End of The Line
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Artist: Colin Bailey
Views: 135
St Pancras station clock tower rises above the courtyard of Midhope House on the Hillview estate in Kings Cross in the 1980s. These 1890’s tenement blocks were “decanted” in the late 1970’s by Camden Council pending demolition. They were rapidly squatted by the survivors of the Tolmers Square and Huntley Street squats who fought a drawn out and often bitter battle with Camden council to save the buildings. Grudgingly granted “short-life” status in the 1980s they went on to taken over by a Housing Association the following decade and thoroughly restored. The Hillview estate is still home to many of these original squatters who have raised families in the flats originally condemned by Camden council as unfit for families!
Limited Edition etching by Colin Bailey
Limited Edition etching by Colin Bailey
When I moved to Rye in 1993 The first thing I bought was an etching press. I joined all the local art groups only to find they wouldn't allow prints in their group exhibitions! I started doing acrylic paintings of local scenes, found they sold well and soon I was producing more paintings than prints.
When I split up with my partner and moved to Hastings a couple of years ago I had no option but to have my etching press moved to some friends in Appledore, a small village six miles north of Rye. The flat I am in is in a 17th century building and the press would have been just too heavy.
Lo and behold shortly after I did this the local rail network cut the service to Appledore (I don't drive) and I found my press well nigh inaccessible.
I now have a small benchtop press as well but I can't print the 12 inch x 16 inch plates that I used to do.
Because of this and because of the obvious market for my paintings I bought a Epson R2400 printer and GT-15000 scanner and now the vast majority of my income comes from giclee reproductions of my paintings.
The advantages are immense: Once scanned the images can be on my website in minutes and the files converted quickly for use as greetings cards and even a small artist's book.
All very good but.... Amongst traditional printmakers giclee prints provoke a mixed response. I have seen one particular website where the author devotes a sizeable page to a rant against these "rip-offs" and I do have my own reservations.
To confuse matters I recently reissued my St Pancras Station etchings in a set of giclee editions! The station has just been re-opened by Eurostar and there I was sitting on a series of large etchings of the station as it was 25 years ago!
I have just uploaded one of the original etchings; the series is probably one of the best things I have ever done and took nearly two years to complete.
Recent good news is I am close to doing a deal that will rescue my etching press and install it in the shop below my flat where I will be able to do etching demonstrations and sell prints in return for a reasonable rent!
I hope to include a blog on how these prints were done (I will be uploading the rest of the series) and giving away some of the secrets and techniques I use for etching here soon.