Mychael first showed his prints with us in our group show Under Pressure last September and we were delighted that he agreed to continue to show with us and be our Featured Printmaker this July, where we will be showing number of prints in his Artists’ Dogs series along with a brand new large print entitled Made in London.

Ahead of Mychael’s feature with us, we met with him on a sunny Sunday in June at his studio to collect the prints for the show, we spent a chatty hour with Mychael being shown around his studio and discussing his work.

Mychael is a softly spoken Canadian with a long history – from a young boy – of drawing and creating art. Although his Canadian roots are still obvious in his accent, he considers himself a Londoner now having lived and worked in the city for the past 30 years.

He lives in North London but has a studio in Bermondsey – not the posh side he comments! Whilst he works mostly in the large square functional – very organised – print studio he also has access to an outside area at the back which is fascinatingly in huge arches under the main line from London Bridge rail station.  The delightful repetitive ‘whoosh’ of the trains is a constant reminder of his busy inner London location which has been the inspiration for many of his prints.  

He works with an assistant and between them they appear to run a tight ship with designated areas for drawing and designing, etching/carving, inking, printing, drying and admin. In one corner of the studio hang finished prints drying which look across the room towards his fabulous etching press, resembling a beautiful old-fashioned clothes wringer in its use of two cylinders to apply pressure. In another corner are stacks of framed prints ready for shows, there were also many reference books laid open which fuel his inspiration, and plates stored neatly awaiting their next inking.

Mychael’s feature will run throughout July in our Original Prints Gallery in the Coach House.