Wood Engraving Video

This short film shows me at work, to give you an idea of how I create and  print my wood engravings. The woodblock rests on a sandbag to bring it up  close so that I can see clearly as I work, and so that I can turn the block  with my left hand to the right position for each incision as I engrave with  my right. I need to engrave with caution, as a slip cannot be corrected. I am naturally shortsighted, so I do not usually use magnification.

Each block takes from a week to a month to engrave, depending  on size and complexity. I use both new and resurfaced woodblocks.
The printing press is a Victorian Albion press, inherited from Yvonne  Skargon who taught me from my college days onwards. This video was taken by my son as I was testing the press the day it  arrived... Before I had the press I  made all my prints by hand burnishing with a spoon.