Mark Hearld's Fox

 

This is the second print Mark and I have made together in 2025, following the publication of Marwari Horse back in June. Having proofed this new print throughout the summer, I recently finished printing the edition and began trimming each sheet down to size, ready for Mark to sign.

So what can I tell you about it?

Firstly, it features a Fox, le renard, as its central element. It's a motif that Mark has returned to throughout his career and also happens to be one of my favourite animals. In fact, the other day, as I headed towards Mark's house, a very confident urban fox glided past me with just a passing nod.

To create Fox, Mark and I spent three playful weeks in a process of creative experimentation. As a master of the collage medium, Mark created most of the positives needed for the print from a variety of cut and torn papers.

 

 

The process is a fascinating one to observe: after setting the central motif, Mark carefully manipulated the plant shapes, adjusting each element until the balance was perfected. Later, in a characteristic move and much to my amusement, he repurposed discarded scraps from the studio floor. Under his hand, these abstract shapes were magically transformed into intricate thistles and leaves, lending a spontaneous energy to the foreground of the work.

When the overall image was complete, these elements were carefully mounted onto a drafting film in order to be exposed onto screens for the printing process. Mark remained closely involved at this stage, especially during proofing, watching each unique paper shape transform as it was printed in one of seven individually mixed colours.

I hope you enjoy the results. Fox is available now