The Dartmoor Artist Print – Fly Away Home Review
Reviewed by Emma Rogers
Buying presents for Christmas, especially for the hard-to-buy for loved ones, is probably one of the most stressful ‘small stuffs’ we have to sweat in the 21st Century. Socks, chocolates, bottle of wine and gift vouchers will be gladly tossed aside this year as we look at some alternatives to other Christmas presents. Mainly ART!
Sarah Smith, the Dartmoor Artist, is an independent self-taught artist with a growing gallery of prints and art items, all of which are available for Christmas. Taking her inspiration from around her farm where she lives on Dartmoor, Sarah has produced several different series of prints depicting wildlife, even including Christmas cards and A-Z wall posters of Dartmoor animals. I’m reliably informed that if you’re interested in her artwork for interiors, there is also a homewares range coming soon!
I was sent a signed print of ‘Fly Away Home’ which is a block print of a ladybird on large-scale, slightly off frame and certainly larger than life (although I am assuming – maybe they do have giant ladybirds in Dartmoor?) The artwork is printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl paper which feels like a really high-quality finish, and each piece is signed. This ladybird portrait is taken from an original painting and Sarah has several others in the same style, namely the bee and dragonfly. Each print arrives unframed but could be mounted on the wall with just the print framing.
The bold, block red print of the ladybird really stands out on the wall and I can’t help but wonder what the original would look like, especially sat arranged around the bee and dragonfly as statement pieces.
The print itself is A4 sized but with a larger iced white mount measuring 12 inches by 16 inches. I like this as an idea for Christmas because it’s transported easily (although currently only posts to the UK and USA) and is unusual enough that it makes the recipient smile. I don’t think anyone can disagree with artwork as a present, and anyone who has a love of nature, or Dartmoor will appreciate a gift for Christmas that isn’t ordinary nor trite. It’s the original present that keeps on giving all year!
If you’re looking into helping the environment, you can ask Sarah to send her prints without the plastic cellophane sleeve too!
And finally, please remember that art is subjective and quite personal so while you may or may not like a piece that doesn’t mean that everyone else will. So if buying as a gift for someone else, take some time and choose carefully.
RRP: £20
For more information or to buy visit thedartmoorartist.co.uk