Hilke MacIntyre grew up in North Germany where she studied at the College of Art & Architecture in Kiel. In 1996 she moved to Scotland where she divides her time between painting, printmaking and producing ceramic reliefs.
Hilke's work uses a simplified figurative style with strong abstract pattern. Influences include 'primitive' art, early 20th Century European art and contemporary design. Hilke exhibits throughout Great Britain and has been selected several times for the annual show of the Royal Scottish Academy. Amongst other commissions her linocuts have been used to illustrate publications for the Neuk Musical Festival and the National Youth Choir of Scotland.
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The limited edition ceramic reliefs are made in editions of 50. An original design is formed from clay from which a plaster mould is made into which new slabs of soft clay can be pressed to et an identical relief. After a first lower firing in a kiln, the reliefs are individually glazed so that each looks slightly different. They are then fired again at a high temperature. Each tile is numbered and signed.
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"My linocuts are original prints. I print the linocuts and woodcuts directly from the carved plates on an old cast iron Harrild Press in my studio in Arncroach using Lawrence oil based high quality inks and acid free Zerkall printmaking paper. Because the inking and pressing of the plates is done by hand every single print differs slightly from the others of that edition. I usually print in editions of 35 or 50. All prints are signed and have an edition number."
"Linocutting and woodcutting is my preferred printmaking technique as it is direct and hands on. Whereas relief printing offers possibilities for very refined and multicoloured designs I keep it simple and enjoy the task of designing with reduced elements and only a few colours. I like a slight roughness of the cut line and enjoy working rather spontaneous than carefully when carving the block. The resulting 'mistakes' can either add to the the design or need to be carefully touched up on each print during the printing process… Working through the stages from first sketch to printing the edition is an interesting journey."