling in etching.
The subject matter of her delicate, intricate etchings is drawn from the natural world, and the preoccupation is with beauty, rhythm and pattern. There is a simplicity to her work, and precision in the visual language, akin to poetry in the way that meaning can unfold from finely worked lines.
Spens’ etchings are individually printed by the artist in small, limited editions. The images originate from her drawings and are etched onto the surface of copper plate. The plate is hand inked, often involving painterly techniques. Then, the plate is put on the press, damp paper is laid over and as it goes through the press the image is impressed onto the paper.
“Drawing has always been central to my practice, both as a textile designer and as a painter/printmaker. It is important to me that the images are handmade and originate from my drawings and experience. Working with a Japanese company for seven years on designs for summer kimonos, which are so much a part of Japanese culture, has also been a major influence, particularly in the compositional botanical works. The etchings of imagined pots link to another discipline of the applied arts – ceramics. Images drawn from memory and observation combine with that of vessels, linking associations with both.”— Sally Spens
Over the years, Sally Spens has exhibited her work in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the UK and internationally. Her work has been showcased in renowned galleries such as the Biennale exhibition of the European Cultural Centre in Venice and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. She has also participated in prestigious art fairs, including the British Art Fair, Works on Paper and the International Print Biennale in China.
Spens has received several awards and accolades for her contributions to the field of printmaking. Her works are held in private and public collections worldwide, and she has been featured in various art publications and journals.