Sarah Gillespie & Amy-Jane Blackhall – National Portrait Gallery Acquisition

Sarah Gillespie – Mezzotint of an Eye. Mezzotint, 2022, 15.7 cm x 20.7 cm. Gifted 2023

Sarah Gillespie & Amy-Jane Blackhall

Enter the National Portrait Gallery – Permanent Collection

Artists Sarah Gillespie, Amy-Jane Blackhall, Tristan Reid and Paul Kirkup were commissioned by Paul Cox, curator of the Reference Collection at the National Portrait Gallery, to contribute works on the theme of the ‘Process’.

Their contributions, (including Mezzontint of an Eye by Sarah Gillespie, pictured) have been acquired for the Permanent Collection of the National Portrait Gallery. They are currently on permanent display in Gallery 11 of the National Portrait Gallery and online as part of the National Portrait Gallery’s educational programme.

In a lovely addition to this story, the contributors, printmakers Amy-Jane Blackhall and Paul Kirkup both worked as printmakers at 107 Workshop, Melksham, with the late master printer Jack Shirreff.
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Sarah Gillespie will present a new exhibition with Rabley Gallery from June 1st, 2024.

View available works by Sarah Gillespie

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Amy-Jane Blackhall is one of Rabley Gallery’s feature artists at the upcoming Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair.

View available works by Amy-Jane Blackhall

Watch: How are engravings and mezzotints made? (Audio-described)

As part of the commission, the National Portrait Gallery came to the artist’s studios and made films about etching, mezzotint and engraving. This film features printmakers Sarah Gillespie and Paul Kirkup and was made by the National Portrait Gallery.

Detail of Sarah Gillespie’s original copper Mezzotint plate and tools for her recent commission for the National Portrait Gallery.

Opening Night of Making an Impression: Prints in Room 11, National Portrait Gallery. Featuring Sarah Gillespie, Amy-Jane Blackhall, Paul Kirkup & Tristan Reid.

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“The new galleries are stunning and it is a great honour to have been able to help them in this way.” – Sarah Gillespie

View Works in Rabley Gallery’s Online Shop: