An Artist’s Love Affair with Spring
Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. From the birth of new chicks to the appearance of blossom, there is new life popping up all around us. That renewal and influx of colour and noise can have the feeling of bringing us back to life after a grey winter of hibernation.
LM Montgomery said "That is one good thing about this world... there are always sure to be more springs". No matter how grey a day gets, we always have that hope and promise of spring and that’s what I love to capture in my original artwork.
In this blog, I will take you through some of the springtime stories behind my work.
Bluebells
Birch Trees in Bluebell Wood – Limited Edition Lino Print
A celebration of woodland wonder and the return of spring.
Inspired by that magical time of year when bluebells bloom in carpets across woodlands and gardens, Birch Trees in Bluebell Wood captures the shift from winter’s grey stillness to the vibrant renewal of spring. With silver birch bark gleaming and fresh greens bringing life to the forest floor, this piece invites you to pause and be transported to a quiet, blooming glade — no matter the season.
The Making Process
This piece is printed using the lino reduction method, where more of the lino block is carved away between each ink layer. Once completed, the block cannot be reused — making each edition truly unique and impossible to reproduce.
Birch Trees in Bluebell Wood features multiple hand-printed layers in carefully mixed Cranfield oil-based inks. The subtle play of colour and contrast brings depth, light, and texture to this serene woodland scene.
Product Details
Edition: Limited edition (numbered and signed by the artist)
Print size: 15 × 35 cm
Mounted size: Approx. 22 × 41 cm in soft white mount
Materials: Cranfield oil-based inks on Fabriano Unica 250gsm 50% cotton paper
Archival quality: Yes
Framing: Bespoke framing available upon request
Packaging: Supplied in a protective cellophane sleeve with backing board
ℹ️ Additional Information (EU GPSR 2025 compliant)
Made by: The Peacock and the Printmaker, Newcastle, UK
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Contact: hello@thepeacockandtheprintmaker.com
Safe use: Store flat until framed. Do not hang in damp environments unless framed behind glass. Keep out of direct sunlight to preserve colour vibrancy.
Warning: Plastic sleeve may pose a suffocation hazard – keep out of reach of children.
Environmental note: Cellophane sleeve is not recyclable. Other packaging materials (including reused bubble wrap and cardboard boxes) are recyclable or reused to minimise waste.
For many people, the sight of snowdrops and daffodils is a marker for the beginning of spring. My milestone is seeing the bluebells emerge from the flowerbed in our front garden. The greenery comes up around the beginning of March but it can take the flowers a couple of weeks longer. It’s worth the wait though because it’s such a joyous sight when they arrive.
Capturing the essence of that lead me to a gestural sketch of bluebells among tree trunks - not quite a vision of my front garden but a combination of the carpet of magical blue intermingled with silver birch bark for an extra element of woodland wonder. The piece was created in reversed layers using the lino reduction print method and resulted in an extremely limited edition.
It’s a wonderful place to lose yourself in spring light and perfect hung on a wall that sees moving light throughout the day to make the most of the silver ink.
Blossom
Pear Blossom – Limited Edition Lino Print
A celebration of spring’s quiet joy.
‘Pear Blossom’ is a hand-printed original inspired by the fleeting magic of spring and the beauty of the pear tree in my front garden. This piece captures the contrast between the soft, delicate petals and a bold blue background — a quiet kind of joy that arrives with the first blossom and lingers in memory long after the petals fall like confetti along the garden path.
Ideal for collectors of botanical artwork, nature lovers, and those who appreciate story-rich, seasonal décor, Pear Blossom adds a fresh, refined touch to living spaces, dining rooms, and curated gallery walls.
✨ This print is perfect for:
Lovers of British garden-inspired art
Hosts looking to create a welcoming, seasonal atmosphere
Interior enthusiasts seeking elegant floral wall art
Collectors of artisan, hand-printed limited editions
Process
Each piece is created using the lino reduction technique — a slow, intentional method where more of the block is carved away after each colour layer is printed. Pear Blossom features seven layers of oil-based ink, from rich burgundy stamen to gentle pink shadows and bold green leaves. As very little of the block remains by the end, this edition cannot be reproduced, adding to its uniqueness and value.
Product Details
Edition: Limited edition of 12, hand-signed and numbered
Print size: 15.5 × 20.5 cm
Mounted size: 21 × 30 cm (standard white mount)
Materials: Cranfield oil-based inks on Fabriano Unica 250gsm paper
Packaging: Supplied in a cellophane sleeve with sturdy backing board
Framing: Bespoke framing available on request
ℹ️ Additional Information (EU GPSR 2025 compliant)
Made by: The Peacock and the Printmaker, Newcastle, UK
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Contact: hello@thepeacockandtheprintmaker.com
Safe use: Store flat before framing. Avoid hanging in humid areas unless framed behind glass. Keep out of direct sunlight to preserve colours.
Warning: Plastic sleeve may pose a suffocation hazard – keep away from children.
Environmental note: Cellophane wrap is currently non-recyclable. All other packaging materials, including bubble wrap (reused when possible) and cardboard boxes, are recyclable or reused to reduce waste.
Another joyous marker of spring is blossom - often the scent captures your attention before you see it. The spectrum of colour and aroma is intoxicating and brings a smile to my face every time. The change from the naked branches of winter to the newly adorned branches featuring fresh greenery and delicate petals and stamens of the blossom flowers.
Pear Blossom was another piece inspired by my garden. One sunny afternoon, I sat and sketched a small sprig of blossom flowers and leaves. It was then turned into a lino reduction print of many layers, the first of which was the deep burgundy of the stamen - you have to look very closely to spot what is left of it. The final layer (the bold blue) gives the piece a real pop.
The ‘Returning to Spring’ Collection
This love affair with spring has lead me to create a whole collection dedicated to this magical season. It has come at a time of transition for me personally and from a business perspective. Business wise, I have undergone a massive rebrand and expanded the media that I use, having previously worked only in linocut. On a personal note, I am in a period of physical and hormonal change in my 40s which leads me to view the world differently and for my priorities to shift.
The echoes between the change in seasons of the world and in my life felt like a beautiful opportunity to explore new media. For this reason, I gathered a whole host of materials and surfaces working gesturally to lay down spring inspired colour and texture as a base. Later, I layered up marks and added some recognisable tree and blossom elements. Some piece are much more abstract than others and the more I worked, the more abstract the works became. They each tell a different story of spring, from the scattering of blossom on the wind to the hazy morning sun and explosions of colour as a contrast to the washed out skies of winter.
This collection comes out on 18th April 2026.
If you love contemporary, colourful landscape artwork full of joy and texture, then check out my original work.
