Tessa Charles’s interest in printmaking started during her graphic training at the Central School of Art and Design. After trying several different printing mediums, lino printing became her lifelong inspiration. After leaving a career in teaching, the opportunity arose to establish her own studio with a large press. Situated by Longhope Pier in Orkney, the surrounding sea, birds, flowers and landscape became the basis for her work. Tessa uses water based inks which are ideal for the way she has developed her printmaking. All the colours are applied to the block at the same time. Colours can be merged using small rollers rather like painting, with only one pass through the press. Although she is now based in London, the natural world continues to be the centre of her work.