Printmakers

Kevin Maddison

Kevin Maddison trained as a graphic designer at the London College of Printing and established his career as an illustrator, alongside periods of teaching. He has illustrated a number of children’s books, including three poems by Edward Lear, which were launched at the Fine Art Society and exhibited at Nash House. One of these publications was selected for the Fifty Best Books Awards and featured in a touring exhibition of British illustration. He has also held a solo exhibition at the Illustrators Art Gallery, presenting his interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

His work has been included in exhibitions such as European Illustration and the Association of Illustrators’ annual show, and his illustrations are held in private collections. In addition to children’s publishing, he has produced non-fiction illustration across a wide range of subjects, from ancient civilisations to architectural reconstructions.

Maddison works primarily in etching, exploring its capacity for both bold and delicate line, intricate cross-hatching, and tonal depth. His prints often draw on narrative imagery, shaped by a long engagement with illustration, and are sometimes finished with hand-applied watercolour washes.

His prints have been exhibited widely, including at The Leeds Craft and Design Centre, The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle, The Weekend Gallery in Hastings, The Tube Gallery, The Jam Factory, and The Green Tree Gallery in Haywards Heath.
Maddison’s work has been included in exhibitions such as European Illustration and the Association of Illustrators’ annual show, and his illustrations are held in private collections. Alongside his work in children’s publishing, he has produced non-fiction illustration across a wide range of subjects, from ancient civilisations to architectural reconstructions.

In recent years, Maddison has developed a deep engagement with etching, drawn to both its process and its expressive potential. He approaches the medium as an extension of drawing, exploring its capacity for both bold and delicate line, intricate cross-hatching, and atmospheric depth. His imagery often reflects narrative threads rooted in his years as a book illustrator, with echoes of folklore, poetry, and personal visual archives. A strong sense of place, a love of the natural world, and a particular affection for animals—especially dogs—run throughout his work.

Humour and storytelling remain central to Maddison’s practice. His prints function as visual narratives, often enhanced with hand-applied watercolour washes that bring added emphasis and a unique, tactile finish to each piece.

Artist Statement:

“I think of etching as a form of drawing that allows time and process to play their part. The image emerges gradually—through line, tone, and the small, often unpredictable shifts that happen along the way.

I’m interested in suggesting a sense of narrative without fully explaining it. The figures, animals, and places that appear in the work often feel as though they belong to a larger story, just out of reach.

Adding watercolour by hand brings another layer—something immediate and responsive—which helps to shape the atmosphere of each print. I like that balance between control and chance, and the way it leaves space for the viewer to complete the story.”

Kevin Maddison

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