Down the Valley (Paynes Grey)

 Following an uncomfortable period of creative block, Down the Valley was made after a restorative walk in the Lake District with my husband.

We were given the gift of twelve days of childcare for Christmas 2018. One day a month to have together, to do what we wanted. So once a month, we’d grab our walking boots, a big bar of chocolate, leave the children with Yaya and Grandad and go and climb a big hill. This was our February day off.

We crested the brow of one unassuming hill, and as we crossed over into the valley beyond, the clouds parted and - WHAM! - a brilliant winter sunbeam smashed down onto the hillside in front of us. We stopped and stared, awestruck at the gift of light and sunshine so unexpectedly and dramatically laid on just for us.

The original edition of eight prints was a multiblock print of three layers, and it was whilst I was playing around with one of the blocks that I realised this single block version works very well as a standalone print in its own right.