‘Hey’ is a new series where we catch up with interesting people from Plymouth and the surrounding area. We discover what they are about and what they are up to.

For our first feature we chatted to Printmaker-Artist Sue Lewry. 

Sue has a background in Graphic Design and Art-direction in London before relocating to the South West and studying printmaking at Arts University Plymouth. She is an active member of the Plymouth creative community, working with local organisations and groups, introducing them to the art of print – often seen with her famous Colossal mobile print unit. She is based at Alma Yard Studios in Plymouth.

Sue was recently an ambassador for British Art Show 9 and could be seen at different locations around Plymouth engaging with local people and getting them to have a go at screen printing during the show’s run. Sue is also responsible for creating the screen-printed beer mats for Plymouth Design Forum socials and events.

How are you?

I’m fine, thanks, Dave. I’m in a good place with my studio and practice because I have a bit of downtime right now, which is an absolute luxury.

How did you come to printing?

In 2013 I went back to study after 15 years living, working and freelancing in London. My husband works overseas for long periods. Back then, being a stay-at-home mum was necessary for our family setup. At that point, I didn’t have any creative friends in Plymouth, and I thought it would be a great way to plant myself into a new creative network to see what might come about.

It all started during my studies when I handmade a perfect bound book to present one of my modules and screen-printed the cover. So off I went and printed the film positives, learned how to expose the screen, went to the screen bed, pulled the ink down, lifted the frame, and revealed my first screen print. I was blown away and said to the technician, ‘wow, it is given my design soul’.

As a graphic designer, I’d become used to working on computers and proofing everything digitally. This moment was transformative, having designed and printed it all myself. This artistic approach to making ignited something sat dormant within me. That reveal moment. The physical connection of applying my design with ink, through the stencil and onto the paper. It did something to me, and in that exact and memorable moment, I fell hook, line and sinker for printmaking.

So how did you come from that to starting up your own print concern?

In the 1990s, I completed an HND in Graphic Design. This allowed me to top it up to the degree level – at what is now Arts University Plymouth. Before then, my experience in the Graphic Design industry was rule-orientated. As a designer, I felt constrained and unable to express my individuality because my self confidence still needed to grow. It was a judgemental time back then, and people could be harsh and competitive. That stunted me, so I did creative work that fit inside the box for catalogues and editorials. I played it safe.

Returning to education was pretty transformative for me the second time I could experiment with my image-making without feeling so inhibited – I let go of what people thought and the rules. My tutors nurtured that and encouraged me to find my creative identity and authorship. It was liberating and super exciting! I discovered hands-on printmaking using digital and traditional methods, which played out in my final major project.

In 2015 the course was exhibited at D&AD New Blood in London at Spitalfields. I was awarded Best in Show for my fashion branding project, which included a massive hand-pulled screen print that riffed off some unresolved moving image work I’d been experimenting with as part of the project. The tactile and tech became a critical approach for me. It made me chuckle when I received the award because I was like the ‘old bird’ on the course, the Mum. It made me realise I can print quite well because my image was made up of a fine halftone which is technically tricky to reproduce. My work was recognised on the national platform of graduates that year – this gave me validation and belief in my way of visually communicating ideas.

Sorry, that was a long-winded way to answer your question, but it is the foundation of my story.

So the course finished, and I started teaching myself how to print. I applied for a subsidised studio space at Ocean Studios and had access to their brand-new print studio. Alongside freelance design jobs, I kept plugging away, learning, failing and trying to become a printmaker.

I went to Print Club London, did a course and learned a bit more. I assisted artists, watched videos, read books, tried things out, exhibited new prints and passed on my knowledge teaching screen printing to other creatives.

After a few years, Colossal came about in response to not having access to specialist facilities
anymore. I couldn’t afford the expensive equipment. I built Colossal to liberate myself from needing specialist facilities. My tenacious, independent mindset kicked in – I was driven to create a low-tech solution to print on my own terms with my gear. Activating my individual agency at the core and the driving force for Colossal.

In 2018, I studied for a Masters in Printmaking at AuP to consolidate and discover more about my motivation and interests, develop authority in my discipline, and carve out a unique space for myself in the field of printmaking.

What’s the favourite thing about your job?

The power of creative action. Independence. Igniting creativity in others. Whenever someone pulls a print with me, I hope it ignites a tiny transformation like it did on me.

I love the social sculpture and the other intangibles happening around Colossal. At its roots, it’s about connection, belonging, and good old-fashioned community spirit – let’s all come together and make something. I set the parameters for people to jump in the print run. It becomes like a performance. It’s an antidote to the mobile phone, the actual physical. Colossal shares similar features with mobile phones – like mobility, it makes images and text and disseminates repeatable information. I play around with the collaborative and social implications of our relationship to imagery in a hands-on way. This is not dissimilar to how we do that digitally – I’m going off on a tangent here; Dave and I’m still unpacking those ideas and crossovers.

One thing for everyone to try?

Step into that place where you might feel awkward – feel the fear. That’s what I’d tell my younger self. Dip your toe in. Lean into it. Feel it out. Gauge if it is doable for you. Look out for internal roadblocks (things that block you). That’s an indicator you need to ask yourself about stepping into that space. You know yourself best! Trust the process and give yourself permission to totally fail at it.

I’ve learned that as I got older because that’s where the fruits of your labour are, the richness. I can’t believe I’m saying that because I know how hard that is. It is not easy.

It’s about owning it, and the people who resonate with you will, and those who don’t won’t. That’s fine. Find your comfortable space within yourself. I like being older. These things improve in terms of the internal you. You gain experience. Things work out; if it doesn’t, new things happen and embrace that.

Oh yeah, and skateboarding. A fantastic way to step out of your comfort zone and meet dissimilar people.

What recent piece of work are you most proud of?

My British Art Show 9 ambassador project in Plymouth in 2022. Seeing myself enact an idea I had, that photograph of Colossal and me and Tinside Beach (near the Lido), and the big wave crashing. I had a vision that manifested – I love that image and making it happen. When I saw it, my older sister said, ‘I get you going into a school and printing with kids, but I don’t get that. Why would you do that?’. This is a good representation of what I said about daring to step into something new. Printing at the beach took a lot of confidence for me. The wild swimming community group described themselves as non-arty people, and I had to lean into it surrounded by people that didn’t understand why I was doing it.

I was a stranger with a nomadic print workshop who’d appeared in their ritual space. However, they trusted me and jumped in the print run in between their sea swim. Once they printed and saw the result, they were buzzing; it added to their day. Something magical happens when people come together in that way. I would like to do more unusual stuff like that.

How do you maintain a work life balance? 

I don’t. I have a strong work ethic. I generally switch-off in the evenings. I like crashing in front of the TV and watching telly and movies with an alcoholic beverage, cuddled up with my dogs and husband (when he’s in the UK). My two boys are now teenagers, so they need me in different ways. Family is my top priority and always comes first. I love being there for them.

One thing I’ve identified recently is that I’m too optimistic with my time, which impacts me personally sometimes. I love my life and work hard for the opportunities I have. I think the life-work balance isn’t something that exists for me because no two days are the same with unforeseen factors coming in and out of my weeks with kids, dogs, family, friends, work, etc. I need to work on this and ring-fence certain days as my print business develops and grows.

What plans do you have for the future?

I like the idea of diversifying what I do. So, yes, I’m print, but what else can that be in terms of events? Interactions? Community? Setting up a space, I don’t know what the ingredients of that might be yet?

Meanwhile, I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. I want to branch out into doing fabric and t-shirts because I get asked about that a lot, and I’d love to continue working with other artists and reproducing their work. So, I will keep diversifying and responding – I like being kept on my toes! I’m in it for the long term.

Playlist or podcast?

Both, in equal measures.

Any recommendations? 

Funnily enough, yes. Yesterday I was listening to a Joanna Lumley podcast because her husband is a composer. They talk about classical music and make it accessible; it’s easy listening and something new to learn. Still, I’ve only listened to one episode of that.

While I’m in the studio, I try to keep things relevant to inform my small business. I listen to Mary Portas and her Beautiful Misfits podcast. It is inspiring, I like to listen to other business people, designers, poets and authors and how they use their unique perspectives to create a better, more beautiful future.

As I said before, every day is different for me. I have different responses each day. I don’t have a pattern. Someone pointed out to me that no day is the same for you today.

Any advice for up-and-coming creatives and print-makers?

Do that creative thing you’re fearful about doing or because you’re worried about what people might think of you. Do that thing! That’s the thing you need to do.

Why? Because it is uniquely you. Try not to replicate what other people are doing. You can do a bit of mimicking and imitation, but it’s got to come from your experience of the world. It’s the only way to stand out and tell your story.

Find your individuality, and go with it, whatever that is.

What keeps you in Plymouth?

Plymouth, for me, feels like an evolving space creatively. With amazing landscapes, the moors, and the sea, it’s a large town, not so much a city.

And the people. I really like the people here. I like the fact I’m part of the creative community here. I’ve forged my little space out there amongst everyone else. I’ve grabbed lots of opportunities here. It still feels like a bit of a blank canvas.

Creatives are real simulators of culture, aren’t we? We’re the grassroots. We’re the ones who create the richness before it becomes commonplace and polished up. Geographically, Plymouth is at the end of the country. It’s a tricky place to navigate, but I like it here and feel proud to champion it. I’ve lived here for 17 years now. Plymouth has loads of potential, and it’s my home.

Check out Sue’s work:

Website > https://www.suelewry.com/

Instagram > https://www.instagram.com/colossal_by_suelewry/

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If you’d like to feature on our HEY Series please let us know. Get in touch here.