Artist’s biography

Sally Adkins (b. 1972) is a British artist and multidisciplinary printmaker. Her practice explores the within and beyond in landscape: she investigates the emotional and spiritual response to being immersed in nature, its strength, fragility and precariousness in an evolving world. Within this she pays particular attention to the dialogue between water and landscape.

Adkins works predominantly within the heritage of acid-based etching, harnessing traditional techniques to develop finely etched, deeply atmospheric metal plates, inked and printed on a traditional intaglio press. She also specialises in monotypes and contemporary interventions in print. Her work is always underpinned by literature, especially poetry, relating to place.

Holding a BA Hons in Print and Typography, she undertook training in traditional acid-based etching within specialist studios. Rooted in her earlier years on the edge of Dartmoor, she now works from her studio in walking distance of the River Derwent, White Peak, Derbyshire. Her work has been exhibited widely in the UK including in shows at the RWA Bristol, Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair and selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Adkins was elected Printmakers’ Printmaker at Printfest 2024.

Artist’s statement

I am an artist printmaker based near to the River Derwent, on the edge of the Peaks, Derbyshire. With roots in Dartmoor, the River Dart and Exe Estuary, both former and current locations heavily inform my practice.

I look deeply into land and scape, with a particular focus on water. Recording and drawing in charcoal, my main practice is in the heritage tradition of acid-etching, pushing the medium to express landscape as fluidly and eloquently as possible. I’m also exploring more painterly monotype prints and contemporary interventions and reframing of print.

Recent collections include Confluence inspired by the poetry of Alice Oswald, Diluvian which came out of being absorbed by Annie DIllard’s A pilgrim at Tinkers Creek. My current project, The River Psalms, continues the pursuit of representing landscape and water, this time as visual prayers, creating delicate prints upon which to quietly reflect and dwell. Some of these take the book format of ‘recto’ ‘verso’ or diptychs, playing with the concept of pages from within a sacred text that is written for and of the water.

As these formats and concepts develop, choices of print medium are instinctively evolving and expanding to include wider print techniques.


CV

Solo shows

The future is the light on the water, Llantarnum Grange, Cwmbran, Wales, 2024

Confluence II at LCB Depot, Leicester, 2023

Confluence at Zillah Bell Gallery, Thirsk, 2021, alongside Norman Ackroyd


Selected group exhibitions

Spring Edition, Altaer Space Derbyshire 2025

Paper Works, Royal West of England Academy, 2025

Winter Show, Altaer Space, Derbyshire, 2024

Winter Show, Leicester Print Workshop, 2024

Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, 2024, selected

Summer Exhibition, ZIllah Bell Gallery, Thirsk, 2024

Members Annual Show, Leicester Print Workshop, 2023

Royal West of England Open, 2023

Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, 2022

Members Annual Show, Leicester Print Workshop, 2022

Royal West of England Open, 2021

Hang Small, Old Lock Up Gallery, Cromford, Derbyshire, 2021

Off the press, Old Lock Up Gallery, Cromford, Derbyshire, 2021

Pressing On, Leicester Print Workshop, 2021

Spring Up, Angelus Gallery, Winchester College, 2020


Contemporary print opens and fairs

Printfest 2025

The Hepworth Wakefield Print Fair, 2025

Compton Verney Print Fair, 2024

Printfest, 2024 (as Printmakers’ Printtmaker)

The Hepworth Wakefield Print Fair, 2024

Cheltenham Craft, 2024

Printfest, 2023

The Hepworth Wakefield Print Fair, 2023

Cheltenham Craft, 2023

Black Swan Arts Open, Frome, 2022

Printfest, 2022

Hepworth Wakefield Print Fair, 2022

Nottingham Contemporary Print Fair, 2022

Sheffield Print Fair, 2022

Leicester Print Workshop, 2022


Awards

Printmakers’ Printmaker, Printfest 2023

Showcase Award, Cheltenham Craft, 2023

Arts Council Award, DYCP, 2022

Best Newcomer, Printfest 2020


Print Associations

Leicester Print Workshop 2020 ongoing

Badger Press, Bishops Waltham, 2018 - 2020


Publications

Confluence, Sally Adkins, 2022