View in a Space
Honiton Toy Shop 2018
by Ross T Penwill BA(hons):printmaking
Silkscreen on 300gsm Somerset Velvet White (edition of 14)
|
h 38 x w 28.5 cm h 15 x w 11.2 in |
£350.00
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Description
Honiton Toy Shop captures the charm and quiet magic of a much‑loved local landmark. In this silkscreen print, the artist focuses on the shop's bay windows and cheerful façade, aiming to evoke the nostalgia and sense of possibility that such places often inspire. Rather than pursuing strict realism, the work seeks to express the anticipation children feel when approaching a toy shop — a familiar thread running through many British high streets.
Although simple in structure, the piece is enriched with imaginative touches. Translucent layers of silkscreen ink build gently into soft, luminous colour, while puffy clouds and the warm tone of antique white paper introduce a light, whimsical atmosphere. These elements allow the building to take on a subtle personality of its own — recognisable yet touched with a hint of enchantment.
Within the windows, a small gathering of toys suggests the lively world inside. Simplified shapes of figures and boxes, paired with a burst of disco‑like colour, create a celebratory, imagined interior that reflects the excitement children often feel in shops like this. The contrast between the steady exterior and the vibrant inner scene introduces movement and narrative, giving the print its playful sense of life.
Gesture and form drive the composition: Cindy's hands and the curling lead create a line of movement, while the nail gun, rows of keys, and other implements are treated as bold shapes in dialogue. Layered colour and Letratone patterning emphasise contrast and texture, with orange‑yellows and deeper tones setting the atmosphere without literal depiction.
The POWER lettering from the shopfront acts as a graphic anchor, balancing the composition and pointing to the everyday strength of routine work. Rather than praise, the print presents—the visual interest of a cobbler's world, where ordinary tools become striking forms through colour, scale, and repetition.
This piece records what the artist found compelling: colour, pattern, and the quiet choreography of a working space.