This is how most of my prints begin, with a bit of drawing alfresco.
The image I'm working on now was drawn away back in January 2025. Just as well I dragged along the fabulous content creator @candycoatedscot or I wouldnt have caught any of this.
Thanks Fifi 😘
#printmaking #scottishcoast #printmakinglife #aberdeenshire #scottishlandscape
My first event of 2026!
I can't wait to attend my first makers market of the year with @rare.makersmarket at Inverurie's @gariochheritage centre.
With 20 professional creative businesses the variety and quality of work on display is going to be amazing!
Join us on Saturday 9th May to shop small and visit this fantastic venue. The centre it's self is well worth a visit, with so many wonderful historical artifacts. Basically you could spend your whole day here as the lunch, coffee and cakes are pretty awesome too. What more could you need.
#raremakersmarket #SupportCreativity #shoplocal #handmadeisbest #aberdeenshire
Printmakers of Scotland Festival of print at the University of Stirling 14-16 August 2026.
Introducing participating artists
Elaine Thomson
Elaine is a printmaker based in the North-East of Scotland, working from her home studio in Aberdeenshire. Her practice centres on drawing, using simple, linear marks and bold colour in an illustrative style to distil her subject matter to its essence, aiming to evoke memory, atmosphere, and emotional response. Recently returning to the area where she grew up, Elaine draws inspiration from the surrounding countryside and its ever-changing light, colour, and sense of place. These observations are transformed into prints, most often using silkscreen techniques. After graduating with a degree in Fine Art from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in 2003, Elaine practiced as a printmaker until 2008, when her focus shifted to running her own gallery, Junction Arts, in Aberdeen. In 2019, she made the decision to return fully to her own creative practice, closing the gallery to re-engage with making.
@elainethomsonprintmaker
Good bye stencils.... time to bring in the new!
This is definitely my idea of fun, I'm weird I know!
@peacockandtheworm you're the best.
#printmakinglife #handmadeisbest #printmakingprocess #makingart #screenprintinglife
One line and done!
It's probably the most minimal I've ever went with a drawn element but I felt that's all it needed.
Can anyone guess where this is?
It's one of my top favourite places in Aberdeenshire, we used to go with our dad as kids all the time, probably to get us out from under mam's feet for a bit. My son now loves it too and no wonder it's a stunning peaceful place and to top it off there's absolutely no phone reception.
#aberdeenshire #beachlife #screenprintinglife #printmaking #scottishlandscape
The finishing touches are done!
Here is my first landscape study, simply reduced to colour and line, cos that's what I love. Inspired from a photo taken by my son of a stunning sunset while in the car.
Should he get some of the credit, too? 🤔
#aberdeenshire #printmaking #originalart #scottishlandscape #sunsetlover
Last month, my awesome and super talented twinnie, aka Fiona of @candycoatedscot , took professional images of me in my studio, which I'd never done before, to help me submit the best application I could for the annual @printmakers_of_scotland festival of printmaking.
I'm telling you that Fifi has many many talents, so thanks again for helping me out and doing a cracking job as always 😘 scroll to the end for a look at what she had to put up with.
#sistersaredoingitforthemselves #twinningiswinning #printmakingprocess #printmaking #photoshoot
It's done, 'Pennan Cliffs' is finished, and here it is.
This one is an 11 colour silkscreen print on 300gsm Snowdon Cartridge paper, in an edition of 10.
I changed a few colours last minute to follow my gut, and I'm still not sure I made the right decision, but often as my limited editioned prints take so long to complete, I need time to sit with it to grow to love it again, instead of just being relieved it's over 😅.
Anyhoo, I hope you like it.
#silkscreenprinting #handmadeisbest
#originalart #printmaking #aberdeenshire
The process is loooooooooooong........ so long!
I'm getting there, though. Fingers crossed by the end of the week, I'll have a new print to say HEY to you all.
#printmakingprocess #handmadeisbest #printmaking #aberdeenshire #creativesmallbusiness
Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3 and 4, 5, 6, 10 and 20, and so on and so on.
Colour testing takes me weeks, if not months, to get everything just right. I'm currently testing a sky combination, and if it's not quite right, it's try, try again, until it is.
🤞 I'll get there soon.
#printmaking #screenprinting #printmakingprocess #handmadeisbest #originalart
Would you believe I drew this on the 21st July 2024 while visiting an art market with my family. So basically, forever ago!
This is how long it can sometimes take between other projects, markets, reprints, kids, and life in general to finally begin working on a new print.
I did start working on this one last year, but I'm still just testing colours and layout, so watch this space.
Can you guess where it is? The last image will definitely give it away 😉
#beautifulAberdeenshire #seasideview #drawingoutdoors #Aberdeenshire
#sketchinspiration
It is time.....
It's me, just plain old Elaine Thomson, but it feels so right!
Now, I just need to change over about 16 years of accounts, subscriptions, social media, branding, my whole life basically 🤣
#rebrandingjourney #newstart #newfor2026
