Many different techniques fall under the umbrella of printmaking and there is endless scope for enquiry. I'm a traditionalist and an experimenter. I make plates from perspex and cardboard as well as more orthodox materials such as lino and zinc. I draw on my prints and embellish them with pastel, watercolour and gold leaf.

When you buy an original print, you will appreciate the subtle colour variation created by the way the ink is applied. You'll see how light is reflected in different conditions and how indentation from the printing plate adds texture to the work. You'll invariably find that the original is more complex than a reproduction can capture.

The photos show some projects I've been working on in the last couple of years.

The "Flotilla" series (shown above) is printed in relief from linocut blocks on delicate Japanese paper. They were made on my nipping press ( a bookbinding press) that is ideal for relief prints. The person in the boat is the same in each print but the shapes and colours (representing the hopes and dreams of people emigrating to a new life) are all different. This series was exhibited as a wave of immigrants, across a long wall in the gallery.

"Adrift" is two prints and a drawing, created separately then joined. The face was done by building up texture from fine grit, gold leaf, paper, and string on a thin piece of perspex. This plate was then inked and put through a large etching press. The boat was done by hand, using a cardboard plate and a baren to transfer the ink. The turban was added after the two large sheets of paper were joined. You can see the scale in the photo. The finished piece is approx 5ft by 4ft.

Contact me if you are interested in seeing any of my large prints. Smaller ones are available here in my Etsy Shop - akinostudio.etsy.com