The run-up to Christmas is always busy — shopping lists, decorating, office parties, family gatherings… it can sometimes feel like there’s barely time to catch your breath. That’s why this year, I’m offering something a little different: festive lino printing workshops that bring creativity, calm, and connection straight to you.

Imagine gathering with friends, family, or colleagues around the table, carving and hand-printing your own Christmas cards, wrapping paper, tags, and even small gifts. Not only will you make something personal and beautiful, but you’ll also make lasting memories together.

In August 2025, North East artist Heather Moore exhibited at Lancaster Art Fair in the historic Storey Gallery. Her nostalgic art and original colourful lino prints drew collectors and visitors who connected with the memories and stories behind each piece — from wild North Sea seascapes to vibrant florals and the symbolic Manchester Bee. This blog reflects on the highlights of the fair, the inspiration behind the work, and what’s next for her limited-edition lino prints for sale.

Changing careers brings up a lot of emotions to be processed as well as practicalities that need to be dealt with. To some, it may seem like an easy decision. I knew it was something that I wanted to do and that I had the tools to do it but it was still scary. Scary, exciting, bewildering…

This is the warts and all story of how I left teaching to become an artist.

In a world of mass production and next-day delivery, hand-crafted art stands apart — not just for how it looks, but for how it's made. If you've ever wondered why it takes time for a new print edition from The Peacock and the Printmaker to be released, the answer lies in something timeless: craftsmanship, care, and an unhurried devotion to quality.

• The Slow Magic of Printmaking

• Quality Over Quantity

• Crafted to Last

• Behind the Scenes, In the Studio

• The Beauty of the Wait

I used to think getting my work in magazines was hard but now I know better. Now I've been in multiple mags, newspapers, on podcasts and on BBC radio, I KNOW that it is actually pretty simple.

Getting PR like this raises your profile and trust value and trust is crucial when selling luxury items like art. Your clients need to buy into you before they hand over the money for what you make.

If you’re ready to ditch the nonsense and have your artwork celebrated in the public eye then make sure you avoid making these mistakes:

1.Thinking‘I’m not interesting enough’

2.Being unprepared

3. Being spammy or pestering them

From a very young age, I fell in love with art - initially in the sense that I loved to create it. I loved to paint, draw, print, make a wonderful mess with pretty much any material I could get my hands on.

I remember first feeling a sense of ‘success’ in art when my primary teacher, Mr Biggin, set up a still life table and could not stop telling everyone how amazing my drawing of a flower was. That experience has never left me, although my parents and I are baffled as to where that sketch (lovingly framed and displayed) has gone. It almost doesn’t matter because the feeling has always stayed with me - that feeling of pride and of bring joy to others with something that I made.

As I progress through school, I became more aware of famous artists (all dead of course) but the scale of things that I saw on school trips to galleries and the way these creative should were revered stunned me. Still, it was a hobby and I never considered that I would make a career out of it because ‘art ids only worth something after they’re dead.’ This is a phrase I heard from many adults, presumably in an attempt to help ,e understand it wasn't;t a proper job and not get my hopes up too high that they would be shattered.

There are a few early gallery experiences that I recall, including a day trip to London galleries with college - my effervescent and eccentric tutor Bev leading the way never lacking energy and passion. I grew up not far from Liverpool so I was aware of the Tate Gallery from a young age,. Having said that, it didn't;t feel like a building I could enter, we just saw it when we visited the fudge shop on the docks. In high school, however, I finally made it through the rotating doors. I was in total awe - the scale of the place, the variety of art, not just in frames but also sculpture, projects and much more, and the fact that some of these people were STILL ALIVE!!!! On that trip, I discovered the joy of an art postcard, collecting a little bit of the creative genius to take home.

Some artists have stuck with me more than others…

Misprints can be removed from an edition of prints for a number of reasons. Sometimes layers don't line up properly, ink smudges or issues with the paper. Most of the print is still great but it’s not to the standard that artists want to present to their clients - printmakers pride themselves on the quality of their work.

I want to just define some terms here before moving on though..

Misprint - a print containing an error of some sort

Ghost Print - a print that has been deliberately printed using minimal ink to test the layout and qualities of a print block

Artist’s Proof - defined by printed-editions.com as ‘…a term used in printmaking to describe a limited number of prints that are made outside of the regular numbered edition of a print. Artist’s proofs are typically printed before the numbered edition and are used as a way for the artist to make final adjustments to the image or to experiment with different colour combinations.’

There’s something really special about taking a moment for yourself—tea in hand, a quiet pause in the day—and opening something made just for joy. That’s exactly what I imagined when I created The Curated Nest.

It’s my little seasonal magazine filled with stories from the studio, dreamy interiors, snippets of life in the North East, and of course, behind-the-scenes glimpses into my original linocut prints. It’s a love letter to slow creativity, colour, and the beauty of art in everyday life.

When you enter the studio (with brew in hand) you’ll find my ink-stained desk, the drying wall, colourful test prints, sketchbooks and all of my tools mounted on the wall. On one wall I have a bright tropical lima print wallpaper to inject even more colour and house free standing frames. There are finished prints to browse, works in progress and chances to chat about custom pieces. If there’s a piece that you want to see up close then I will have it laid out ready for you to soak up all the texture and detail that you miss on screen.

Drawing inspiration from childhood memories, experiences with my daughter and husband and dreams of places to visit in the future, my linocuts are imbued with an enormous sense of nostalgia and hope. Carved from loose designs created in watercolour, my blocks emerge semi instinctively and combine with bold colour palettes to produce impact - pieces that bring joy on every viewing because of the love and passion that goes into every one.

There’s something incredibly powerful about giving art as a gift. It’s personal, lasting, and made with intention — especially when it’s created just for someone you love.

When it comes to meaningful milestones, few are as symbolic as the first wedding anniversary. Traditionally known as the paper anniversary, it’s a beautiful opportunity to reflect on the first chapter of your life together and to mark it with something thoughtful and lasting. A bespoke lino print — handmade on paper — couldn’t be more fitting.

“I didn’t know what I was looking for. I’ve never had ‘real art’ before – only the occasional print I’ve picked up at markets.

I love your colours. The way you see something and transform it into your own perspective is so beautiful.

Many artists undercharge for their work or price their work well but then give discounts because they don’t believe in the price. What you need is a solid strategy so that you feel confident in asking for the price.

‘We were looking for a piece of art with a nautical theme when we came across Heather’s work.

We were drawn in by her use of bold colours and the unique patterns created by her carving.

Heather is friendly, honest and approachable which all created a great service. ‘

‘Buying from her felt easy and the whole process was transparent.

We’re so happy to have this piece in the hallway - our original ‘Happy Place’ print makes it welcoming‘

New original, ‘Birch Trees in Bluebell Woods’ is a celebration of that moment when you take a walk and realise that spring has finally arrived. The bluebells have emerged and are stretching out to create a gorgeous carpet of powder blue and the light is streaming in through the trees, bouncing off the silver bark of the birch trees.

What a moment!

Inspired by the wonder of the time of year when the bulbs appear in carpets across woods and gardens are bringing much needed colour to what has felt like the grey of winter. With silver bark gleaming and greens bringing the lushness of the season, it really is a joy.

I want you to be able to sit back and let your eyes wander taking you back to spring whatever the time of year.

Artists, here’s what’s working well for me on insta…

Over the last few weeks, the following things have been successful in my artists social media…

• Showing my face

• Movement

• Short reels

• Close ups

• Dreamy slow-mos

It usually starts with a flicker—a flash of colour in a garden I’m passing, the way morning light hits a windowsill, or a half-remembered dream that lingers into breakfast. Inspiration doesn’t often arrive with a grand announcement. For me, it sneaks in gently, asking to be noticed.

Some days, it’s rooted in nature: the curl of a fern, the bold confidence of a sunflower, or the hush of a misty coastline. Other times, it’s a memory—of childhood holidays, days trips, or conversations with a friend. Little moments, half-glimpsed and deeply felt, that quietly ask to be turned into ink and carved into lino.

I’ve learned to trust these sparks. To gather them like treasures. Because behind every print I make, there’s a story—stitched together from colour, curiosity, and the beautiful, ordinary magic of everyday life.

The short answer is that prices vary because it is dependent on the materials and hours of labour that go into each piece. The following guidelines set out how much it costs for these specific sizes with a particular number of layers, however I can offer more tailored information for specific sizing requests.

How limited are editions from The Peacock & The printmaker?

Where a print is identified as limited edition then there were between 2 and 20 made. Every product description tells you how many were printed in the edition. You can see the exact edition number in the bottom left corner of each print.

There’s something quietly magical about carving into Lino. It’s slow, tactile, and wonderfully imperfect. Every gouge is deliberate, every mark a decision you can't undo—and I love that.

I didn’t set out to become a printmaker. But over time, I realised I was craving something more grounded—something that pulled me out of screens and into my senses. Linocut offered that pause. It invited me to work with my hands again, to make a mess, to celebrate process over perfection.

I chose linocut because it gave me space to slow down, to play with colour and form in a way that felt joyful and honest. There’s a kind of magic in peeling back that first print, not knowing exactly what you’ll get. It’s a little like life—messy, surprising, and full of happy accidents.

Now, each print I create tells a story—of a place, a memory, a dream. It’s a way of capturing joy in layers of ink and paper, and sharing a moment of stillness in a fast-moving world.