An exhibition celebrating the work of tradespeople has opened.
Georgina Heywood-Smith, from Bradford-on-Avon, uses a style of printing invented in the 18th century, where images are carved in reverse in wooden blocks before being covered in ink and pressed onto paper.
“I thought it would be best to include the people you don’t see much – the plumber, the woodcutter, people getting on with their lives who don’t get on gallery walls,” Ms Heywood-Smith said.
The show, entitled “Places and People” runs at the West Barn, in the Wiltshire town, until 28 September.
Ms Heywood-Smith has also depicted painters, seamstresses, waitresses and chefs among others in the exhibition.
She described her printing method as “a very hands-on process”.
“It’s something that’s very much connected to the artist – there’s no inkjet printer, no AI involved, and I use Victorian and Georgian presses in the studio,” she said.
She approached her heating engineer, Logan Smith, from Westbury, to take part in the exhibition while he was mending her boiler.
“I was just doing a job, and she asked if she could do a portrait of me,” he said.
“I thought nothing of it, and I was told it would be on display which is crazy
“The meaning of it is nice as the working tradesman is not really represented well.
“Hopefully she picked me because I’m reliable, not for my good looks,” he joked.
But a few of the people featured in the exhibition are not yet aware of their starring roles, Ms Heywood-Smith said.
“I saw some people on the street decorating a fence, and I approached them asking if they wanted to be in the artwork,” she said.
“They obliged, but they know nothing about it and I hope they will come and see themselves on a gallery wall.”
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