Laura Evans is a fine artist and printmaker, based in the Purbecks.
She creates semi-abstract contemporary oil paintings, prints, mono-types inspired by the coast and landscape around her.
Laura studied Archaeology at university graduating in 2005 and went on to work as a environmental archaeologist. This all changed in late 2016 when she undertook a 2 day collagraphy workshop with a well known printmaker.
Changing her career path Laura went on to invest in her printing press.She specialises in collagraphs. Although also works in monotype, drypoint and linocut.
What is a collagraph?
The word collagraph refers to a collage of materials glued on to a ‘printing plate’ . This plate is then hand inked and pulled through an etching press under dampened paper. Thus transferring the image from the plate onto paper .
In-between the frustrations of printmaking, Laura decided to pick up some old oil paints. She started to experiment and found another passion in oil painting, she discovered quick drying and water based oils. She has taught herself to paint, her work is abstract and contemporary some pieces are based on land marks other on the coast, she loves movement, texture and changing weather.
Laura’s Lamps
One day she was holding a print outside and the light shined through she pondered the idea of how to utilize collgraphy technique to print on fabric and put light behind beautiful flora that inspired her prints.
So the experiments started, different inks, different fabrics, drying times and wash cycles. Teaching herself how to make a lampshade! Until she finally made her first two shades
She then went on to work on floor lamps, trying to design a lamp that offered different light in A room. The challenge was how to make a base, so you change the light bulb! The world of wood opened up to Laura, she visited several local saw mills and fell in love with spalted beech. Then began her journey of designing beautiful hand turned bases to match her lamps .
