Phatcomics in 2023
I wasn’t going to do an end of year round up for 2023, it can seem like a humble brag session at best, grandstanding at its worst. But so many different creative actives happened in 2023 that I feel it needs documenting. So here we go.
The year didn’t really kick off until February starting with a weekend at Leeds Craft fair. I became a member of Leeds Print Workshop. My artist in residence at Back to ours chat shop also begun. March began with a dose of Covid and an installation in the stairwell gallery, Hull central Library.
April was busy with a trip to Toronto for the mighty T.C.A.F. I had four comic pages exhibited in London as part of the All about the ink, group show, curated by Mark Stafford.
May I started a letterpress workshop at LPW. I was awarded a DYCP ( Develop Your Creative Practise) Arts Council grant to learn new printmaking skills. this really added shape to the year. In June I started a Risograph residence at East Street Arts. I produced a number of publications, including some new sketchbooks. The chat shop residency ended and I published a comic containing all the portraits sketched during this period. A body of work titled the Ruin was exhibited in The Brain Jar, Hull. Also in Hull in the Prospect centre, It’s Just Paper and Ink a group show, was installed. An exhibition put together by Gareth Sleightholme.
July was a bookbinding course at London Centre for Book Arts. A really informative and reawrding experience. Mudchurn, a new comic for the A pocket Chiller series was published. South London Comic Zines bash was hot fun.
August and Mandy Apple, a gallery in Scarborough was hosting a group show of work from our letterpress course. More print activity as I was part of 20/20 print exchange and exhibition with Leeds PrintWork shop. Small Press day at Gosh! Comics was a brilliant day.
September
October saw me returning to East Street Arts for a second Risograph residency. I just love that bright soya ink. This session produced sketchbooks 11,12,13 and a zine titled The Beast Farm.
November saw the continuation of The Brain Jar exhibition, A new installation in the Library staircase gallery. Then it was Thought Bubble and a new comic, Father’s Daze.
December was the last gig of the year A craft fair at Dive Bar, Hull.
In conclusion it was a year that was pretty good. None of it would have been possible for the amazing people that facilitated events and friends and community that supported me. I’m really lucky to be connected to so many wonderfully talented, kind, supportive generous people. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me this year.
Best wishes to you all for 2024.
