Emily Harvey – a bit of history
I studied Art and Design at Dartington College, and 3d Design at Bower Ashton in Bristol.
After leaving art college my life took a roundabout route via building, farming and nature conservation before returning to the arts.
I spent several years working as a graphic artist, and exhibition designer before finding my natural habitat as a community artist. This involves working with a wide range of people on collective creative projects, exploring ideas on whatever issues are important to them. Through participating in the arts people find common ground, working together to make positive changes in their communities.
In 1988 I co-founded Skippko Arts Team in Leeds, working with many diverse communities on development projects across the city. I left the company in 2000, however I am proud that it is still going strong and I am currently involved as a board member.
I spent 10 years setting up and running ‘Arts Action York’, the community arts service within City of York Council. While working at the council I caught the printmaking bug and left the local authority in 2009 to pursue a freelance career as community artist and printmaker.
Since then I have developed a body of work, mainly with collagraph techniques, and exhibited regularly in galleries and other public venues across the North. I run a popular programme of printmaking courses from my studio and write ‘the curious printmaker’ blog, promoting experimental printmaking.
In 2015 I founded York Printmakers, a lively group of local printmakers, currently numbering nearly 50 members. We have established a regular print fair in York, and undertaken several residencies and numerous joint exhibitions locally.
When I am not printmaking you will most likely find me in the garden…