Eleanor Havsteen-Franklin was born in Denmark, but has lived in the UK since 1994. Here she completed her BA (Fine Art with Psychology), and in 2007 an MA in Printmaking at Camberwell College of Art.
Her printmaking practice utilises the etching process to explore the surface and it’s relationship to the drawn lines. By encouraging foul biting on the copper plate during the etching process a dialogue is created between random surface impressions and the drawn lines. The tactile nature of the print is evocative of the changing textures of ‘living’ surfaces such as plant physiology, growth and decay. At times, this surface is explored further with stitching into the etching. The prints are inspired by detailed drawing studies of plants, insects and other biological forms. These different elements are morphed to create a novel object that is suggestive of bodily and organic forms, but has a life of its own.
Since her MA in Printmaking she has exhibited widely in the UK and internationally, receiving many awards and undertaken several residencies. Solo Exhibitions include Gyldendal Publishing House in Copenhagen (2019), De Queeste Art in Belgium (2018); Underskudsbutikken in Copenhagen (2016), The Pie Factory in Margate (2013), Watford Museum (2012) and ‘Surfaces Imbued’ at The Experiment, Luton (2008). Selected group exhibitions include Northern Print Biennale; Guanlan Print Biennale – China; Royal Academy Summer Exhibition; RE Open at Bankside Gallery, BITE at The Mall Gallery, Open West at Summerfield Galley – Cheltenham; Selected Printmakers at Bircham Gallery – Norfolk; Creekside Open at A.P.T Gallery – London; Venice Biennale with WW Gallery and 6th International Print Exhibition at Kyoto City Art Museum – Japan. Prizes include 1st prize Pushing Print (Solo show at the The Pie Factory, Margate), BITE at Mall Gallery and School of Creative Arts Prize, Hertfordshire. Collections: Victoria & Albert Museum, Douro Print Collection (Portugal) and Guanlan Print Collection (China).