Stephanie Draper

Stephanie Draper combines printmaking and painting to tell stories of the impact that we have on each other and the environment. Her art seeks to interpret the irrefutable bonds we have with our planet and inspire engagement with the community at large. The majority of her work are maps. The Farnham and Churt maps explore the area, often in vivid colours reflecting the landscape. She likes to explore different perspectives - for example a series of Farnham maps show how built up areas in the town have changed between 1898 and now. She is also currently working on abstract blocks that explore different ways of presenting print work and offering affordable art for people to make and own. Her subjects reflect her travels and issues that are important to her. ‘In search of filmy fern’ triptych is a map of Kent, centred on Eridge rocks where the rare ‘Tonbridge filmy fern’ is found. ‘Cathedral of Denali’ and ‘the Harding Icefield paintings are from her ‘Last Wilderness’ collection - based on a trip to Alaska - a truly wild place where the impacts of climate change are already being felt. A set of seven smaller maps show places where a particular issue or solution manifests - the last white rhino in Kenya, or the protection of carbon capturing seagrass in Madagascar. Recent shows include ‘Pandemonium’ at the PZ Gallery, Penzance and ‘Last Wilderness’ at the Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester. Her lockdown art was held in the Museum of Farnham, and brought together in a book ‘Words and Colours: Reflections on Lockdown’. She is an alumni of Newlyn School of Art, a member of the Printmakers Council and exhibits at Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair and the Royal Overseas League in London.