THERE will be an exhibition of the silk screen prints of the Annamult Press 1973-77 with the stone carvings of Lottie O’Leary at Aardvark Books, Brampton Bryan from April 4-19.

In the early 1970s architect Michael Ellis-Jones and his wife Innis created and ran a small art press making original silk screen prints of Irish medieval sculptures and important Irish buildings such as Yeats's famous tower at Thoor Ballylee. Michael was a relative of Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, founders of the Gregynog Festival and generous donors to the National Gallery of Wales, and his memoir of his youth and friendship with the sisters ‘A Boyhood’s Recall’ was described by Cambria Magazine as: “An intricate and immaculate miscellany of memories, memorabilia and characters from a now long-vanished era”.

Based in a small cottage in the Valley of the Nore near Cashel, they made nearly 500 prints of over 20 different designs. Using the finest papers – many of the prints are on handmade mulberry paper from Japan – they experimented with different colours and techniques, bringing to life their chosen images with rare skill and sensitivity. The late Maeve Binchy became a strong supporter of their works, which she felt explored an aspect of Irish culture which was then unknown, and wrote about the prints in the Irish Times.

The prints were exhibited widely in Ireland, and in Heals Gallery in London, but have not been seen publicly since then. This selling exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see a large group of the prints together at the same time, and gives a powerful indication of their achievement.

Alongside the prints the exhibition also contains specially made stone sculptures by local artist and carver Lottie O’Leary from Knucklas near Knighton. Lottie said “I was excited to be asked to exhibit alongside the prints of Michael Ellis-Jones, that he made in the 1970s of Irish medieval figure sculptures. I first saw the prints in January and they are stunning, printed on very fine paper. I have a strong family connection to Ireland. I trained in sculpture conservation and worked closely on some fine medieval carvings, for example on Canterbury Cathedral, which have greatly influenced my own style. I have taken parts of the carvings, depicted in the prints, as well as local carvings and medieval stained glass, for my inspiration for the exhibition."

All works are for sale and a catalogue of the Annamult Press with an essay by Michael Ellis-Jones has been printed for this exhibition. The exhibition opening hours are 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm. The bookshop and exhibition will be closed on Easter Sunday. For more information, and invitations to the private view on Thursday, April 2, 5.30pm-8pm. Please visit Aardvark Books or the website www.aardvark-books.com, or call the bookshop on 01547 530744.