Artist in Residence – Jonny Hannah

Back in June with a rucksack full of carved lino and spare shirt, Jonny Hannah made the long journey from Darktown – an imaginary world of a by-gone age filled with sea shanties, tattoo parlours, marine adventurers and good music – to Tilley Printing where he would make home for a week’s artist in residency.

Jonny’s work is born from a place of escapism from the modern world and a nostalgic celebration of the ways of yesteryear. He creates loud, passionate pieces often from linocut or screen print, two mediums which offer movement and allow for chaotic layering. An intense clash of colour and pattern, sometimes bearing a political opinion or a promotional strapline for his band The Postmen, his pieces have a youthful, unapologetic energy to them which make one want to run away with the circus and marry a strongman in a striped T-shirt. 

This year sees the double celebration of 20 years since Phoebe Clive first opened the doors of Tinsmiths back in 2004 and 60 years of Martin Clark at Tilley Printing, climbing up the ranks from apprentice to proprietor to Master Printer. To mark both colossal milestones, Phoebe and Martin have put together a bumper exhibition, calling on a number of makers and artists close to their hearts that they know well and love and have worked with for many years. Each maker or artist are contributing particularly special pieces to the exhibition which opens on 5th September 2024.

‘Paper Cut Pigeons & Brass Boots’ is a salute to both Tilley Printing, a magical inky time warp whose loyal customer base are local businesses, independent artists and private clients; and to Tinsmiths, originally a small shop with just ticking fabric on offer which has grown over the years to provide an extensive range of beautiful fabrics, an in-house Made to Measure service for curtains and blinds, and a platform for local makers and artists who practise heritage crafts and produce exceptional wares. 

During Jonny Hannah’s week in Ledbury he put together four posters for the exhibition. Working closely alongside Martin and with a clear brief from Phoebe, he set about layering up his pre-cut sheets of lino with blocks of type and decorative motifs from the boundless supply of letterpress blocks at Tilley Printing. Jonny chose bold, clashing colours as is his stock-in-trade, to create a limited run of posters each illuminating something important to both Tinsmiths and Tilley Printing. 

LEDBURYSHIRE

A curio box of bold motifs which represent the jewels in the crown that is Ledbury. An apple with the words ‘Box of Delights’ carved into its core depicts Herefordshire apples, one of our county’s lucrative commodities, and the name of the magical Christmas tale written by John Masefield who lived in Ledbury. The large L at the top bears the ancient name of Ledbury, as recorded in the Domesday Book – Liedeberge. Another shows a pewter tankard with two feathers for the imposing black and white Tudor timber-framed hotel in the middle of town. Other sections include the Obelisk at nearby Eastnor, a Cider flagon, Wallers Butchers and a pen nib for Ledbury Poetry Festival – Jonny believes all poets should write with a fountain pen…its how Masefield would have done it.

The bell with the K honours the local legend of Katherine of Ledbury (sometimes spelt with a C, but Jonny went for the K). Katherine reached Ledbury and heard the church bells ringing of their own accord and decided to remain “under the shadow of the bell-tower” as an anchoress. She became the muse for William Wordsorth’s sonnet ‘St. Catherine of Ledbury’ and is known as Ledbury’s patron saint.

OUR HOUSE

A huge, singular linocut of Tinsmiths shop front and in the middle of the High Street, with the floors above where Phoebe lives.

Jonny created motifs to go where the windows would be on the house of all that makes up our wonderful shop at the heart of Ledbury: rolls of fabric, bulkhead lights, wrought iron hardware, functional ceramics, folk art, sturdy kitchenware, good signage, sharp scissors and black cats.

Bold type has been printed on top of the lino with the words ‘useful & beautiful’ which are, just like William Morris, Phoebe’s simple criteria when choosing objects for both her house and her shop. 

THE PEWKE BAND

Few people know that whilst acquiring the title of Master Printer, Martin Clark was also a rock and roll star in a band of Ledbury locals.

The Pewke Band performed all around Ledbury and even on the other side of the hills in the Victorian spa town of Malvern at the Winter Gardens. During the 60s and 70s, Malvern Winter Gardens played host to some big names including AC-DC, Pink Floyd, Status Quo, The Who and Eric Clapton.

Unable to pass up on the opportunity to dig deep into Martin’s past, Jonny came up with a fantasy gig poster for The Pewke Band, performing at the Winter Gardens on the 12th of Never. 

THE POSTMEN

Back in real life, present day Jonny is also part of a band called The Postmen who will be performing at the opening night of Paper Cut Pigeons & Brass Boots.

The first layer of type in green says ‘chansons de travail’ meaning work songs. The Postmen sing songs of labour, the toil, council houses and post-pandemic existentialism.

The top layer of coal-black type reads “Live & In Person Ace beat Combo The Postmen Sept 5th 6pm at Tinsmiths 8 High St Ledbury For a Busking Birthday Bonanza” printed over the top of a lively linocut in a rusty orange. 

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Join us in our beloved Ledburyshire on 5th September for the Private View (this event will be invite only but you can request an invitation HERE) or from 6th September for public viewing, running until 7th October.