I studied Fine Art at Falmouth School of Art, specialising in printmaking with photopolymers. I started my own print and design company in 1997 with the assistance of PSYBT and HIE, projects have ranged from promotional printing to package design.
I have been lucky to have exhibited nationally and my work is in private collections, I have also taught etching and screen printing workshops.
I have been lucky to have exhibited nationally and my work is in private collections, I have also taught etching and screen printing workshops.
My work is the study of light and time. I use photography, screen printing, solar plates, or oil paints on treated metals and I print mainly using copper and zinc plates. I am studying the Japanese art of impermanence and I use industrial/natural randomised techniques to create work with traditional print and painting methods and materials.
This series of prints and paintings are about the materials Calum has used throughout his working life. When he studied printmaking at Falmouth, he used copper plates to make intaglio prints. The prints focused on landscape, coast and the sea. Three themes continue to influence his artistic career.
A strong inspiration is derived from the world of electronics, this fascination began with his father’s engineering background and business. Copper (Atomic Number 29) is an excellent electrical conductor whose name is derived from the Roman 'ore from Cyprus', aes cyprium, later modified to 'cuprum' from which we derive 'copper'. The Egyptians used The Ankhe symbol (a cross with looped top) to signify copper, which also represents eternal life.
The eighth most abundant metal on earth, copper was forged in supergiant stars that exploded as supernovae. The first metal used in any major quantity in human history, the Bronze Age is named after a copper alloy, its success is due to its resistance to corrode and easy formation into utensils and jewellery. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century by Gutenberg vastly increased the demand for copper because of the ease with which the metal could be engraved or etched.
The compositions in this body of work are inspired by maritime communications. Nautical flags were originally used in ancient military encounters and by 1653 the Royal Navy issued instructions by signalling with flags, modern naval code signalling began with the invention of maritime signal flags in the mid-17th century by the Duke of York. Numerous signal books were published after these systems, culminating in the International Code of Signals, which has gone through a few revisions but still proves useful as most navies still use the ICS flags for representing letters.
Each print on copper alloy are ICS flag standard forms but multilayered, like photographic film. Creating compositions from randomised sources like current news headlines, but inspired by design elements and movements of the twentieth century such as Plasticism and Dada, and the Bauhaus school. Influences are Anni Albers, Mondrian, Schwitters and designer Peter Saville. The copper prints are mostly in the standard size of vinyl or disc sleeves and use industrial printing techniques for printing direct onto copper alloys.
The copper paintings are about process, the manipulation of paint over time creating randomised patterns and flows over the metal surface. A playful process that creates irregular patterns.
Two copper pieces were in the open exhibition, YELLOW, in An Tobar Gallery from 2 Nov - 21 Dec 2019.
In 2019, the copper series was exhibited in the Eagle Feet Gallery. The exhibition was called no.29 and had over 2,000 visitors with 8 sales.
Two compositions from the copper print series were selected for the 121st Society of Scottish Artists exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy in 2018-19.
A copper piece has been selected for the 130th Society of Scottish Artists exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy 2022-23.