Printmaking inspired by encounters with Wildlife

My name is Jo Wright and I’ve been working as a wildlife printmaker since 2011. My home studio in Chorlton, Manchester overlooks our wild urban garden. We encourage local wildlife and have visiting foxes, hedgehogs and plenty of birds. We trap moths and encourage insects with a variety of wildflowers. It’s a wonderfully inspiring place for me.

I completed the three-year long Complete Printmakers course at Hot Bed Press Studios in Salford in 2022 and am now a member there. I create lots of my printmaking on their wonderful old relief printing presses and at the large-scale screen beds.

I've always been an animal lover and a trip to Canada set me on my printmaking journey. A young black bear caught my imagination and when I arrived back in UK, I set to carving my first linocut. This bear features on my logo and remains one of my most popular card designs.

I previously worked as an illustrator of children’s books for publishers including Puffin and Usborne. I’ve also worked as an environmental education materials creator producing exhibitions, printed literature, interpretive panels and illustrated trails for clients including Chester Zoo, the National Trust and the Wildlife Trusts.

I currently co-organise the annual Wild Art Fair in Didsbury, run print workshops and attend special art fairs and events.