When the Covid lockdown started I decided that with movement limited I needed another print project to run in parallel with a few others that I was working on, so I decided that the inspiration and subject would be all the Terriers that we've had over the last thirty years. At the top the first is the first, Pike, star of river banks all over England and the scourge of our local Sandhurst rat population, in fact rats anywhere.
Next came the Ruffe, or Rufus as he was more commonly known. A Border Terrier/Jack Russell cross who hated all animals except Pike. Ruffe could start a fight with his own shadow in a blacked out barn but he was great with children and people. He was also exceptionally hairy, so much so that sometimes you could barely tell which end was which. The tail helped.
When Pike died aged eleven and a half Minnow arrived and she was a chip off the old ratting block and completely fearless too. A great friend and companion who amazingly got on like a house on fire with Rufus. Eventually. It was sad day when she had to be put to sleep but then it is with all of them, a hole appears in your life.
Two woodcuts to go to complete the set, one of Barney who is now fifteen plus and one of Lucie who is thirteen years behind him. For the technically minded the woodcuts were printed from seasoned American White Tulip Wood, the blocks cut to 180mm x 30mm and planed to type height for the press. Watch this space as they say.
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