A small number of international printmakers of standing made it to Aotearoa’s shores, among them Mabel Annesley who arrived here in 1941 and settled in Whakatū Nelson. Her large house back in Northern Ireland had recently been commandeered by the British Army, which led to her decision to move halfway around the world. Mabel was part of the British wood-engraving revival during the 1920s and 1930s, working alongside other significant artists including Clare Leighton, Paul Nash, Gwen Raverat and Eric Gill. Although the wood-engraving blocks and other printmaking materials she was accustomed to using were scarce in Aotearoa, she made do with lino-blocks and began making stunning prints of the surrounding landscapes. Her work was admired by many, and several prints were reproduced in the journal Art in New Zealand, which also published her article ‘A Wood-engraver Looks Back’ in 1943.

Ink on Paper: Aotearoa New Zealand Printmakers of the Modern Era, 11 February – 28 May 2023