about the artist
Shelley began his artistic career in the early 70’s as a printmaker for the distinguished artist Michael Rothenstein RA, printing editions at Argus Studios for Business Art Gallery and Christie’s Contemporary Art. He went on to teach at Goldsmiths and Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design in London.
In time his own work in abstract print and still life and landscape photography has emerged from the observation of the quality and character of light and light phenomena, translated into the medium of printed colour.
He lives in Kent, has exhibited extensively in London including the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions and participates in art fairs in London and the South-East.
He has won the John Purcell Paper Award for Outstanding Printmaking in 2005 and the Aberystwyth Purchase Prize in 2009. Work by Shelley is held in public and private collections. One of Shelley’s silkscreen prints has been taken into the British Museum Department of Prints and Drawings.
about the work
Silkscreen prints
The main aspect of silkscreen work is the exploration of the dynamic relationship between form and colour. The abstract form recedes, enabling the perception of colours and their relationship to each other, yet revealing a space beyond, a way through.
Silkscreen frescos
The first step in creating these prints is the making of a stretched gessoed canvas panel. The gesso is mixed with gypsum to achieve a hand-finished surface. Then the image is printed onto the panel and finished with a matt varnish coat. This innovative technique is particularly suited to the atmospheric subject matter and results in a unique series of limited edition prints.
