Inspiring Commissions





Punctuating the days between making, are the days working with inspiring artists on bespoke commissions. This Spring several clients have invited me to work on specialist projects or pieces needing a little something extra. It's been a privilege to have been involved in some meditative making with beautiful results. From week long box making commissions to day long private tuition, my days here in the studio are heaven. 

BABL went to Brighton for Press & Release






There's no better place to be on a gloriously warm weekend than Brighton. Heading to the sea with the full BABLibrary in tow and a few special friends to help transport her, we listened, prescribed, laughed and basked in the delight of all those we met. The fabulous Press & Release exhibition lived up to the hype and was a joy to behold. Karin, Belinda, Sumi, Ben, Anna, Pip, all the Borbons and even Prof Mizrah - my thanks to all you lovely lovely people. x

Letterpress Film


The lovely ladies at The Shop Floor made this cracking little film of me demonstrating the wondrous Adana Letterpress in Cumbria last month during their 'meet the maker' event. The new special edition of Cumbrian Sayings postcards exclusively for The Shop Floor was launched while locals had a go at pulling their own 'Reet Chuft' letterpress print. Pop over to their beautiful online store to see more. Thanks to the lovely Sam for making the film x



BABL to Brighton

 

PRESS & RELEASE EXHIBITION: SPECIAL EVENT

OFF THE PAGE

An Afternoon of Books

Saturday 1 June, 2 – 5 pm, £1 entry

Immerse yourself in a lively mix of talks, workshops and special events, and learn more about resources and networks for book artists. Borbonesa, a collaborative trio of book artists, will give an illustrated talk about their work, Jakie Batey shows you how to make zines, and Lucy May Schofield will offer visitors a session of 'bibliotherapy'. You can also roll up your sleeves and try some drop-in workshops covering simple book formats, collage and working with downloadable books; there will be a café, stalls, networking activities and more. Check the website for full details.

Letters of Triangles











письма-‐треугольники - Letters of triangles There was a time in which soldiers, having a prolonged absence from home, were thought to suffer and sometimes die of Nostalgia. This malaise later became known as homesickness. During WWII Russian soldiers sent triangular correspondence to their loved ones. In these письма-треугольники, the letter and envelope were one, allowing censors to access and omit any sensitive material without compromising the structure. The simple design meant the content and address never became separated and made the letters easily identifiable as priority mail to the postal service. 

Letterpress printed edition of 40, of which the first 10 letters are housed in a handmade clamshell box with handkerchief printed linings and special edition triangular letter. Published by Battenburg Press in April of 2013.

During the launch of the new work at the Arnolfini Gallery as part of BABE (Bristol Artists Book Event) the limited edition clamshell box of  'Letters of Triangles' was kindly purchased by Special Collections at Winchester School of Art Library, The Center for Fine Print Research in Bristol and Rare Book dealers Reed Contemporary. The TATE Library also purchased a copy of the edition of 40.

Out of a Printing Pickle




I was saved by super printer and all round good egg Mr Phil Chrisp of EE Chrisp Printers very recently. It happened to be the 114th Birthday of the business on the particular day I visited, and I am most grateful for the wonderful results his Heidelberg Platten press consistently provides. The pressure,  precision and beauty the letterpress gave the work lifted my heavy heart after a fruitless morning trying to pull a print from a proofing press. I have worked with Phil since I wondered into his print workshop back in Castlefield in 2005, and he has printed all of my larger editions of letterpress work. He was one of the first friends I met when I moved to Manchester and he's a tip top fella. Barney the pup is also a sweetheart. x


'Letters of Triangles' drop in monoprinting at BABE Arnolfini








Celebrating the launch of my new artist’s book ‘Letters of Triangles’ I invited visitors to BABE to create a simple one or two word contribution using the name of a person, place, object or feeling that they missed. Inspired by the ‘triangular letters’ Russian soldiers wrote home during WWII these secret longings formed a collection of anonymous nostalgia notes by close of the book fair. I had 40 contributions and met some very special people. 

Thank you to everyone who came along to BABE and who gave the project a dose of their time, contemplation and printing talents, it was much appreciated. x

Fly by weeks



From Citroen HYvan steam cleaning, to searching for signs of Spring, to composers visiting the studio to record my typewriters, to beachy girls' world weekends, to time with animals and dreamy holidays with friends. Time is flying by and the days have been full to the brim with pleasure and work in equal measure. Now my skin is warming it's time for getting all of the transition to the new season down on paper. 

BATTENBURG PRESS at BABE Arnol Fini




BABE Bristol Artists Book Event at the Arnol Fini Gallery 20th & 21st APRIL 201 BATTENBURG PRESS will be exhibiting brand new hotoffthepress editions! 

 Wowwee, come and see us and if the mood takes you contribute to… 

 ‘Missing Letters’ Mono Printing Project Sunday 21 April, 2pm, Free Meeting Room ‘Celebrating the launch of her new artist’s book Lucy May Schofield invites visitors to BABE to create a simple one or two word contribution using the name of a person, place, object or feeling that they miss. Inspired by the ‘triangular letters’ Russian soldiers wrote home during WWII these secret longings will form a collection of anonymous nostalgia notes by the close of the book fair.’

Clamshell Presentation Boxes Course Coming up


Due to a few new and exciting commissions of late, I have rekindled my love of making Clamshell boxes, though I'd hardly lost it. There is something uniquely satisfying in all the measuring, building, cutting, turning and tucking in the making of a cloth covered clamshell box. There will be the opportunity to make 2 boxes over a  weekend workshop on 23rd & 24th March, the first to a standard size and the second, a bespoke box made to your own specifications to house a beloved book or print edition. Feel the love of box making! For details and bookings visit hot bed press. 

Anatomy Paper Commission Complete














Late last year I collaborated once again with photographers David Penny & Gavin Parry of Anatomy Projects on their redesigned newsprint version of the original Anatomy Of An Institution book, which I consulted on and made  a bespoke edition for them in 2011. This new edition is presented in a variety of metallic foiled covers on 6 different GF Smith Colorplan papers. Inner pages are litho'd full colour onto high quality uncoated newsprint, held within their covers by a black rubber band. It documents a visual collection of Manchester Metropolitan University staff past and present, all photographed with an authentic Victorian era camera found at he University. It is a numbered editon of x1000, designed by the talented Graham Jones of Loose Collective and painstakingly hand-finished by me, available to buy on the Anatomy Projects site. 

Making/Printing/Blocking/Presenting/Exploring/Preparing/ Teaching/Loving









I can't remember ever having so many pans of opportunity simmering, yet I know that this is not new territory for me. There are times when as much as my head desires to plough on, to grasp all that is tempting, my body has the last word. I have to take stock, it says, you're running me into the ground, it threatens. I have to remember to take notice, to be mindful of what is important. To Love is important, and to be Loved. My head has decided to create a delay with my movement, around . 5 of a second behind, as if I'm travel sick. I am still today, without a choice in the matter. 

Hidden Gem Art Walks - PAPER Gallery




This Wednesday February 27th at 5.30pm the Manchester Art Walk takes place. Meet by the mural at Victoria Station and be led to the city's hidden gem galleries and artists' spaces. It's a great chance to catch the PAPER #4 - Leanne Richardson & Lucy May Schofield show before it closes on March 9th. 
For more details go here & to paper-gallery.
Tweet - @MCRArtWalk

Cornerhouse Show & Tell *tomorrow*



*Tomorrow* - Saturday 16th between 4 - 6pm I will be giving a 5 minute presentation as part of the 'Show & Tell' event at The Cornerhouse.

They say 'Come and get a taste of what’s happening in the minds of some of the city’s leftfield innovators, as we bring Manchester’s visual arts community and thriving digital design sector together in a playful and informal setting.'Eight artists and designers will make lightning-quick presentations about a current project, experiment or source of inspiration – the ideal way to spend a Saturday afternoon.  

First up is Artist and book binder Lucy May Schofield, curator of The Bibliotherapy Artist’s Book Library (BABL), a touring mobile library home to over 150 artists’ books. If you want to check her work out, it’s on at Paper Gallery now.

Blackwell House Inspires






Invited by The Shop Floor Project and Lakeland Arts, I am thrilled to have been invited to make a creative response to the beautiful Blackwell House nestling on the edge of Lake Windermere in Cumbria. Along with launching a new collection of monotypes inspired by the residents of the house since 1901, which will be available online at TSFP this week; I have designed a monoprinting & drypoint printmaking workshop for the half term week, which is now fully booked up! But you could still catch the others.

Hearts & Crafts

Tuesday 12 / Wednesday 13 / Thursday 14 February at 11.00am - 3.00pm
Blackwell Education Room
£10 each (all three £25)
(Friends of the Lakeland Arts Trust £7.00, all three £18)
Booking essential 015394 46139
Suitable for over 14’s

 Blackwell has been inspiring artists for years, most recently Laura Ellen Bacon and Halima Cassell. We want to continue this tradition, so we have partnered up with the Ulverston ‘The Shop Floor Project’ to commission three artist / makers to develop three workshops inspired by the house. If you have a passion to create beautiful objects in an equally stunning building, then we might have the workshop here for you. All workshops include entry to the house, materials for the workshop and a full day workshop with an artist.

 The Shop Floor Project has selected the following artists:
Tuesday - Ruth Vintr will be creating bespoke jewellery inspired by the Arts & Crafts period
Wednesday - Explore Mono-printing and Drypoint printing in a workshop with Lucy May Schofield. Find inspiration in the natural Arts & Crafts motifs found within Blackwell, and learn to create simple book forms from your prints.
Thursday - Emily Mackey will be taking you through a weavers design process, on your own mini loom, to create textiles reflecting the landscape and ecology in which Blackwell House sits. Watch a video of Emily Mackey working on Vimeo.

 For more details regarding the dates please contact the Learning Team 01539 722464.