Simon Ripley

Artists statement

Linocut monoprints

Simon Ripley makes linocut monoprints on handmade Japanese paper using an 1850’s Columbian Press.
Each print is unique - a one off - hence the name monoprint.
A piece of lino, or wood is cut by hand using gouges and other tools. The surface of the lino is inked and then pressed onto the paper. The lino is then cut again, re-inked with a new colour and printed again. This process is repeated several times to give a build up of ink and to create the design. Each time wet ink is printed upon wet ink and the whole image is created in one session.
Whilst the prints do have titles, it is important that these do not prevent the viewer from finding their own interpretation and meaning in the marks and imagery of the print.

My prints are always monoprints - each is unique and emerges from a purely intuitive process that is ritualistic in its form. My approach is based around the idea that we are not human beings living a spiritual experience but rather that we are spiritual beings living a human experience. My work makes reference to things that catch my eye in the world around me : it might be an element of the landscape, a domestic object, an iconic form. The prints are made as an entirely intuitive response to these experiences and ideas and whilst I may not know the final outcome when I start, each has a germ of an idea at the outset.
The colours, shapes, marks and forms in the work are like signs which I hope will trigger memories or other connections. These signs are in conversation with each other. They are like Japanese Haiku poems - epigrammatic, visual poems giving a wide breadth of possible interpretation.
Hilla Rebay states “Non objective paintings are prophets in spiritual life” Ripley’s work is a meditation on a higher reality and to quote Tapies, “an attempt to see the richness of our resources”.

C.V.

DoB : 2nd March 1962. Dover, England.

Education :
Foundation in Arts Therapy. ‘Art in Mental Health’ 2004
NVQ Level 3 Business start-up 2003
NVQ Level 3 Further and Adult Education 1997
BA Hons 2i. Fine Art Plymouth University. Dissertation entitled "Art & Healing" 1995
Winner of Plymouth University Bridget McCrum Prize 1995.
East London Polytechnic. Diploma in Combined Arts 1992
Islington College of Further Education. London. Art & Design Access. 1991
Diploma in International Law. London University 1986
LLB Hons 2ii. University of Sheffield 1984

Employment :
Artist in Residence Franklyn Hospital Alzheimers Unit, Exeter. January 2012
Artist in Residence Growing Hearts & Minds Project. B Arts Stoke on Trent. From February 2011
Artist in Residence Wonford House Hospital acute psychiatric inpatient Unit. November 2010
Associate Artist Plymouth Hospital Derriford. 12 months from July 2010
Artist Printmaker & Director Double Elephant Print Workshop 1997 to date
Role-play facilitator : Actor Factor. Peninsula Medical School and Deanery 2006 to date
Retained Firefighter Crediton 2006 to date
ALIAS Contact. Supporting artist led initiatives. An Arts Council England SW project. 2005 - 08
Project Co-ordinator for arts in education projects : DepARTure - Dorset CC 2001 - 02
Lecturer part time : University Plymouth and Exeter College 1985 - 87
Legal Advisor. United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Hong Kong 1989 - 90
Caseworker : UK Immigrants Advisory Service Refugee Unit and Joint Council for Welfare of Immigrants. 1987 - 1991
Research Assistant : Runnymede Trust and University of London 1986 - 1988
Office Assistant : UN Gedaref Field Office and Project Trust Representative. Sudan 1984 - 85
Teaching Assistant : Hantoub Secondary School. Wad Medani. Sudan. 1980 - 81


Selected workshops and residencies :
St Petrock’s Exeter homeless project. March 2010
Print workshop with families of Deaf children March 2010
Grenville Pupil Referral Unit February 2010
Print on Prescription scheme. Double Elephant 2009 / 10
DAISI residency at All Saints Cof E Primary School, Babbacombe Torquay. 3 days. Jan. 2010
Regional Development Agency Dec. 2009
Bideford College Year 11 Nov. 2009
Centre for Contemporary Art & the Natural World. Art in the Park September 2009
Headway Brain Injury Association Series of workshops at Double Elephant 2008
Early Years ‘’Reggio Emilia’ Residency at Ilfracombe Infant & Nursery School Winter 2008
HMP Shepton Mallet prison art workshops Summer 2007
pARTicipate ACESW - ‘Lifeworks’ mental health service users print workshops 2006 to 2009