• "AL: What made you start doing monotypes?

    MH: It was at the suggestion of Frank Connelly, the artist who runs Printmaking at Morley. He thought I would enjoy it." 

    Andrew Lambirth interviewing  Maggi Hambling about the monotypes she made in the early 1990s (incl 'Jemma' series), in 'MAGGI HAMBLING THE WORKS, an conversations with Andrew Lambirth' (Unicon Press, 2006)

  • Maggi Hambling, Skull, 1995

    Maggi Hambling

    Skull, 1995

    In the same published interview by art critic Andrew Lambirth, Maggi Hambling explains the monotype process: 

    "Frank prepares an etching plate with dense velvety black ink. I then work into it with turps, rags, my hands and occasionally a brush, removing the ink to create the image, as if drawing with light. He then takes a single print from the plate, so each one is unique. [...]". 

     

    Up to this point in Hambling's career, she had made etchings and monotypes; but not silk-screen prints. However, thanks to art critic Andrew Lambirth, that was about to change. ...

     

  • "Even though Derek's death was on the cards for so long, it was still an enormous shock when it did finally happen. And I made my painting from memory. The Yves Klein Blue was inspired by his last film, and plays through him in my portrait." 

    Maggi Hambling in conversation with Andrew Lambirth.
  • Maggi Hambling with printmaker Ian Wilkinson in her London studio, discussing the silk-screen print Stephen Fry Musing, published by IAP Fine Art to raise money for Terrence Higgins Trust. Photograph © IAP Fine Art

  • Maggi Hambling, Stephen Fry and George Melly at IAP Fine Art's private view and print edition launch.

     

         (Detail of photograph © Eliott Franks, 2006)

  • Maggi had been a close friend of Derek Jarman, who sadly died from AIDS in 1994.  She painted 'Derek Jarman from memory,' in 1994, and the painting  sold quickly into a private collection; but Maggi felt that more people should see the image and that there was also the opportunity to raise money for Terrence Higgins Trust, helping people with HIV and AIDS if an edition of prints could be made.  In 1997, to this end, Andrew Lambirth introduced Hambling to David Tregunna, founder and Director of IAP Fine Art, one of the first galleries to open in the East End of London, in Bethnal Green. Tregunna and Hambling got on immediately, and have remained friends ever since.

     

    However, the printmakers IAP Fine Art were using at the time were Peacock Printmakers in Aberdeen, so the printmakers had to come to Maggi's London studio, or Tregunna had to travel  Aberdeen. As David Tregunna notes : "I was a young gallery owner back then, and it was a great opportunity to work with Maggi; but I did not realise she would not have time to visit the print studio, and in order to prevent the edition being a mere reproduction, Maggi had to paint on the clear screens herself to add touches here and there, and make colours. I must have travelled to Aberdeen ten times on Easy Jet, but eventually the balance was struck between getting the colours and the terrific blue exactly right, whilst also preserving the graphic and almost 3D quality of Maggi's brushstrokes.  The launch evening was wonderful, many were sold and funds raised for THT; and George Melly stood on the rim of a fountain to give a speech, and nearly fell in!" A print from the edition was then given to Keith Collins, Derek Jarman's partner, where it still hangs today in Prospect Cottage, the latter which has just been saved for the nation by an excellent Art Fund initiative. 

     

    Following the success of the 'Portrait of Derek Jarman' silk-screen print edition in 1998,  IAP Fine Art published two further editions with Maggi Hambling: 'George Melly singing' and 'Stephen Fry musing' in 2006,  which are both editions of 100, each again raising money for THT. This time IAP Fine Art brought in master printmaker Ian Wilkinson, then at Limberhurst Press in Cambridgeshire. The  editions were launched in London with Stephen Fry and George Melly present. Some prints from all three editions are available from IAP Fine Art, but are beginning to sell out, with the increasing acclaim Maggi Hambling's work is receiving, and the recent BBC-commissioned documentary on her life and work. Simply click on the prints below to find out more......

  • 'George Melly singing' was included in Maggi Hambling's major solo museum exhibition 'George Always' at the Walker Gallery in 2009,...

    'George Melly singing' was included in Maggi Hambling's major solo museum exhibition 'George Always' at the Walker Gallery in 2009, and featured in the hardback exhibition catalogue, (pictured left).

     

    Simply click on the above prints to enquire re purchasing. Prints may be purchased unframed or framed at a very reasonable extra cost. If we frame the prints for you, it will be to Maggi Hambling's original design, which you can view when you click on each work. 

     

    This Viewing Room has been created to overlap with World AIDS Day on 1st December 2020,  since each silk-screen purchase raises £100 for Terrence Higgins Trust, helping people with HIV and AIDS.