Gail Kelly

Pink Route

I print my linocuts and woodcuts on Irish linen and create hand stitched collages inspired by the countryside where I live along with landscapes and gardens I see on my travels in Britain and Ireland. My work reflects seasonal colours and patterns and my interest in folklore and traditions.

Behind the Scenes
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About My Practice

I have always liked printmaking and have been making linocuts since I was in primary school.
My mum taught me embroidery and sewing when I was a child and I still use these skills today.
I make colourful linen collages which I sew by hand. I print each little linocut and woodcut individually and arrange them to create scenes of gardens and traditional farms.
My linen prints of trees, gardens and wildlife are printed in black ink on unbleached linen.
My hand printed limited edition lithographs depict standing stones and fairy thorn trees, distant islands and traditional farm cottages.
I have a degree in Printmaking from the Ulster College of Art and Design in Belfast and a MFA from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.

Tools & Materials

I live in the countryside, south of Belfast, in County Down. My home is an old farm house with a large wild garden and my workshop is across the yard in the barn. I use traditional lino cutting tools which I have acquired over many years along with woodwork tools which I inherited from my father, grandfather and a great aunt. The vintage Irish linen I use for my collages has come down the family to me from my mum, grandmother and aunts.