Roots

 In memoriam to the tree felled at Sycamore Gap, Northumberland in September 2023. Roots began life as a commission for publisher HarperNorth’s book ‘On Sycamore Gap’ written by poet Kate Fox. The tree at Sycamore Gap acted as a beacon for so many people, and reading their memories of special moments shared, experienced and connected with the tree was the starting point for all of the prints in this series. I used to live a stone’s throw from the tree myself so I have seen it in all weathers and at all times of day and night. The clean air and open landscape there meant that the skies held huge importance to anyone visiting the tree. I used multiple blocks to depict both the ‘ghost’ of the once-living tree, and the stump now left behind. The tree may be felled, but its roots still burrow deep within the bones of the land.