Jess Davies
Jess Davies | Printmaking | Devon
Jess Davies is a printmaker. She often works in multi-colour ‘reduction’ linocut prints: this means cutting away parts of the lino at each colour layer before laying in the next one, instead of using a separate lino ‘plate’ for each colour. The result is layers of ink building up, producing interesting colours and textures.
Her prints are often based in landscapes of real places. She aims to capture a feel of the place, using very simple but evocative elements in the compositions. So although each piece appears to be quite simple, this is a result of many decisions, stripping back preparatory drawings several times, to find the right composition, and also the right marriage of colours to complete the story. Although some pieces are quite literal, she is moving into a more abstracted style in others, simplifying even further.
Jess Davies originally trained in Theatre Design at Nottingham Trent University. She subsequently moved into drama, working as an actor, role-player, and workshop leader, though she always kept up a drawing practice. After living in Brighton for many years, she moved to Devon in 2008, and decided to return to her long-neglected art practice, which led her into printmaking.