One aspect of the versatile illustration service offered by Rachel Beckett is wood engraving, both limited-edition and open edition prints. Her particular specialism is the colour wood engraving technique practised by only a handful of printmakers worldwide, including Edwina Ellis, designer of the “bridge” pound coins, by whom Rachel was taught.
Colour wood engraving involves making several separate engraved images and printing them superimposed in primary colours to form a full-colour image. Rachel’s black-and-white or colour wood engravings are printed on an antique cast-iron Albion printing press of 1898. Many of her wood engravings are for sale (just browse or visit the shop). Many of the subjects were inspired by poetry, especially Walter de la Mare, but Rachel is a versatile illustrator who can tackle a wide variety of subjects, including narrative, decorative and fanciful themes, architecture, landscape and natural objects. She also works in linocut, woodcut and other media (see home page).
Rachel’s most recent wood engravings are a series of black-and-white prints to illustrate her story The Marigold (see sample). These are also available as open-edition hand-tinted greetings cards, each one handmade and unique, priced at only £4 plus p&p (contact Rachel to order).
All the prints displayed on this site are issued in small limited editions, numbered, titled, signed and dated by the artist. The exception are the cards, which are open editions (reflected in the much lower prices). Prices given are for unframed prints.
