The Peachy Printmaker – Sarah Cemmick
Celebrating the Beauty of the Female Form: An Interview with The Peachy Printmaker
Written by #WWR
This Valentine’s Day, we’re delighted to bring you an exclusive interview with Sarah Cemmick, a renowned printmaker and creator of the stunning Peachy Print Maker collection. Sarah has been making art for over twenty years and her work celebrates the beauty of the female form.
Get an insight into Sarah’s creative process and discover how she uses lino printing to create captivating compositions that challenge traditional notions of beauty and femininity.
In 1996, Sarah graduated from the University of Sunderland with a degree in Environmental Illustration.
With the support of the Prince’s Trust, she began to pursue printmaking full-time and developed a passion for lino cutting. In 1998, her print ‘Rhino Lino’ was awarded the Lloyd’s Private Banking Award from the Society of Wildlife Artists at The Mall Galleries in London.
Utilising traditional methods with her original set of tools, Sarah carves intricate designs into lino blocks before printing them using linseed oil ink and watercolour to create textural effects. Additionally, she uses Japanese tissues with gold and silver foil flecks to further enhance her prints.
Her work is inspired by wildlife – particularly hares – and focuses on positioning each subject on paper to leave room for interpretation. Sarah’s pieces are held in private collections around the world and have been commissioned by Artists Cards Ltd., Holland & Holland Mayfair London and National Trust galleries throughout the UK.
She now resides at The Pink House in Cumbria with her husband David (also an artist), two children, Rosie and Woody, and Bonzo, their mini longhaired dachshund muse!
Her latest collection is a stunning showcase of lino prints that celebrate the beauty of the female form. Get an exclusive insight into Sarah’s creative process and discover her new direction.
Why not show your appreciation this Valentine’s Day with a unique and special gift from The Peachy Print Maker?
The Peachy Printmaker – Sarah Cemmick
SARETA: Tell us about your new direction.
SARAH: I’ve spent the last 25 years as a wildlife printmaker, and although I still love what I do, wildlife will always be part of my creative path; I felt the need for a new challenge following the pandemic. I worked prolifically during this time as there were no distractions, but as the world began to open up again, I felt I needed a change.
What inspired you to use lino prints to celebrate the female form?
I’ve always used lino to create my work. I experimented with various forms of printmaking, but lino is where I feel I make my strongest work. You can be bold with your mark-making, and I wanted to create strong graphic images in black and white with the occasional hint of red thrown in. To use the contrast of light and darkness to show the curves and shapes of the female form.
What do you hope viewers take away from your art?
When I started this collection, I was very nervous about how it would be responded to. This was a very personal journey for me. It was an awakening of my body and how I felt about it changing through my ageing process.
At 43, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, which, thankfully, was treated successfully. It changed everything for me, mentally and emotionally. The relationship I have with my body and its ability to heal, to celebrate its shape and scars, to see its beautiful. I don’t think I could deliver a body of work such as this without the last six years of experience of self-discovery.
I want the viewer to take away a sense of celebration of the female form; it’s beautiful in all the curves and shapes, whatever size we are.
How has your work evolved since you first started creating art?
My work is constantly evolving. That is the wonderful part of being a creative person. You’re never completely satisfied, which drives you to keep working, challenging and making art.
How do you create such captivating and elegant compositions?
I’m constantly looking for inspiration for my subject. This collection is about shape, lines, contrast, light and dark. I wanted them to be playful, sexy and fun. No specific faces; I hoped women would be my audience and that they could see themselves in the work.
The Peachy Printmaker – Sarah Cemmick
What message are you trying to convey through your artwork?
The Peachy Printmaker is about fun, sexy women enjoying their bodies and their love of fancy frillies. Dressing up to feel empowered and playful. No inhibitions or embarrassment. As a woman well into her perimenopause, it’s important to remind ourselves how hard our bodies have worked all our lives and how we need to cherish ourselves inside and out.
In what ways do you feel that your artwork is breaking down barriers and challenging traditional notions of beauty and femininity?
I hope it helps to break down any taboos of feeling desired and sexy. The media is so fixated on promoting youthful and slim girls. Women my age and older are sidelined, yet we have open minds and buying power. We should all be celebrated and feel empowered to take control of our lives, how we look and what we wear.
As Vivienne Westwood said, ‘When in doubt, dress up’ I always feel better when I do, but it’s for me and no one else.
How does working with lino printing allow for more creative freedom than other mediums?
My creative practice has always involved lino in portraying my vision. It becomes a way of thinking, positive and negative space. For the Peaches, I wanted to further explore the graphic nature of black and white imagery.
I’m looking forward to exploring this more with new work this year.
What have been some of the biggest challenges in pursuing a career as an artist?
Being a full-time artist takes work. It’s a constant challenge to be focused and creative; some days, it just doesn’t come. But you collect yourself and remember what a privileged position you’re in. You are your own boss and your greatest champion.
Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or exhibitions we can look forward to seeing from you soon?
I’m excited to be exhibiting with The Peachy Printmaker collection in November at the Manchester art fair. I’m spending time researching and creating more limited editions, including a more curvaceous series. They’ll also be a series of ‘toys & apparel’ to tantalise those with more experimental tastes.
What advice would you give aspiring artists looking to make a career out of their craft?
Be true to yourself and follow your instincts and heart; that way, you can speak confidently about what you’re making. Passion is so important because it spurs you on and lifts you.
Remember, if you can make a living from your craft, you’re in an extraordinary place; enjoy it.
Discover the Peachy Printmakers collection and how to purchase on Instagram @thepeachyprintmaker.
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