Artist of the Month: Jane Ormes

This month we introduce printmaker and designer Jane Ormes. Her prints are delicate and colourful, often drawing on nature to create fun narratives within her pictures. 

This month’s featured print, created exclusively for our online shop, is called Two Entrants for Sardine of the Year 2016. The picture is striking and was inspired by Jane’s passion for retro pattern, mark making and her local fishmonger’s window. 

Two Entrants for Sardine of the Year 2016– 56x37cm limited edition screen print- £120 unframed, £157 framed

“We may think sardines look the same but they don’t”, she says. 

As well as this exclusive print Jane has also made three other prints available to buy through our online gallery.

Swallows Swooping Swiftly Over Swansea– 23×21cm – Only 3 available – £275

Seagull on the Cusp of its Next Chip Theft- 37x37cm print- £85– Only 4 available

Tiger tiger burning bright in the middle of the night, I don t think you know it yet , but your feet are probably wet- 56cm x 56cm- £240- Only 2 available

Unaware– 23×21cm – Only 3 available- £60

Jane graduated 30 years ago with a degree in Printed Textiles and her love of pattern and texture has evolved into the works that she creates now. 

She has had an exciting and varied career, illustrating children’s books, designing packaging for Marks and Spencer, and a reproduction of her work has even popped up in an episode of Coronation Street. 

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Click here to buy work from Jane Ormes

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After working for many years as a freelance illustrator, it was moving to Bristol that really sparked Jane’s interest in screen printing and she is now a member of Spike Print Studio.

“We moved into a house with only white walls and I started printing bright and colourful images to fill up the space”, she explains.

Now living in North Bristol near the bustling Gloucester road, Jane loves to immerse herself in the city’s culture.

“Bristol is such an amazingly creative city” she says,

“There is so much going on here from the theatre , music, graf?ti artists and the abundance of makers. I’m always aware of how lucky I am to live here, especially when we have friends visit who don’t know the city and are instantly smitten by it.”

Jane’s gains further inspiration from Brian Wildsmith, Picasso and Scandanavian design when creating her vibrant, whimsical screen prints. 

Through simple designs, she tells tales of birds unaware of spying cats below and of tigers yet to realise that they’ve got their feet wet. 

“My process starts with doodles and sketches or often a lyrical phrase or ridiculous title. From there I start to work in black and white, collaging patterned and textured paper to create an image I am happy with.”

She then makes a stencil for each colour, which are all printed separately. Ink is pushed through mesh using a rubber blade called a squeegee.

“It is a lengthy and physical process, and prone to many cock ups!” Jane admits. 

Jane now plans to create a range of textiles, as well as continue with her children’s books.

“I also want to be brave and work on some much larger prints by shaking the scale up!”

Jane has chosen to donate profits from her pieces to Dementia UK. 

Framer Molly from The Little Framing Company picked a deep ash box frame for this piece. It has a strong grey stain which helps the subject matter stand out and the slip’s been kept neutral which matches the yellows nicely. The print itself has been float mounted to show off its deckled edges.

Framed print: £157

Quote Bristol24/7 to The Little Framing Company and get 15% off all framing

To keep up to date with Jane’s work, visit www.janeormes.co.uk

Artist of the month is put together in association with the Smithson Gallery.