York printmaker Gerard Hobson brings the outdoors indoors with his colourful wildlife prints. Now he’s moving into soft furnishings too. MAXINE GORDON pays a visit to his home and studio.

WILDLIFE and art were always Gerard Hobson's two big passions, but it was not until five years ago that was able to marry the two when at the age of 48 he became a printmaker.

"When I was at school, the careers advice I was given was not to go into art – there are no jobs," he says. "So I went down the science route and did a degree in zoology."

He worked in animal science for a few years, but gave up when he realised his heart wasn't in it. After a bout of travelling, he began working with the homeless, managing a hostel for 15 years. Redundancy struck and he seized the opportunity to return to those first loves by enrolling in a printmaking course at York College.

He now specialises in lino prints. His work is bold and distinctive: graphically drawn birds and wild animals such as hares and foxes, against colourful backdrops. "Why copy something in nature that is perfect? I like to go off on an angle and use nature to take me to somewhere else," says Gerard,who was born in Sheffield, raised in Harrogate and lived in York since the late 1980s.

He is unusual for a printmaker in that he hand colours each of his 77 prints in a limited edition run. It means no two can be exactly the same, and he is able to try the print in another colour-way should he choose.

His focus on the natural world and his flamboyant palette has brought comparison with another York printmaker, the uber-successful Mark Hearld.

Gerard is a fan – a large print by Mark has pride of place in the kitchen-dining room of his family home in Clifton, where he lives with wife Nicolette, children Grace, 16, Luke, 13, and border terrier cross, Poppy.

"I do like Mark Heard," says Gerard. "He was one of the people that led me to go into printmaking."

Like Mark and lots of other artists across the city, Gerard will be exhibiting his work during York Open Studios over two weekends in April. His Clifton home will be turned into an exhibition space for the event and visitors will also be able to see him at work in his garden studio.

A new addition this year is a small home furnishings selection – lampshades and cushion covers featuring Gerard's designs. It's the result of a collaboration with fellow North Yorkshire homewares designer Georgia Wilkinson.

The couple met at York Open Studios last year and the idea was born. Gerard's pieces are labelled 'Gerard Hobson for Georgia Wilkinson' and will be sold through her website.

The lampshades come in four designs, featuring swallows, partridges, wrens and rare birds, over six colours and in two sizes. Gerard might add to the collection. "I was out walking the dog on the Ings the other day and saw some kingfishers up there, so I would like to do a kingfisher design."

Prices start at £55 for cushions and £67.50/£98 for lampshades.

The pair are also working on a mug selection, which will sell for £12 each. But it is still a work in progress. Gerard wasn't happy with the prototype. He insisted on china mugs, but the ones sourced by Georgia left a tea stain. So they are looking for a better quality variety. Meanwhile, he will tweak the designs.

"I want to add more colours," he says.

Gerard believes his new career couldn't have been more timely.

"I've been in the right place at the right time. For whatever reason, printmaking is hitting a chord with the public. I've always liked birds, but now you see them on everything, even on stuff by Cath Kidston.

"So I seem to be hitting the right creative mood at the moment although I don't follow trends and just do the things I am led to do."


York Open Studios will take place on April 17, 18 and 19 and also April 25 and 26, allowing art lovers free access to an array of studios, workshops and homes of local artists to view their work. Gerard will be hosting on all five dates at his home and studio at 51 Water Lane, York, YO30 6PW. Phone 01904 659268 email: gerardhobson@sky.com  website: gerardhobson.com. He will be doing demonstrations both Sundays from 2pm to 2.20pm and 4pm to 4.20pm.