Vicky Oldfield is renowned for her distinctive pictures, the subjects are the story of her fascination with life; “I am hugely inspired by my walks through the countryside with my dog, my garden and the objects that I collect. I am inspired by close study of plants, seed heads and found objects. My favourite places to gather information are hedgerows and field left to grow a little wild”.

Vicky Oldfield’s strong images are created using collagraphs, an experimental form of printmaking. Her works are produced by a variety of materials: wire, etching, oil sticks, tissue paper, paper, string, coloured card – anything that may come to hand! A collage is made up with these materials and then placed in a metal press. A print is taken of the design and then reworked with colour on top. The plates are then sealed and then inked up and printed in intaglio or relief on damp paper using an etching press. This process affords small editions of the image, which are variable due to the process and her desire to experiment, which means each print is unique.

“Printing by hand is everything to me, I do not print to produce an edition, it’s all about the marks you can get by printmaking that I would be unable to make without the process”

Continually inspired by plants, objects and the animals that surround her, Oldfield’s pictures are an atmospheric response to the beauty and drama of everyday life. Her flowers are fresh and full of life, yet they become part of the old, once discarded bottles and jars – labelled relics, creating archaeological finds from everyday objects.

Vicky Oldfield’s work is becoming increasingly collectable, having shown at the Royal Academy (where her entire editions have sold on preview night), Bankside and major galleries in the UK. Vicky studied (BA Hons) Design at Staffordshire University and then advanced printmaking at Richmond School of Art. She has worked as a freelance designer/illustrator in recent years for a range of clients including Villero and Boch, The British Museum and Wedgewood and has worked as a studio designer for Triodes International in Paris and Crown Wallcoverings in London.

Vicky Oldfield is exhibiting at For Arts Sake, Ealing gallery from Wednesday 5th August to Sunday 23rd August alongside Frances Doherty in ‘How Does Your Garden Grow’.