Gareth Barnes

An emerging printmaker based in Leeds, UK, whose work balances detailed portraiture with bold, larger-scale reduction prints often enhanced by colour. Originally from New Zealand, Gareth studied design and illustration before exploring various creative fields including film character design and oil painting. After a hiatus from regular art-making, he rediscovered his passion for printmaking during the pandemic and has been steadily developing his skills since early 2024.

Gareth’s printmaking process begins with thumbnail sketches and careful visualisation, followed by transferring a full-size design onto lino using carbon or graphite paper. His practice includes both monoprints and multi-layered reduction prints, employing techniques like sealing pen linework with coloured ink to protect the design during printing. He works with traditional tools including Ternes Burton pins, a baren, and a printing press, embracing the hands-on nature of relief printmaking.

Currently working from a bright but chaotic loft studio shared with his whippet Lola, Gareth enjoys the creative freedom printmaking offers, finding the combination of drawing, carving, inking, and printing deeply satisfying. His prints reflect his diverse artistic background and his love for mixing graphic elements with fine detail. Gareth encourages fellow creatives to focus on their own enjoyment rather than comparisons, embracing community and the joys of making art in their own way.