Bio

Hilary Dalke studied at Guildford and Kingston Schools of Art graduating with a BA in Fine Art and Printmaking. She has an ATC from Goldsmiths College London. Dalke had been directing art and design education positions, as well as various enterprises in design research and fashion. Printmaking and photography have always been her main focus when time allowed. In 2017, WELLCOME COLLECTION ACQUISITIONS, purchased a portfolio of 12 monotypes from her Series 1 WRAITH. Her work is in Private Collections in the UK and USA. Dalke has shown work at the University of Surrey, Guildford, the Chelsea Arts Club, and in 2020, she presented at a Printmakers Council Exhibition in Highgate.

Materials and Techniques

The monotypes were made – unlike the historical methods of nature printing – by capturing the decay and splendour of the leaf surfaces from pressing forms into an inked platen and printing the residue. The selected images show all the imperfections from artist’s hand printing processes.  Dalke uses printers’ handmade papers and etching inks.

Dalke cites her influences as The Chelsea Physic Garden and Pia Ostlund’s work at Oxford Botanical Gardens.

“I think the works look good, so I would be happy to take it to one of our Collections Development meetings. We want to acquire a selection of 12 monotypes from Series 1 WRAITH. Something that is important to us in terms of our decision making is that the works are an exploration of grief. I’m delighted with the selections we have made”.

Melanie Grant, Collections Development Librarian
Wellcome Collection Acquisitions, London