Putting the natural world in print
Rutland artist, illustrator and author Angela Harding’s latest book celebrates the natural world and the British coastline, as seen from her boat. This month we’re off on our travels, enjoying Britain’s Still Waters and its Wild Waves
Should you ever doubt that the natural world is nothing short of a miracle, Rutland artist Angela Harding’s work will serve as a beautiful reminder. Based in Wing, Angela is inspired by nature and by birdlife in particular. Last month, she published her third book combining her artwork with reflections of how nature is a constant in a world that’s otherwise ever-changing.
In the run up to Christmas Angela will be promoting the book, Still Waters and Wild Waves, returning to her premises on Oakham’s Burley Road to host an Open Studio event on Friday 1st November to Sunday 3rd November, enabling her appreciative audience to meet the artist and to purchase this year’s new Christmas cards and gift wrap, Angela’s advent calendar, as well as her homewares, books and gifts.
Angela was the first to direct the Leicester Print Workshop, a centre of excellence for those pursuing techniques in fine art printmaking such as Angela’s linocut work, which has established her as one of Britain’s most sought-after artists for publishers of books including authors such as PD James and Val McDermid. Her work has also featured in many magazines from Gardens Illustrated to BBC Countryfile and Country Living.
From an initial sketch, Angela’s print involves carving into lino and silk-screen printing images manually on her Rochat Albion press.
It’s a slower and more considered process than other forms of art, but the reward is worth it… and besides Angela and her husband Mark recognise that sometime the journey, not the destination is the point. Hence they’ve enjoyed extensive trips together abroad their wooden sailboat, Windsong.
“Mark is a self-taught sailor and restored the boat, a 24ft clinker, which we’ve sailed around Britain affording me plenty of time to record the landscape and the animals and birdlife we’ve observed, sketching them roughly so I can develop them into more formal designs later on.”
“My sketchbook was a gift from professional bookbinder and friend Roger Grechs, and it is definitely one of my favourite possessions. It’s frayed and tattered with the cardboard showing through the decorative cover, and my initials embossed in gold. It’s a little grand for a sketch book, but also too beautiful to go unused, so along with Mark and the boat, it’s been an important partner during our travels.”
“For two years I’ve filled it with sketches, some random notes, and my dashed-off scribbles, and so together we’ve been everywhere from the Shetlands to the Isles of Scilly, where it has picked up raindrops and the odd coffee stain along the way.”
“Two of those months, in 2023, were spent in an artist’s croft on Fair Isle, an absolutely extraordinary landscape measuring three miles by one and a half miles, and with a population of just 40 people.”
“My time on the island has seen me working with the knowledgeable and friendly rangers, observing migratory birds and generally just spending time taking in the awe and relatively undisturbed beauty of such an impressive landscape.”
“I’ve dedicated a chapter – Wild Waves and Small Islands – to the experience. Having worked on a number of other projects in 2024 I missed the opportunity for a return visit so I’m definitely planning to return in summer 2025.”
“This year however I’ve been really lucky to have had the chance to collaborate with some incredible writers including Isabella Tree on her story of the rewilding of the Knepp Estate in West Sussex.”
“I’ve also worked with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage to illustrate his book, Blossomise, published in collaboration with the National Trust and celebrating spring in a collection of 21 poems. I’ve enjoyed really good connections and close working relationships with the authors. I feel blessed and honoured that together we’ve produced some really beautiful work which I hope those who purchase a copy of the books will really enjoy.”
“It does mean I’ve had to turn down a few commissions and prioritise illustrating those books over producing my own work, but I’m looking forward to picking that up this winter, enjoying a coffee and looking out of the window of my home studio at the bottom of the garden over frosty Rutland scenery.”
“I do have a few ideas for a future project but for now I’m keeping those under wraps a bit, but before that there’s Christmas too, which I absolutely love.”
“We’ve finally completed an extension at home which means I’ve the space to host a proper family Christmas with our grown-up children and our grandchildren.”
“Christmas is one of the few occasions that people take the time to handwrite a proper message in a card and post it off to someone. It’s old fashioned to some and undoubtedly it’s easy to send an email or a text these days. But that’s not the point.”
“To me it’s a gesture which is more deliberate. more meaningful. I hope that each of my notelets or Christmas cards are sent with messages of love and best wishes, and that each of the doors of my advent calendars are opened with a smile, a little gesture or a moment of happiness each day!”
Still Waters & Wild Waves
Angela’s latest book was released last month, and it’s a journey across Britain in pursuit of wildlife and water
Featuring over 50 original illustrations of dramatic seascapes and reflective rivers, alongside photography of the stunning places that inspired the artwork, Angela Harding’s beautiful new book captures the waters that move us.
Throughout its pages, Angela turns her attention to the UK’s waterways.
Sailing in Windsong, her fifty-year-old trusted wooden boat, she travels the Northern shores of Shetland, down to the Isles of Scilly, drawing the coastline and waterways, birds, boats and beaches, capturing the serenity of still waters and the energy and power of wild waves in her sketches, photos and prints.
Angela takes readers with her on her travels across rivers and seas, featuring beautiful paintings and prints, pages from Angela’s personal sketchbooks and stunning photos. It is a joyful celebration of water and wildlife across Britain: perfect for art admirers and nature lovers everywhere.
Available via www.angelaharding.co.uk or in Angela’s studio on Burley Road, Oakham. £25/hardback, 175 pages with 50 original illustrations.