Tara Chittenden

Tara Chittenden is a woodblock and linocut printmaker who blends Japanese printmaking traditions with contemporary techniques. By layering translucent colours, she achieves an optical interplay of hues and textures, enhancing the subtle quality of her prints. Through this fusion of traditional methods and experimentation, Tara strives to evoke the transformation of wild landscapes under ever extreme light and weather conditions. Tara’s prints seek to capture the ephemeral beauty of big skies and towering clouds. Each piece begins with a deep observation of nature, where Tara immerses herself in the landscapes that inspire her. The process of carving wood or cutting lino is both meditative and deliberate, allowing her to connect intimately with the material and the scene she wishes to depict. The tactile experience of carving and its rhythmic motion help to translate the organic forms of clouds, the sweep of the horizon, and the textures of the earth into her prints. Tara’s colour palette is carefully chosen to reflect the subtle shifts in light and atmosphere that define the sky and land. The layering of inks, combined with the interplay of light and shadow, creates depth and dimension, inviting viewers to lose themselves in the expansive scenes. Tara has exhibited her work at a number of shows, including the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2020, 2021, and 2022, and the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair 2022.