A SERIES of art poster prints created to raise money for a charity that provides bikes for refugees is part of a landmark exhibition celebrating the evolution of an innovative studio.
Set up in 1967, the Edinburgh Printmakers Workshop was the first open-access printmakers studio in the UK and is now one of the biggest in Europe, with a membership of over 200 printmakers.
Edinburgh Printmakers’ new exhibition, which opens this weekend, has the theme of Journey and is showcasing 79 artists across a broad spectrum of print mediums.
Artists featured include Oliver Brookes whose screenprint highlights the work of the Bikes for Refugees Scotland charity, which matches donated bikes with refugees and asylum seekers new to Scotland.
Love Riding is based on an image of two refugee brothers from Turkey with bikes supplied by the charity.
It is one of five art poster prints focused on the charity’s values, with all profits from their sale going to Bikes for Refugees, which has so far donated 2500 bikes to New Scots.
The posters were launched at a special event at Edinburgh Printmakers which raised £1000 for Bikes for Refugees Scotland.
The charity’s founder Steven McCluskey said: “The Bikes for Refugees series of art posters has been a brilliant initiative as it is raising awareness of our work and generating funds to keep it going.
“All of us at Bikes for Refugees are really pleased Love Riding from the series has been selected for the Edinburgh Printmakers’ show Journey. We hope loads of folk get to see it and support Bikes for Refugees.”
Also featured in the Journey exhibition are Alastair Kinroy’s linocut which takes the first journey of humankind out of Africa as his inspiration. Lindy Furby’s Night Flight (above) captures birds’ migratory journeys while Alison Grant’s work Fool’s Gold spotlights the harmful impact of the fishing industry.
Edinburgh Printmakers’ CEO Janet Archer said: “This year’s Members’ Exhibition is an opportunity for us to showcase a snapshot of the rich and varied work that takes place in Edinburgh Printmakers studio.
“Since moving to Castle Mills, we have been home to one of Europe’s largest printmaking workshop spaces. Now with a membership of more than 200 printmakers, the organisation has come a long way since its beginnings in 1967.
“The vision and ambition of our members has remained a constant since then and Journey captures the latest expression of this from our vibrant printmaking community.”
All of the works in the exhibition are for sale and have been created by Edinburgh Printmakers studio members, working in the open-access print studio at Edinburgh Printmakers.
For those interested in learning more about printmaking or trying it out for the first time, there is an opportunity to book on to one of Edinburgh Printmakers’ upcoming courses.
The exhibition will run until March 17.
