An original, completely handmade botanical linocut print which has been designed and printed in Devon, UK. Available in black ink, magenta, or as a three-colour multi-block print.

'The Briar and The Rose' takes inspiration from the bizarre and playful anthropomorphic flower illustrations of the Victorian era, as well as the bold colouring and linework found in medieval botanical books. The print is named after a contemporary folk song, released in 1993 by Tom Waits, and whose lyrics suggest the entwinement of the briar and the rose as metaphors for love:

I picked a rose one early morn
I pricked my finger on a thorn
They'd grown so close their winding wove
The briar and the rose.

This print is an open, Variable Edition (V/E). Here, this means that it has been made in several colourways and there may be differences between print runs. Each one is titled and signed by me. The design is printed onto beautiful Japanese Kitakata paper, which has been hand-torn and hand-cut, and so may feature a deckled edge.

VERSIONS AVAILABLE:
Black ink on pale green Kitakata Paper.
Magenta ink on pale green Kitakata Paper.
Three-colour on cream Kitakata Paper.

DIMENSIONS:
Printed image size: 13cm x 13cm (5" x 5" approx.)
Total size (incl. paper): 18cm x 18cm (7" x 7" approx.)
The print/s are unmounted.

Important: I cannot guarantee that your printed item will be the exact one shown in the example photographs in the shop. As everything is handmade, there will inevitably be some slight variations with each printing; likewise coloured prints with hand-mixed inks may vary slightly in pigment between batches. This is all part of the charm and uniqueness of your purchase, as no two items will be exactly the same! If the paper has been cut or torn by hand, please also expect very minor differences in size.