Hello, I'm Michelle Hughes, a printmaker and illustrator based in York, North Yorkshire.
I’m a North Yorkshire landscape artist who creates original limited edition linocut prints inspired by the British countryside and British wildlife.
I work from my garden studio in Holgate, York. I mainly create prints with the relief printing method of linocut and use the multi-block method to create multi-coloured linocut prints. The designs are hand-carved into lino blocks, one for each colour to be printed and hand-printed using oil-based inks.
I have always loved making things and working with my hands. I like the spontaneity of making marks with the tools, the quality of the line and the graphic style of the final linocut print. I aim to capture the landscape's spirit by distilling it into simpler graphic shapes and a limited tonal colour palette.
My inspiration is from my favourite views from walking and cycling in the British countryside, including the Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire coast, North York Moors, and Lake District.
I teach linocut workshops to small groups in my print studio. Teaching linocut online courses enables me to teach across the world. I am a member of York Printmakers.
Read the full story in these two blogs:
My creative journey as an artist and designer - the story so far
Meet the Maker: The inspiration and process behind my linocut prints
A short introduction about how I work
A short introduction about how I work. Video by BeetrootBox.
My story: The long edit
From the beginning
I’ve always loved making things and being creative. My favourite phrase was and still is, “I could make that”. If I don’t know how to, I’ll certainly have a go.
Sewing, crafts and baking were my biggest interests. In my early teens, I made soft toys that I would sell to a local gift shop in my home town of Stratford-upon-Avon. I still have the costing and sales book. I kept track of it all! An early entrepreneur in the making!! I went on to make all my own clothes.
Education
My strongest subjects at school were maths, sewing, art and the sciences. Growing up, I didn’t have a particular ‘I want to be something’. I just knew I liked making things. I graduated from Solent University, Southampton, in 1991 with an HND in Fashion Design. I have been lucky enough to be working as a designer ever since.
Early career
From 1991 to 2005, I worked my way up the career ladder in fashion, textile design and homeware. I designed for high-street retailers such as The Arcadia Group, Freeman’s catalogue and Disney. You may well own something designed by me already!
In search of more meaning
In 2005, I quit my job to go backpacking around Southeast Asia for a year. I spent four months in Cambodia volunteering for a Fair Trade gift company.
Moving to York - a happy accident
On my return, I looked for a job in Fair Trade. I moved to York as Head of Design for Shared Earth, developing homeware and gifting ranges.
Not everything goes to plan
Redundancy struck, and after a maternity cover role as a graphic designer, I became the Design Manager for the Cook and Dine range at George Home.
Sowing the seeds of change
My 4th redundancy in January 2016 was the opportunity to make a significant lifestyle change, be it a scary one. So, with one big shove, off I went. This was the beginning of my journey into self-employment. I started my own business in June 2016.
Following my dreams - A tale of two halves
Initially, I set my business up purely as a graphic designer, offering design support to local businesses. That made sense, and in time, I could pay the bills. I had no intention of becoming an artist. I’d always seen making crafts and art as a hobby. After all, it’s tough to make a living from it.
By 2020, my focus had shifted to printmaking while continuing graphic design work if it fitted into my style. As well as selling my linocut prints through galleries, print fairs, open studios and my online shop, I also run linocut workshops in my studio. I’ve also created illustration commissions for marketing and books.
Adapting during the pandemic
Overnight, everything came to a standstill. Events, exhibitions and workshops were cancelled or postponed, and graphic design work dried up. I had to adapt quickly. After taking a Design Trust course to learn how to teach online, I launched my first online linocut course in July 2020, followed by my multi-block linocut course in May 2021.
My next leap of faith has been to make my living purely as a professional printmaker.
My brief history and CV
1971 Born in Coventry and grew up in Stratford Upon Avon.
1987 - 1991 ND design and HND in Fashion Design.
1991 Moved to London.
1991 - 2003 Fashion and textile design for The Arcadia Group, Freemans Plc, River Island.
2003 - 2005 Pan European Creative Manager for Disney Home Europe.
2005 - 2006 Career break, travelling and volunteering for Rajana Crafts, Cambodia.
2006 Moved to York.
2006 - 2009 Design Manager for Fair Trade homeware and gift at Shared Earth, York.
2009 - 2011 Graphic Design for Room for Design.
2011 - 2016 Design Manager for the cook and dine range at George Home, Asda.
2016 I started my own business, Michelle Hughes Design.
My Interests and hobbies
I love crafts, cycling, walking, yoga, gardening, cooking, photography, up-cycling, nature, travel and adventures. Read more about my walking and cycling trips under the inspiration category in my blog.