Ironbridge Fine Arts Printmaking Competition 2025

Celebrating the very best in printmaking from around the globe

Welcome to the official online gallery for the Ironbridge Fine Arts Printmaking Open 2025 – a curated celebration of contemporary printmaking. This year, we are proud to showcase the extraordinary talent of artists from the UK and around the world.

Physical Exhibition

The exhibition is on display at Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery, Merrythought Village, Ironbridge, Shropshire (TF8 7NJ) from 11th October – 22nd November 2025.

Opening Hours:

Tuesday–Friday: 10am–5pm

Saturday: 10am–4pm

Admission: Free | Free Parking

Come and experience the works in person, see the incredible variety of printmaking techniques up close, and connect directly with this year’s talented artists.

Prize Winners

We are delighted to celebrate the top prize winners:

UK Winner – Sumi Perera

Work: ‘MC Escher’s Handkerchief 2’

Medium: Tetra Pak – incised and peeled cardboard
Sumi’s work explores folded geometric forms and layered textures, creating a playful yet precise illusion of three-dimensionality.

International Winner – Marco Poma

Work: ‘Danza Frenetica’

Medium: Zink Etching
Marco’s dynamic print captures movement, transformation, and the flow of natural forces in an expressive, energetic composition.Prize.

View all the Prize Winners here

Meet the Judges

Our expert judging panel ensures that the exhibition represents the most inspiring, technically accomplished, and innovative prints of 2025:

Dave Gunning BA (Hons) – Master Printmaker and designer of the Gunning Etching Presses. With decades of experience, Dave evaluates the technical precision, innovation, and mastery of printmaking in each submission.

Jenny Gunning ARBSA – Co-owner of Ironbridge Fine Arts, Master Printmaker and Printmaking Specialist. Jenny assesses both creative vision and the execution of complex printmaking techniques.

Brendan Flynn – Curator and lecturer in Fine Art. Brendan brings a discerning eye for composition, storytelling, and the conceptual strength of each work.

Guest Judges: Mark Lord, Steve Evans, Sam Marshall, and Jenny McCabe provide additional contemporary perspectives, ensuring a well-rounded and expert evaluation.

Discover the Artists & Techniques

This year’s submissions include a wide range of printmaking methods:

Etching, aquatint, mezzotint – delicate lines and rich tonal layers

Lino, woodcut, relief printing – bold, graphic, and tactile

Monoprints, collagraphs, experimental techniques – inventive approaches blending texture, colour, and process

Photo-etching, cyanotype, botanical transfers – bridging traditional craft with modern innovation

Each artwork tells a story. Click on any piece to learn more about the artist, their inspiration, and availability for purchase.

Start Exploring & Collecting

Scroll through the gallery below to discover, connect with, and purchase original prints. Every work is an opportunity to own a piece of contemporary printmaking while supporting the artists who created it.