Landscapes Through the Seasons - 2027 Calendar
My new calendar takes you on a journey through the landscape with its changing seasons, bringing you moments of joyfulness throughout the different months of the year. Featuring 12 unique lino print designs, I will share with you the inspiration and insights into each artwork, things you might notice during that month and the importance of our connection to special places within the landscape.
If you have purchased a calendar and would like to keep the artworks as a surprise for next year then please look away! Otherwise it is a great chance to take a closer look at each artwork!
JANUARY
The start of the new year brings the first bloom of hellebores and snowdrops, popping up through the snow and the frost giving us that first glimpse of spring and feelings of hope, even when it feels so far away. This design captures the florals in a bold, stylised and simplified way with a fun use of 4 colours.
FEBRUARY
This print is inspired by walks across the fields in winter, hearing and spotting the song thrush high up in the bare trees. Their song can be heard from the end of winter right through to mid summer, so it’s lovely to hear and be reminded of the warmer months ahead. Pops of yellowy green from the fresh buds are another hint that spring is on its way!
MARCH
‘Along the Glaven’
The river Glaven flows through the Norfolk countryside and out to the North sea where its mudflats are a crucial habitat for wading birds like Curlews. This stylised design which I created a few years ago now, captures the interesting shapes and textures in the landscape very reminiscent of a coastal landscape with the use of two shades of blue.
APRIL
Nothing beats a coastal cliff top walk even in changeable weather conditions and this design is inspired by one along the South West Coast Path in Cornwall last year. After spotting many Stonechats along the route, I wanted to capture this one at Lantic Bay during a walk from nearby Polruan - A really beautiful stretch of coastline.
MAY
During the nesting season, you might notice more bird activity. Walking alongside rocky fast-flowing rivers, you might just spot a dipper bobbing up and down. This design features two dippers, bluebells and wild garlic growing near the water and the swifts returning overhead. Inspired by walks along different valleys in the Derbyshire Dales, it is always fun to try and spot this sweet bird.
JUNE
June brings with it the longest day of the year which is captured in this slightly whimsical sunrise depiction of Glastonbury Tor. The design represents abundance and celebration of the sun with ferns, foliage and a hare looking towards swallows sweeping over the misted landscape. It also represents our spiritual connection to the landscape during this important turning point in the year which has been celebrated for centuries.
JULY
This print is inspired by a summer's walk near Salthouse on the Norfolk coast, walking up behind the church to fields of crops and poppies flowering along the footpath. Sunshine, a sea breeze and some swallows darting overhead make for the perfect location for a walk. I think these colours really capture the warmth of Norfolk on a summer day!
AUGUST
By August, gardens are bursting with life and brimming with fruits and this design was inspired by ‘mast years’ when there is an abundance of fruits, nuts and seeds. It also represents how our gardens can be a haven for insects and other wildlife. The design uses just two colours, the deep blue tone and pops of vibrant chartreuse to bring it to life.
SEPTEMBER
This design features a little wren and long-tailed tit perched amongst the flowers and leaves. Some plants and flowers are dying back during this month, but some are clinging on a little bit longer as we hang onto the summer sun. The colours in the pattern hopefully capture a warm feel of the late summer light.
OCTOBER
As the seasons change, the leaves begin to fall and the sunsets become more fiery. This design captures a pheasant strolling through the landscape in the low October sun and the long shadows cast by the vibrant autumn skies. It is a cropped version of my original print which has a gorgeous use of gradient colour and vibrant bursts of orange.
NOVEMBER
As winter approaches, natural food sources such as dried sunflower heads can be a vital lifeline for birds when other food is scarce. This print was inspired by a large field of mature sunflowers which was a hive of activity, keeping birds such as Goldfinches fed through the colder months. I love creating the background layers in prints like this, working my way from pale to stronger colours.
DECEMBER
‘Winter Solstice’
December brings with it the shortest day of the year with the winter solstice happening in the middle of the month. This print celebrates this turning point capturing the sunset at Stonehenge and symbolic plants like oak leaves, mistletoe and holly representing hope and the promise of returning light during the darkest, coldest days. The gradient sky was difficult to print each time but worth it for the end result!
I hope you've enjoyed reading a bit more about each artwork featured in my calendar and the inspiration behind them. A massive thank you if you have purchased a calendar or a print featured in it - it really is a labour of love working on each design which I dedicate a good part of the year to. I'd like to say a huge thank you to my fiancé Samuel for helping me with all the layouts and getting it print ready. It has been a real team effort proof reading and checking for errors, making tweaks and sending back and forth to each other until finally it was ready for the printers! I hope it brings you joy in the new year!
Rachel x