Mark Hearld, print-maker

Who loves Mark Hearld? Who hasn’t heard of Mark Hearld? I don’t know why I haven’t blogged about him before… his work has been on my radar for about 3 years now but I guess there are always so many things to talk about that he’s never made the press.

Mark Hearld was born in 1974 and studied illustration at Glasgow School of Art followed by an MA in Natural History Illustration at the Royal College of Art. His work is based on his observations of the natural world, influenced by mid-twentieth century Neo-Romanticism and the gaiety of 1930s Modernism and inspired by British artists such as Eric Ravilious, John Piper and Edward Bawden.

Now, when my favourite print-maker blog All Things Considered did a piece of Mark at home, it was that which made me want to get blogging. Anyone with a but of taxidermy and eccentric interior is a good topic to blog.

Both pictures above appropriated from All Things Considered. Copyright Jane Sebire

You can enjoy Mark’s work in product form, which is great for the people amongst us with less cash to spend on every print that catches their eye.

Designed exclusively for Tate, Mark’s range was commissioned to highlight the fantastic talent of British printmaking and to support and promote UK creative industries.

If plates and mugs aren’t your thing, then you can pick up some of his prints (whilst they are still reasonably prices) from the incredible and awe-inspiring St Judes.

Britain Can (Still) Make It

This week-long exhibition, curated by David Nicholls, Design Editor of the Telegraph Magazine in association with Michelle Alger, Liberty’s home and furniture buyer, takes inspiration from the 1946 show, ‘Britain Can Make It’ held just after the War at the V&A. Britain Can Make It promoted ‘by all practical means the improvement of design in the products of British industry’.

I was lucky enough to be invited to the opening event, and it was one event that I really wanted to attend. I am a huge fan of Ernest Race furniture and twinned with another favourite, Angie Lewin, so this was a treat.

“Over half a century after the V&A show, we find ourselves in a similar position of doom and gloom. The economic outlook is bleak, British manufacturing is down, and our icons are struggling. I wanted to celebrate both traditional and completely new British craftsmanship to maintain that Britain can STILL make it! I approached Liberty to house the Britain Can Still Make It exhibition during London Design Week as they have always been a unique platform for design where the finest meets the rarest and have a long history of supporting British craft.” David Nicholls, Design Editor, Telegraph Magazine

I also loved the gradient chair by Benjamin Hubert for Ercol. I have a beautiful Ercol sofa in my living room so to see this company finding its feet in modern furniture design is really something great to see. They have collaborated on some soon to be classic pieces and updated their style perfectly.

The exhibition presents a mix of established and burgeoning designers from the world of furniture, lighting, ceramics, textiles and metal – all of whom produce their work in the UK.

Britain Can (Still) Make It at Liberty, Regent St, W1 (4th Floor) from Saturday 19th to Sunday 27th September 2009