HORNET & WILD ROSE: THE ART OF TIRZAH GARWOOD

(Upper Denby, Huddersfield, United Kingdom): The Fleece Press, 2020. quarter cloth over patterened paper sides which reproduce one of Tirzah's marbled papers, paper spine label. Fleece Press. 4to. quarter cloth over patterened paper sides which reproduce one of Tirzah's marbled papers, paper spine label. 235 pages. Limited to 475 copies, of which 40 were for private distribution. A fine copy.



Bound by the Fine Book Bindery in Finedon. The book was printed on Stow smooth paper, and the tip-ins on Olin uncoated, by Northend in Sheffield. The images were prepared for press by Ian Wright Creative, and the book was designed and typeset in Miller Display by Simon Lawrence at the Fleece Press. Private bookplate designed by Tirzah Garwood for Eileen Garwood on front pastedown, which was included in with the edition run.



From the artist's website: "In 2011 one of the Press most important books was published, Long Live Great Bardfield, the autobiography of Tirzah Garwood (since republished by Persephone Books, see here). At 155,000 words, the text meant that the 300 illustrations had to be very carefully included, and inevitably, a lot of Tirzahs wonderful art was omitted. It was intended to publish this companion volume within a short time, but I am now thrilled that this is the Press new book. It matches the format of the autobiography.



Tirzah married Eric Ravilious in 1930, after meeting him when he taught her at Eastbourne School of Art. She was a promising wood engraver who developed a style of wry social observation based on the peculiarities of the English social class structure. Receiving little outright success she moved on within five years to develop her skills as a pattern designer, then marbled papers, arguably her most important work, and then - after tragically losing Eric while he was working as an Official War Artist - she flourished as modeller of houses, and as an oil painter.



Tirzahs relatively short life was marked by long periods of ill health but she left the world a body of truly creative work which is fully documented here by her daughter Anne Ullmann, whose sensitive and perceptive text has already moved several readers to give thanks for it. As Tirzahs work continues to gain renewed appreciation, a new website has been created by her family to celebrate her work and life, see www.tirzahgarwood.co.uk.