Member showcase - Irena Przybyl and June Russell

Dates:
Sat 17th Jan – Sat 21st Feb 2026
Open: Thursday, Friday and Saturday
10.30am – 3.30pm

This member showcase exhibition brings together the work of two printmakers who produce work independently at West Yorkshire Print Workshop.

Irena Przybyl

Traditional print making and photography form the basis of Irena’s art, which takes inspiration from nature, light and the elements in both urban and rural surroundings.

Irena has been printing since 2006, her motivation is the enjoyment and satisfaction in being creative, exploring new techniques at every opportunity. Having attended many short courses she creates at her home studio while developing her practice at Hot Bed Press, Salford and West Yorkshire Print Workshop.

Working across a wide range of print making techniques including etching, solarplate, lino, woodblock, screenprint, cyanotype and monotype. Irena’s practice and artwork are constantly evolving. Sustainability is important; therefore nothing is thrown away if there is a chance it can contribute to her art in another form.

For this exhibition I am showing my exploration of caustic lino etching. This technique was learnt at West Yorkshire Print Workshop. The printing blocks were created by applying a variety of resists, then etched using caustic paste to produce layers of texture and depth. This method allows endless experimentation in printing, from monotone to colour viscosity inking and multi-block layering.

The original blocks have been re-purposed by being cut up, then through creative play have been re-composed producing new prints. Experiment with different inking techniques further extends the possibilities of the blocks, which is a key feature of the sustainability of my practice.

A range of prints are on display along with the original caustic etched lino blocks. Viewers are invited to handle the lino blocks, to explore the nature of the technique and how these blocks have been combined to create the final prints.

June Russell

I am a fine art printmaker based in Bradford, West Yorkshire. I began my career as a painter, but my interest in working in themed series led me to produce original prints alongside larger paintings. I soon became absorbed in printmaking and went on to gain a distinction in MA Printmaking at Bradford College in 2000. My work explores locations that are real, imagined, or a blend of both, with a particular focus on the relationship between people and the places they inhabit. I am also curious about what defines beauty within an environment. My process begins with observing and recording places, then returning to the studio to recreate the emotional experience of being there. I often revisit ideas over long periods, refining them across different print media. I have exhibited locally and regionally since 1996, but no longer work commercially, and am fully enjoying pursuing my own practice again.

I began printmaking at West Yorkshire Print Workshop, where I had my first studio in 1996 and used the facilities to develop my craft. Later, I moved to a studio closer to home in Bradford and bought my own presses. Although I started as a painter and enjoyed experimenting with many techniques, I gradually became known for etching and drypoint, producing mostly monochrome, linear work. Two years ago, deciding I no longer wanted or needed to work commercially, I gave up my studio, sold my presses and used the savings to begin learning again, back at WYPW. The work shown today grew from two courses taught by Kate Desforges, both of which shifted me towards a more painterly, colourful way of working. It has been a real step change, and one I am excited to pursue. Wood lithography, in particular, has been a revelation – I only wish I had found it sooner.