FRAMED Dawn Sentinels
2026
Reduction Linocut
85.5x55.5cm print area on 92x62cm paper
Printed on Shoji 48gsm paper
Edition of 10
During early morning walks in winter and spring, I became mesmerised by the shifting light of sunrise and the way mist softens and reshapes the landscape. In these moments, birds emerged as the most constant presence; seen and heard when other animals left only fleeting traces.
This work explores not only the beauty of these natural phenomena but also our relationship with the land. Chobham Common is designated as ‘access land’, open for public use and recreation. While this accessibility is valuable, it exists alongside the Common’s ecological significance: it is the largest National Nature Reserve in south-east England, recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation and a rare example of lowland heath.
Now that we no longer depend on this landscape for survival, it raises a question: do we fully consider the species that still do?
Heathland itself is a man-made environment, requiring careful management to sustain the ecosystems that have evolved within it, as human reliance on it has diminished.
The crows serve as central figures in this print. Associated with intelligence, watchfulness, and unease, crows carry a rich body of symbolism: messengers, witnesses, tricksters, and omens, shaped by myth and cultural memory.
In Dawn Sentinels, they may be pausing alongside the viewer in quiet observation, standing guard over the landscape, or bearing witness to a fragile balance. They might also be read as messengers; linking past, present, and possible futures, prompting reflection on how we inhabit and care for shared spaces. Their role, ultimately, is left open for the viewer to decide.
This is a reduction linocut using two plates.
My prints are all made by hand, each layer of each print is individually inked and pressed therefore there are individual variations within each edition. Every print is a unique and original work of art.
This print has been bespoke framed in charcoal by Alastair Smithers
