A hand-printed original linocut print of a curlew nesting quietly in the Yorkshire Dales landscape.
 
Printed using six individually hand-carved lino blocks, this piece combines soft, layered greens with gentle grey tones to create a linocut print of this much-loved, endangered bird. The low viewpoint reflects how curlews nest close to the ground, blending into their surroundings.
 
Inspiration
Curlews are one of my favourite birds, with their unmistakable silhouette and long, downturned beak. Their bubbling call is one of the most evocative sounds of the British countryside, and I often hear it while walking in the Yorkshire Dales and Nidderdale.
 
They nest on the ground in simple ‘scrapes’ in grassland and moorland, which makes them especially vulnerable to disturbance. Although I’ve never seen a nesting curlew in person, this print was developed from sketches made while watching Curlew Country’s live nest camera in Shropshire, alongside my own photos of the Yorkshire Dales.
 
How It’s Made
This print is created using a traditional multi-block linocut process, printed from six separate hand-carved lino blocks, one for each colour.
 
Each layer is carefully printed by hand using oil-based inks, with drying time between each stage. The process is slow, but it allows for subtle tones and fine detail.
 
This is an original hand-pulled linocut print, not a digital reproduction.
Proudly handmade in Yorkshire. Artist Michelle Hughes retains all copyright.