Gum Bichromate Prints /
I was honoured to be the only UK-based artist selected for The Art of Gum Bichromate, an international group exhibition at Duncan Miller Gallery in L.A. showcasing 25 contemporary artists working with this rare and expressive 19th-century process.
Gum bichromate printing has become central to my practice in recent years, offering a space where photography, painting, and printmaking converge. My exhibited work formed part of Fractured Whispers—an ongoing exploration of the dwindling Celtic rainforests of the UK, where presence, memory, and myth intertwine.
Layered, painterly, and unpredictable—gum bichromate printing sits between photography and painting, where hand-mixed pigments meet light and time. This section features recent work using gum bichromate techniques, including pieces from Fractured Whispers and Gwen – “Did I Want To Be Here“, a work developed over seven months for the Royal Photographic Society exhibition Squaring the Circles of Confusion. Each print is unique—shaped by trial, error, and the slow craft of layered, hand-made image-making.
Selected Works
The prints below are part of my ongoing exploration of gum bichromate printing—each one a unique, hand-crafted piece that merges photographic detail with painterly imperfection. Layered pigments, texture, and materiality become part of the image itself, echoing the themes of memory, identity, and the fragile nature of presence.
Endorsed by Leading Gum Printer
Ian’s gum prints were selected by Diana H. Bloomfield—one of the foremost contemporary artists working in gum bichromate—for inclusion in the Los Angeles exhibition The Art of Gum Bichromate, featuring 25 of the world’s leading practitioners.
“Such a compelling image and beautiful print, Ian.”
“I love this beautiful, mysterious, and otherworldly image—and superb print.”
— Diana H. Bloomfield
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a gum printing workshop like?
Workshops are hands-on and methodical. We cover single- and multi‑layer gum bichromate printing, mixing pigments, coating paper, calibration, and exposure. You’ll leave with prints and a clear workflow you can repeat.
Do I need photography or darkroom experience?
No. Gum suits beginners and experienced artists alike. You don’t need a darkroom—just patience and a willingness to work in layers. Painters and printmakers often enjoy the painterly control it offers.
Where are the workshops held?
Sessions run in my Hackney, East London studio. I also offer one‑to‑one mentoring tailored to your project, including colour layering and hybrid analogue/digital negatives.
Gum bichromate prints are sometimes created during my tuition sessions and classes — these handmade works reflect the same layered, painterly approach taught in my workshops.