Jo Brown's news and thoughts.

My print making journey

10/28/2025

I studied textile design at art college, with screen printing as my major. After college I painted my textile designs to sell, and then moved into illustration, mostly for children's books, gift-wrap, packaging and stationery. My work has always reflected that initial training, in the way I think about design.
I have in the last few years returned to print making in a different way. Not exclusively for textiles, although I do design and sell my t-shirts and tea towels and fabric items. Now I print on paper and am really enjoying the process.
I began with some short courses at East Side Print in Brighton, a great open access studio. Over the past few years I have been experimenting with different aspects of printing, challenging myself. Every now and then something pops up that reminds me of my initial print training, a memory of how I used to work. At the time everything was analogue, I hand drew and painted my print separations. I liked it that way, working out how to create textures by hand that would be the work of seconds with Photoshop.
I am using Photoshop now sometimes to create my print separations but I am being drawn back to working by hand. I am drawing on tracing paper with crayons and ink.

I don't aim to draw something and then reproduce it - I could just do a digital print for that (which I sometimes do) I want to have a bit of fun with the print making process,
I am trying to end up with something different than I intended... aka surprising myself.
For me this means
not sticking rigidly to the original thought,
allowing for happy accidents,
and learning from my mistakes
trying out different colourways (this is a textile design thing I think, I always think of alternatives)
overprinting,
collecting different papers to try out
not throwing anything away- yesterday's mistake is tomorrow's inspiration.
Messing about 'just to see...'
Thanks to everyone who has helped me on my print journey so far x

My next Markets

10/9/2025

Updated events for the rest of this year (might be one or two pop-ups to come- I'm open to offers!)
I will have my range of printed paper and fabric goods at all of these events, but as lots of my products are one-offs, don't leave it too late to get what you want.
Or you can shop online in my Folksy shop 🍅
Winter 2025 dates:
Sunday 9th November Christmas Fair, Towner Gallery, Eastbourne. My first time here as a vendor, but lovely gallery - go see the Ravilious while you're there!
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Sunday 23 November Between The Bridges London SoLo Craft Fair- spend a lovely Sunday on the Southbank, this is full of great makers, in a great location, so sparkly and atmospheric.
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Friday November 28 evening 6-8pm , Saturday November 29th Lewes Creatives Christmas Emporium, All Saints Centre Friars Walk, Lewes - catch the Friday evening event for first dibs from my fellow @lewes.creatives
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THE BIG WEEK:
Thursday 4 December Lewes Late Night Shopping, Town Hall Lewes - loved this last year, great night and weatherproof!
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Saturday 6 December Illustrators’ Fair Kings Cross London- hurrah!
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Sunday 7 December Between The Bridges London SoLo Craft Fair- i will be tired but I will be there...
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Sunday 14 December Between The Bridges London SoLo Craft Fair- pretty close to Christmas, great for last minute shopping, and so pretty and sparkling!

My print making journey

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