Catriona Brodribb trained at the Ruskin School of Art 1976-79, followed by a postgraduate degree at Wimbledon School of Art, 1991-1993. She has been a member of Oxford Printmakers for 40 of its 48 years.
Her recent body of work – landscape pieces, mainly based on the Berkshire Downs – uses a woodcut technique known as reduction block method, using two or three colours. This involves cutting from the block, printing up the first colour layer (maybe 12-16 prints) on thinnish Japanese paper called Tosa Shi. It is preferred because it is both strong and delicate.
Catriona then cuts more away from the surface of the same block and prints on top of what has already been printed. This is cutting to ‘reveal’. There is less wood on the block, so you can see the previous colour in places.
A third session may take place. Printing is usually hand done using a burnishing tool.
Additional small areas of colour may be needed, so rather than do a 4th cut, the pochoir / stencil method is used.
Pochoir / Stencil for Downland Road
This involves placing a sheet of thin plastic over a dried print, drawing onto the plastic where colour needs to be ‘dropped’ in situ; the plastic is then cut away (using a cutting mat underneath) with a sharp knife, leaving a hole or several holes, and ink is then rolled through the hole (s) directly onto the print. This speeds up the process and works very well for small areas that need extra colour.
Other processes may include scumbling, a technique whereby a dry brush is worked over a newly inked area to soften the edges. Sometimes a printed edge can look too hard.
Catriona’s work can be seen in Oxford Printmakers Cooperative’s exhibition The Printmaker’s Eye, currently on display in the gallery until 3 January 2026.
