e: nbowles@cardiffmet.ac.uk
Specialist Subject Areas
Screen Printing: Over 15yrs worth of screen printing knowledge for education and industry this ranges from Screen Preparation to stencil making, extended knowledge of applications for both paper and textile printing purposes which range from -Hand Cut paper and film stencils -Direct application to the screen –Mono-print techniques, using a wide range of interesting materials. -Autographic & Photographic stencil production, hand drawn and hand cut films, outputting via computer using graphic software’s for Halftones and Colour separations. -High knowledge of water based printing for education and advocate of eco-friendly products for safe working methods and screen reclamation. Hand operated Flatbed press operating, set up, hand printing of various sizes up to A1 printing using one arm set up system. 4yrs experience of editioning large runs of multicolour screenprinted works, in various sizes and materials. Moderate experience of textile printing in the commercial sector, operating multi-head carousels and single head printing units for t-shirts and tote-bags.
Relief Printing: Over 10yrs of experience working predominantly with MDF wood blocks for relief printing, image transfer to the blocks, duotone, triocromatic, and reduction techniques. And good experience with Lino printing as an alternative. Operating a hand relief press of varying sizes, printing from small editions up to large a2+ blocks on a range of presses. Working with both oil and water based inks and differences each entail, with experience in colour application techniques and theory.
Intaglio Printing: Over 10 yrs of experience of all intaglio processes, collagraph, drypoint, copper & steel etching Use of Sulphuric and nitric acids, Plate production, using hard and soft grounds, sugar lift and aquatint techniques. Using screenprinting as a means of photo-etching transferring images to plate and etching. Using chine colle as a developmental application to prints. Use of both oil and water based inks and there differences Experience of editioning for intaglio processes, and press maintenance.
Reprographic Printing: 7yrs working in commercial print shops operating a range of photocopiers, and using various operation’s to set for screen art working, image transferring, and finishing services, for pamphlets and booklets. Moderate experience of working with graphic software to accompany traditional print activities. Set up pagination for producing brochures and posters.
Qualifications
BA (Hons) Fine Art
MA Fine Art
PGCE(FE) Teacher Training
Biography
Nigel moved to Cardiff in 2000 to study Fine Art, from then has stayed and established himself as a printmaker, gaining knowledge throughout a range of traditional processes and developing methods of delivering technical workshops. He often teaches on Cardiff Open printmaking courses and is a Visiting Printmaking Tutor for UWC Atlantic College.
He has helped to set up and establish The Printhaus Workshops, a not-for-profit screenprinting workshop, working with local communities, running in-house studios and is now one of the managing Directors.
