A new art collective will be exhibiting original, hand-pulled prints at one of the largest galleries in Buckinghamshire, Obsidian Art.

The Beds, Bucks & Herts Print Society (BBH) was set up in 2011 for printmakers and artists who use any of the hand-pulled print methods in their work, to join together.

The process, in which the artist creates an image with paint or ink on a smooth plate and transfers it onto paper, is similar to woodblock printing, which has been used since the 15th century and also the crude method of potato-printing used in childhood.

President of the society, Kim Major-George, says: “Many years ago, in fulfilling a brief to illustrate a book cover, I was seeking a technique to create an ethereal effect of unicorns emerging from a mist, which I could not produce using brushes and paint.

“I attended a course run by a renowned collagraph printmaker and realised I had found my solution and from then on have been completely enthralled with hand-pulled printmaking, with a particular emphasis on collagraph.

“There are many different genres of printmaking: etching, linocut, screen-printing, drypoint and, of course, collagraph. I soon became aware that the principle print societies are concerned primarily with traditional etching and I felt this approach inhibited the creative urge felt by myself and other printmakers. So, six years ago, I spoke to a few other like-minded printmakers and the Beds, Bucks & Herts Print Society was formed.”

Of her own work Kim tells me: “I break the mould in many ways by using multiple plates which are pulled through the traditional printing press several times. I often then add liquid solutions to the dried print to create unusual ageing effects further enhanced with the application of gold leaf. This sort of approach is encouraged within the Society in comparison to the rather restrictive approach adopted by other print societies.”

“The ethos was to encourage artists who wanted to break the rules and experiment with their own unique styles of mark marking starting with hand-pulled printmaking as their base technique."

“The BBH Print Society now has 50 members who work or live in the three counties. I am very grateful to Trisha Woodcock, the owner of the Obsidian Art, for allowing us to exhibit once more in her beautiful gallery. Twenty of the members have submitted their pieces covering all aspects of hand pulled printing and the result is stunning.

The exhibition offers a walk through the many varied methods of printmaking employed by artists today, and the results are exciting and fresh, and often bold and colourful.

There will be an opportunity to meet some of the exhibiting artists and talk to them directly about printmaking methods on Sunday, May 8, 2pm to 4pm.

Obsidian Art, Layby Farm, Old Risborough Rd, Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury, HP22 5XJ, until Sunday, May 29. Details: 01296 612150