In Conversation with Grace Beswick: Printmaking, Nature and a New Studio at Devonport Guildhall

Arts reporter and designer Victoria Lammie recently caught up with Printmaker Grace Beswick to find out all about her new studio space in the Devonport Guildhall, her latest work and her involvement in ‘The Creative Climate Programme’ 

You’re a Plymouth based printmaker originally from Staffordshire what drew you to Plymouth?

I moved here for the painting, drawing and printmaking degree at Arts University Plymouth. I was introduced to printmaking whilst at college, at a point where my work was textile based and was drawn in by the process and possibilities within the discipline.  I started looking at courses and most seemed to be in the south. I came down for an open day at AUP and it obviously drew me in. I moved down for the course which was a last minute decision really. It was an interesting course, with the first year being focused on painting and by the second year I could begin to specialise in printmaking.

I then go on to ask Grace if she had ever been to Plymouth?

She told me she hadn’t but also that she had never been down South. After graduation Grace moved back home to Staffordshire due to not being able to find employment in the creative industries. But she struggled to find and connect with other like minded creatives and soon moved back to Plymouth. Grace moved back to Plymouth for an Artist Residency with Real Ideas, at Ocean Studios (Nov 2024-May 2025). Grace goes onto say ‘I’m now continuing to develop my practice at the Devonport Guildhall making use of my new studio on the top floor and spending time in the print room.

How are you finding your studio?

‘I’ve been here for around two months and it’s taken time to settle in properly with this being my first studio and since I’ve needed to focus on a new screenprint for a deadline, but now I’m starting to get some pieces up to initiate inspiration and hoping I will see what could inform my paintings’. We go on to speak about how peaceful, light and airy the space is and how it’s given her the opportunity to really focus on her practice. 

How would you describe your work?

My work is all about process. I’m really interested in the traditional processes of print making. I’m intrigued by flat colour, flat shapes, layering and playing around with compositions. I’ve been immersed in the process of digital manipulation. The blossom series has been a really great subject matter to structure that process around. 

What's your favourite subject matter and why?

‘Obviously nature and I started to focus on blossom. I like the fact I can break it down into different layers. I’ve got so many ideas on this subject matter. I’m planning to run with it for longer and just see where I can go with it. It’s been a great subject matter to share with people. I’ve been involved in some public engagement programmes. Sticking with the same subject matter for so long people often think you might get closed off with it. At the minute I have so much curiosity and different directions I want to go with it. So at the moment it’s still exciting!’

Tell me about your involvement with ‘The Creative Climate Programme’

‘I’ve been very interested in what the city has to offer. Then I saw this but wasn’t sure I was in the right position due to not having the many sustainable considerations in my practice.  I’m quite new and fresh out of university. But I decided to go for it. I thought of it as an opportunity for me to start bringing in those considerations, bounce ideas around, and see what other people are doing. There were also workshops which were quite informative. It’s been really important because it’s given me ideas of how to push my practice forward bringing in environmental considerations. My subject matter is to do with nature and I think it’s important that it brings up those conversations through that naturally too. I initially went into the ‘Let’s Make Change’ programme with a different project idea of expanding my print into different formats such as fashion or interiors, but it felt too overwhelming to begin with. So with the duration of the programme I ended up changing based on what conversations and workshops we had throughout and then thinking about exploring environmentally friendly inks. Now the programmes finished I’m planning to explore that to see how I can integrate it in and whether it can work long term. So it’s been really important to bring up these ideas to sit with how I’m thinking forward’

What's your next event?

My next exhibition is ‘The Contemporary British Printmakers’ which is organised by ‘Artizan Collective’ and held at Delamore Arts, Delamore Estate, Cornwood Near Ivybridge, Plymouth from 1st-31st of May 26.

So what’s next for you?

‘At the moment I’m trying to keep my print making going as I had a small break during the move here. I also have some painting ideas which will be the next step for my practice, together with some community engagement projects that are ticking along’.

Grace's work is very recognisable; her incredible use of colour and layering focusing on images from nature creates real depth to her practice. I for one just love her prints and can really see them being used in apparel, particularly swimwear. She’s definitely one to look out for. I will certainly be following her creative journey to see just where it takes her!

@gracebeswickart 

https://gracebeswickart.cargo.site/