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Corinne Welch

5 Pitchcombe Gardens
Bristol, BS9 2RH
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Illustrator • Book Artist

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Corinne Welch

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Diaspora

March 18, 2025 Corinne Welch

Cloth bound hard covers with an embossed title panel

Each journey, over land and sea, has been hand stitched

The book on display as part of the ‘Enfolded Journeys’ exhibition at The Leeds Library.

Diaspora – the dispersion or spread of people from their original homeland.

A small edition of eight books made for the ‘Enfolded Journeys’ touring exhibition organised by PAGES Contemporary Artists’ Books and Events

Through my work as a graphic designer for Asylum Welcome, a refugee charity in Oxford, I have been moved by the stories of the people they support; many of whom arrive in the UK after long, difficult journeys. This book documents some of these actual journeys, and highlights the range of countries that people flee from, hoping to make a new life here.

‘Diaspora’ mimics a fold-out books of postcards, with each page highlighting the home country of a refugee and the route they took to reach the UK as a place of sanctuary. Digitally illustrated maps are overlaid with scans of hand-stamped type, and feature a hand stitched journey of migration, representing the strong ties to homelands that endure. The stitched paths are left as dangling threads in the UK as an acknowledgement that many people feel untethered when they arrive here, particularly without support.

Digital illustration and hand stitching on 200gsm gesso paper; 8-page concertina fold; cloth-bound hard covers

Size: 152 x 104mm

Edition size: 8

With thanks to Asylum Welcome for their support, and to all of those who shared their journeys with me.

Five copies of the book are available now in my online shop

In exhibitions Tags artist's books
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Another food journey

December 20, 2022 Corinne Welch

From potatoes to Edinburgh to Black Forest Gateau to Taiwan. My artwork is most definitely better travelled than I will ever be!

I was asked back in the summer by Bristol paper artist Linda Toigo to make my favourite dish out of paper for an exhibition she was putting on in Taiwan. In an unusual diversion from my usual book making, I made a papier-mâché slice of Black Forest gateau. It sits inside a vintage cutlery case (maybe similar to a bookcover?!) and I made a spoon and Sheffield dessert fork to fit the empty mouldings in the case. For such an international exhibition, I wanted to choose a typically European dish displayed in a traditionally British setting – reflecting my own national identity as a British European.

The exhibition has now opened at Soulangh Cultural Park in Taiwan. 24 artists responded to a call to "Bring a Dish" and created food made of paper – they will be on display in the Food Room for the next year. Many thanks to Linda for inviting me to take part in such a fun project...

In exhibitions Tags papiermache, paperart
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POTATO

December 20, 2022 Corinne Welch

A new book I’ve made is currently being exhibited in the ‘Pattern:Books’ exhibition at the Upright Gallery in Edinburgh… Artist bookmakers were invited to submit artworks for the annual artist book exhibition held every December. The brief was to celebrate pattern in artist book form. Over 80 handmade books are on display from 35 artists in an exhibition co-curated with Edinburgh based artist book maker and tutor Susie Wilson.

The book POTATO is a digitally printed edition of potato prints and backdrawn monoprints. Started as an experiment in making printed repeat patterns with carved potatoes at my kitchen table, I then drew the carved potatoes as backdrawn monoprints. It’s fun to see the book travelling up to Edinburgh to be exhibited, and then making it onto the cover of Art Mag at the beginning of December. An exciting journey for a handful of humble potatoes.

In handmade books, printmaking, exhibitions Tags printmaking, low tech printmaking, artists' books
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The Hand of Friendship

September 20, 2022 Corinne Welch

I am pleased to be able share some exciting news – an embroidered scroll I submitted to the Bodleian earlier this summer in response to a call-out has been awarded Second Prize! It will also be displayed as part of their exhibition ‘Beyond the Pale’ at the Old Bodleian Library in Oxford from 17 Sept – 6 November, and then be accepted into their permanent collection. I am over the moon!

The original call-out from the Bodleian Bibliographical Press in April was inviting artwork submissions that ‘respond to, and engage with, black shapes on the printed page’. I was intrigued by the subject matter, and thought immediately of heavily redacted government documents reluctantly released after Freedom of Information requests. I had been appalled by the recent announcement by the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, that the UK intended to start forcibly deporting refugees and asylum seekers to Rwanda. I decided to channel my anger into an artwork as a response to this shocking immigration policy.

I found a transcript of Priti Patel’s announcement online, and printed it out. After just a few minutes of highlighting words from the main body of the speech, I realised that a hidden – more truthful – message could be revealed through a reverse redaction. A printed redaction would have blocked out most of the text of the speech, but I wanted there to remain a sense of the wording in its original form to underline the incredulity that these were the actual words spoken by the Home Secretary. I decided upon embroidery as my chosen medium as I have an interest in ‘subversive stitch’ – using a traditionally domestic craft as an unexpected means of protest. I also felt that the dedication required for such a time-consuming method of working matched my strength of feeling about this important issue.

I chose to partially obscure much of the speech with lines of embroidered tally marks. These represented the thousands of individuals who faced deportation under this cruel scheme. I also wanted to reflect the dehumanising way that people can be reduced to target numbers when discussing immigration. I typeset and printed out a section of the original speech onto calico and then began the task of highlighting words by stitching the redaction in tally marks. The embroidery took around six weeks to complete – stitching most evenings after work. It proved to be a cathartic response to the some of the rage I was feeling about the injustice of this unethical policy.

I decided to make the final embroidery into a scroll – a format which highlighted the performative nature of the announcement… delivered, with some fanfare, in Rwanda as an illustration of the conspicuously ‘tough approach’ that the government wanted to be seen to be pursuing. Whilst I was completing the piece, the first planned deportation flight was halted after a last-minute intervention by the European Court of Human Rights. Although, at the time of writing, no flights have yet left the UK, relief is short-lived as the new Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has reiterated her intention to continue with this inhumane scheme.

It has been proven that the threat of deportation is very damaging to the mental health of vulnerable migrants already here in the UK, but has certainly not been a deterrent to those subsequently arriving in the hope of claiming asylum. The scheme is prohibitively costly, and appears to exist primarily as a piece of populist theatre to placate the right wing press. It angers and saddens me to see our country reduced to this, and I know that this is not who we are.

I am happy to share my prize with Asylum Welcome, a charity I have worked closely with since 2005, whose amazing work with asylum seekers and refugees in Oxford very much provided the original inspiration for the artwork.

In competition, embroidery, exhibitions Tags embroidery, scroll, exhibition
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Exciting news...

February 4, 2022 Corinne Welch

A rather belated post to mark the exciting news that following one of my Lockdown books being acquired by the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, it is currently on display in their New Arrivals exhibition (running until April). Very happy to be sharing a case with the very talented Susie Wilson. Many thanks to Archivist Kirstie Meehan for including my book in this exhibition.

It feels appropriate to be exhibited in Scotland as the original book was created as part of an ABC print exchange and was posted north of the border to the lovely Gen Harrison. The first digitally printed version was bought by someone in Scotland, and the book then featured last December in an exhibition in Edinburgh’s Upright Gallery.

Many thanks to everyone who has bought a copy of this book – it’s raised over £200 for Bristol Northwest Foodbank.

In exhibitions Tags artistsbooks
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Week sixteen

April 27, 2021 Corinne Welch
Natural ink drawing, based on photos taken in my garden (see below)

Natural ink drawing, based on photos taken in my garden (see below)

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Black hellebore flowers make a lovely green dye and ink

Black hellebore flowers make a lovely green dye and ink

Planning out an embroidery based on a collage of natural ink splodges

Planning out an embroidery based on a collage of natural ink splodges

Drawing seedlings

Drawing seedlings

My World Book Night 2021 entry to the Herbarium

My World Book Night 2021 entry to the Herbarium

The Herbarium on display in Bower Ashton library (photo ©Linda Parr)

The Herbarium on display in Bower Ashton library (photo ©Linda Parr)

Working with grids (again!) this week. I took some photos of different shapes in the garden – mostly steps and decking – and traced these off to make a masked drawing with natural ink. The ink used was rhubarb root, bramble and acorn gall (with and without iron). This feels like a starting point rather than a finished piece, so I’m looking forward to developing this further.

 I dyed with black hellebore flowers… only a small batch but enough to see that it gave the best green I’ve managed to achieve yet. It also boils down to a good ink.

I re-visited a collage made a couple of weeks back from my ink sample sheets – I isolated a section of this and have traced it off to make a small embroidery. Quite pleasing to see that a similar palette could be chosen with the naturally dyed threads. I think this will work well on linen.

In between tending to my seedlings (currently taking over the spare room, cold frame and greenhouse) I’m enjoying drawing them in a tiny coptic-bound sketchbook given to me by Eva Hejdström.

Finally, Friday was World Book Night and it was a pleasure to take part again in the annual call for entries to mark the occasion. This year a Herbarium has been created – an exhibition of literary-inspired flower illustrations in Bower Ashton library. My illustration of periwinkles was inspired by a poem called ‘A Tale’ by Edward Thomas. These flowers are my nemesis in my garden… it’s an ongoing battle to stop them swamping everything, so it was good to pause and appreciate the beautiful flowers before I start yanking them up all over again! A pdf catalogue of the Herbarium can be downloaded here. Many thanks to Sarah Bodman and Linda Parr for organising this wonderful collaboration.

In sketchbook, pattern, inkmaking, exhibitions, embroidery, dyeing, drawing, collage Tags gardenresidency
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Re:connections

November 27, 2020 Corinne Welch
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Really pleased to be part of the ‘Re-connections’ exhibition of artists’ books at the Upright Gallery in Edinburgh, which opens today. The two books I made during the first lockdown will be on display until 19 December, alongside a wonderful array of bookish loveliness from around 30 artists. More photos and films of individual books can be seen at @uprightgallery on Instagram.

Here’s the official description of the exhibition…

‘During the lockdown we were all forced to reconsider how we could best keep connected with people and life in general. Artists were not exempt from this challenge. Many had to rethink how they physically carried out their work, what their artworks meant and how they connect with their audience in an unprecedented time. This exhibition will show artist books on the theme of connections - past, present and future.’

Many thanks to Susie Wilson, and Ian Farmer from the Upright Gallery for curating the exhibition – I wish I could visit in person, but hopefully you can go along if you’re north of the border.

STOP PRESS: I was very excited to learn that my two books in this exhibition have been bought by the National Galleries of Scotland for their Artists’ Book Collection. An upbeat note on which to end a topsy turvy year!

In exhibitions, handmade books Tags exhibition
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Frankenstein is on the move...

January 31, 2019 Corinne Welch

The exhibition curated by Simon Ryder of Liverpool Book Art is moving this week from Liverpool down to Bristol. Work by 50 artists all created in response to Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ will be on display at Bower Ashton Library at UWE from 1-28 February. I’m gathering together some of my preparatory materials for my embroidered book to take along to a Show & Tell event at the library on Saturday 2 February, 11am - 12.30pm. I’m really looking forward to seeing all the books and hearing more about the exhibitions in Liverpool.

In exhibitions Tags frankenstein, artists' books
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Home in Athens

October 8, 2018 Corinne Welch
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Really pleased to see my ‘Home’ pocket concertina book as part of Interruptions - an exhibition of prints and artists' books curated by Sarah Bodman and Elena Zeppou, at the invitation of the Greek Printmakers Association (E.E.X.) for Athens Print Fest “18” 4th edition – nóstos / nostalgia. It’s at the Felios Foundation in Athens, Greece, and runs from ‪3 -27 October 2018‬. If a trip to Greece is not on the cards, you can always browse a pdf exhibition catalogue here.

In exhibitions, handmade books
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Frankenstein on tour

August 10, 2018 Corinne Welch
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My book 'Memento mori' has been exhibited in Liverpool Central Library for the past few months (many thanks for the photos above from organiser Simon Ryder, taken by Robin Clewley). The exhibition finished this week, but will be moving to the Kirkby Gallery from 17 September - 26 January 2019. After that my book will be heading back to Bristol as the exhibition will be transferring to Bower Ashton Library at UWE. In the meantime, I'm working on a small edition of digitally printed concertina versions - the first of which is in another Frankenstein-themed exhibition in the US, at Asheville Bookworks in North Carolina which opened this week. As always, my books are more well-travelled than I am!

In handmade books, exhibitions
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Preparing for BS9 Art Trail

June 7, 2018 Corinne Welch
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There have been a lot of books in production over the past few weeks in preparation for the BS9 Art Trail this weekend (9 and 10 June). I'll be at the Stoke Bishop scout hut again (venue 11) - so come along and say hello if you're in Bristol

In exhibitions, handmade books Tags BS9ArtsTrail, artist's books, handmadebooks, illustration
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Redesigned Medieval Books come to Bristol...

April 20, 2018 Corinne Welch
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A sneak peek at one of the cabinets

A sneak peek at one of the cabinets

Signage and labels before assembling the exhibition

Signage and labels before assembling the exhibition

My embroidered book 'Remedie' is on show in this exhibition

My embroidered book 'Remedie' is on show in this exhibition

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Very pleased to announce the opening of the 'Redesigning the Medieval Book' exhibition at UWE Bower Ashton Library in Bristol. The display is an extension of the original exhibition at the Bodleian Library in Oxford earlier this year, and features 40 new books and artworks created in response to the Bodelian's collection of medieval books and manuscripts. I'm very grateful to Professor Daniel Wakelin and all the team at the Bodleian Library for their help in facilitating this extended  exhibition, and to Sarah Bodman at UWE and fellow book artist Kate Bernstein for their help and support in setting up the exhibition. It will run from 19 April - 29 June, and there will be an informal 'show and tell' event on Saturday 12 May, 12-2pm, where you can hear some of the artists talking about their books and working process. If you can't visit the exhibition, you can download or view a pdf of the catalogue here. 

In embroidery, exhibitions, handmade books Tags exhibition
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Grand unveiling

April 11, 2018 Corinne Welch
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The grand unveiling of my Frankenstein book ‘Memento mori' in all its morbid glory... packaged and sent off to Liverpool Book Art for their exhibition at Liverpool Central Library. Met the deadline by the skin of my teeth. Here's my statement, which hopefully goes some way to explain why I've spent the past three months stitching dead people...

Memento Mori is inspired by the theme of art as a means of remembrance: a recurring motif in Frankenstein. William was carrying a Miniature of his mother, Caroline, before he was murdered, and this then became a defining piece of evidence in implicating Justine. When Victor returns home from university, he is moved by the Miniature of William on their father’s mantelpiece, under a painting of his mother kneeling by the coffin of her dead father. The death of Victor’s mother acts as a powerful catalyst for his experimentation with creating new life, and the memories of his loved ones lost at the hands of the resultant creature lead to his desire to avenge their deaths. 

I have altered an existing hardback book and transformed it into a ‘memento mori’ for all the characters who lose their lives. The book has a new cloth hard cover with a foiled title, and opens as a case in two sections. These contain eight framed oval cut-aways featuring embroideries of all of the expired characters (Caroline, William, Justine, Henry, Elizabeth, Alphonse, Victor, and the monster). The embroideries are vignettes of each individual death, each labelled with the character’s name.

I chose to hand embroider the illustrations as the process forms a symbolic act of remembrance, and embroidery was a popular handicraft of the time. The morbid fascination with death in Victorian times, along with the themes of grief, memory and loss in Frankenstein, are reflected in this new work. 

In embroidery, exhibitions, handmade books, illustration Tags frankenstein
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BS9 Art Trail

June 9, 2017 Corinne Welch

Taking part in the BS9 Arts Trail this weekend (10/11 June) - I'll be at Stoke Bishop Scout Hut (between 15 and 17 Kewstoke Road)… come along and say hello if you're in that neck of the woods in Bristol. New for this year's art trail are prints of Bristol Terraces, beetle mini prints, handmade wooden print stands and lots of new books.

In exhibitions Tags handmade books, prints, BS9ArtsTrail
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Tobacco art at the Tobacco Factory

August 5, 2016 Corinne Welch
Do you have a light? - my rizla flag book

Do you have a light? - my rizla flag book

Luke Carter - Lethal Trade

Luke Carter - Lethal Trade

Olivia Jones - Demolition

Olivia Jones - Demolition

Charlotte Biszewski

Charlotte Biszewski

The ‘Set in Stone’ exhibition opened at the Tobacco Factory in Bristol yesterday evening - open until 27 September, so pop along for a nicotine- themed cornucopia of art. Great to see what everyone had produced - more highlights to be featured later this month - and many thanks to Charlotte Biszewski for organising the project and expertly curating the exhibition. 

In exhibitions Tags setinstone, handmade book, bristol, tobacco factory
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Coming soon…

July 28, 2016 Corinne Welch

'Set in Stone' exhibition opening at the Tobacco Factory in Bristol from next thursday evening (date on poster slightly wrong - should be 4 August - 27 September).

In exhibitions Tags setinstone, bristol, exhibition
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Degree Show highlights

June 8, 2016 Corinne Welch
Stephanie Turnbull (stunning constructed tobacco label printed from original litho plates)

Stephanie Turnbull (stunning constructed tobacco label printed from original litho plates)

Jono Sandilands (screen print with raspberry pi LCD)

Jono Sandilands (screen print with raspberry pi LCD)

Jono Sandilands (mind blowing pinball machine - off the scale amazing!)

Jono Sandilands (mind blowing pinball machine - off the scale amazing!)

Clare Owen (beautiful ceramics and prints)

Clare Owen (beautiful ceramics and prints)

Philip Johnson (huge screen print with more than a nod to a woodcut approach)

Philip Johnson (huge screen print with more than a nod to a woodcut approach)

A really inspiring show from this year’s MA Multi-disciplinary Printmaking final year students at UWE.

 

 

 

In exhibitions Tags UWE, printmaking, degree show
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May 16, 2016 Corinne Welch

A really lovely weekend on the BS9 Arts Trail… the sun shone and we had lots of visitors at the scout hut (an excellent venue!) Exhibiting with a great bunch of very talented artists this year - Sue Pickering, Charlie West and Jenny Urquhart… all very inspiring. Many thanks to the scout hut for hosting us and providing such delicious tea and cakes. And thanks to everyone who came along and made it such an enjoyable couple of days. 

In exhibitions Tags BS9ArtsTrail, exhibition
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Setting up

May 13, 2016 Corinne Welch

A full-on couple of hours setting up in Stoke Bishop Scout Hut for the BS9 Arts Trail - running this weekend, 11am-5pm.

In exhibitions Tags BS9ArtsTrail, exhibition, handmade books
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BS9 Bunting

May 11, 2016 Corinne Welch

Spare moments in the first couple of months of this year were spent cutting, pinning and sewing lengths of bunting for the forthcoming BS9 Art Trail. The end result was 140 metres(!) of neon, rip-stop triangular loveliness which will be gracing the venues of the trail this weekend. I may have been smiling through gritted teeth by the end, but I was really glad to have taken part in the great bunting manufacture project. It was a lovely group of fellow stitchers, ably led by Fiona Barr, all of whom will be exhibiting as part of the trail: Jackie Johnson, Olga van Rijswijck, Laura Robertson and Franca Douglas. Top teamwork!

In exhibitions Tags bunting, sewing, teamwork
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