Matt Hooper West Yorkshire, United Kingdom

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Matt Hooper is a self-taught professional linocut printmaker, working from his studio in Leeds. He makes linocut prints following both the traditional Japanese Woodblock style and more contemporary linocut methods, a reflection of his passions for both subjects. After 30 years in a Leeds print factory, Matt left with the goal of making every piece of paper into something beautiful.

As a self taught linocut artist, I seem to have forged a rather unconventional path to where I am today. I only discovered linocut print around 2016. Until then I had not really followed the sadly failed artistic aspirations that I had harboured when leaving school. My background and education didn't encourage art as a career so I spent thirty years in a print works in Leeds. This showed me the worst side of print, but I decided to seek out its best side. From the moment I discovered the art form, the process of linocut printing fascinated me - hand cut printed plates and blocks were a world away from computer generated imagery on laser exposed aluminium plates and heavy machinery. that I had become accustomed to. My personal research and studies led me to the masters of the hand cut surface - the Japanese. I studied their artistic composition, cutting technique and printing methods. Whilst this is not always translatable to linoprint I felt determined to reflect their craft and attention to detail in my own work. I discovered I had the eye and manual dexterity to learn these techniques, and a level of focus and patience that allows me to create large detailed pieces that have gained praise from the contemporary art world and also from Ellis Tinios, writer of many of the great modern works on Ukiyo-e and with whom I now have the immense privilege of studying historical woodblock printing technique. After working for six years to train myself in relief printing I left my job to pursue a full time career as a print artist. I usually sell my art in person, at markets and print fairs across Yorkshire where I have the huge pleasure of meeting my customers and explaining my art and my journey. I hope to move into galleries and arts spaces where my art will be appreciated, but for now I am grateful to be able to support myself as a professional artist in a rather competitive world.