Clare Melinsky

Clare Melinsky is an illustrator and printmaker whose distinctive work is created using the traditional technique of lino cutting. Her colourful, graphic style is characterised by simplicity and clarity, with the natural world, animals and historical subjects recurring throughout her work.
Clare studied Theatre Design at Central School of Art in London, now Central Saint Martins, where she was introduced to lino cutting. After graduating, she continued to develop the technique, which has remained at the heart of her practice ever since.
Clare lives and works in rural Dumfriesshire, Scotland, where the surrounding landscape and wildlife provide an enduring source of inspiration.
Her process begins with drawing and gradually develops into a simplified design, which is transferred onto a sheet of linoleum. Using small V-shaped gouges, Clare cuts away the areas that will remain unprinted. Ink is then rolled onto the remaining surface and the image printed.
The nature of lino cutting demands simplicity and clarity — less is more. Clare often works with vibrant colours, using either a single block or several registered blocks. By layering and overlapping inks, additional colours and subtle variations emerge, giving her prints their characteristic richness and warmth.