Member showcase - SUSAN ACKROYD: Observations - West Yorkshire Print Workshop

Dates:
Sat 8th Nov – Sat 20th Dec 2025
Open: Thursday, Friday and Saturday
10.30am – 3.30pm

This is the first exhibition of photolithographs by Susan Ackroyd. Her work is inspired by real scenes that capture moments of harmony, drama and quiet beauty. Each image reflects her curiosity about the world and the stories within it.

Created at West Yorkshire Print Workshop in Mirfield, these works demonstrate Susan’s thoughtful exploration of photolithography, a process she values for its precision and calm focus. This selection marks an exciting stage in her printmaking journey. to the reason or story behind what is in the image.

Words from the artist

“The depictions in these prints are all real. The prints show something I have observed that has caught my attention. This is usually something that looks visually appealing or impressive, for example, because it conveys harmony, peace, drama, majesty or simply amazes me. It may be something that provokes my imagination, for instance, as to the reason or story behind what is in the image.

All these prints are made using photolithography at West Yorkshire Print Workshop in Mirfield, a friendly and dedicated printmaking and artmaking community. I really enjoy the quiet process of photolithography, especially when it goes well.

The plates we use have recently changed and this year we have been amending the development process to obtain as much detail as possible in the image. The new plates seem to develop very quickly. Gum Arabic is still used to enhance the image so that water is attracted to the non-image areas and ink can be rolled onto the image areas, before the plate is passed through the printing press.

The process is ever-evolving and the exhibition gives a snapshot of where I am at the moment, I will now see where I go from here! What do you like or dislike about these prints? I would love to know. Please leave your comments in the book when you visit the show.”

About Susan Ackroyd

Susan Ackroyd completed a day course in photolithography in 2017 and was amazed by the amount of detail obtained in the finished print. Digital photography enables a single digital image to be easily enlarged and printed onto film, which is then exposed onto a printing plate for hand printing. Susan enjoys producing prints of different sizes, such as A4 or larger. She intends to continue experimenting with photolithography in the future.