Promising start for Marston printmaker
A local print maker is already making a name for himself after his work was turned into a book cover after being spotted by a publisher at a renowned advertising and design festival.
Since graduating from Plymouth University with a first class honours degree in illustration and printmaking last year, Daniel Connolly, 23, from Barkston Road, Marston has been pursuing a career as a printmaker after investing in his own printing press and equipment and setting up a studio in his garden.
Daniel specialises in traditional printmaking processes including copper plate etching, engraving and mezzotint. He works across a wide range of subjects, from anatomical studies to local landscapes and seascapes. Daniel works using primarily black and sepia inks, with the occasional addition of colour for limited editions.
He said: “I’ve always wanted to pursue a career in art but started off just doing it as a hobby. It was only when I was at school that I realised that I could make a career out of copper sketching, although it is very niche. I particulary enjoy the technical side of copper plate etching.”
Publishers Hodder and Stoughton spotted Daniels digitally enhanced etching that was designed to look like a vinyl album cover and his etching of Drake’s Island at the D&AD Global Creative Advertising and Design festival based in London last year.
Daniel added: “This was the look and subject they wanted for the cover for the recently published book called, ‘Should You Ask Me’ by Marianne Kavanagh, a story of love, history, war, murder, revenge and unlikely friendships. I’m particulary pleased as I graduated less than a year ago, so having my work published on that scale is a great start.”
Daniel has also had his work accepted at the Bankside Gallery in London in The Masters Etching, got shortlisted for The World Association of Illustrators competition and is currently producing a piece for an exhibition called The Space Within, being held in Bolton.
Despite also working part time at Downtown Superstore, Daniel loves spending time in his studio. He added: “It can take alot of time to get all the details correct but this suits my way of working. I like to work in blocks. Rather than break my concentration, I can sometimes work throughout the night if I am really engrossed in something that I am working on.”
For more information, visit www.danielconnolly.co.uk
