Biography

Born 1932 in Bristol. Elizabeth’s early training began at the Southern College of Art, Bournemouth, then on to Goldsmiths College, London, and then Central School, Holborn, finishing her studies with a National Diploma in Design.

After this came a year’s teaching in secondary schools in London.

Married to the architect Bill Morris and soon with three small children, the couple undertook the conversion of a run-down house in Greenwich. When this project was over, Elizabeth was able to enroll at Morley College, South London (1), studying etching.

There happened to be other printmakers in the Greenwich area and, by combining their skills, they managed to open a gallery in the old market site. Following this first commercial venture, and after moving to new premises, the Greenwich Printmakers (2) association was formed, a co-operative that still flourishes today. By this time, and with the aid of a timely inheritance from an aunt, she had set up a small etching studio in the basement of her house.

In 1987 the family moved to Mersea on the Essex coast. Elizabeth found inspiration in her new surroundings, the broad horizons and ever-changing light reflecting off the sea and mud were exciting revelations. Combined with literary and biblical references, details of shells, fish and all the maritime elements of coastal life, Elizabeth began to create her now familiar oeuvre.

Elizabeth became a member of Gainsborough’s House Print Workshop and also joined the 12PM Twelve Printmakers (3) group for a period of ten years. Her work has been shown at Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions; ‘Originals’ print show, The Mall Galleries; Barbican ‘In Print’ exhibitions and the Eastern Open, Kings Lynn. Her work was featured in the Anglia TV series ‘Coastal Inspirations’ 2005. Solo shows include Hayletts Gallery, Colchester and Maldon; Manchester Royal Exchange; Heffer’s, Cambridge; John Russell Gallery, Ipswich, and the Wenniger Gallery, Rockport, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Her work is held in many private and public collections including: Ministry of Defence; The House of Lords Collection; The Ormiston Hospital Trust; The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Collection;  Northumberland, Lewisham and Greenwich library collections.

Elizabeth’s work was featured in ‘Watermarks’, a book by Ian Collins dedicated to East Anglian artists, published in 2010.

Statement

“I am constantly looking for new ways to add richness to my images. Ways to make textures like pressing bits of fishing net or rope into a soft ground can enliven an image; crumpled kitchen foil pressed into the ground can make a sea like texture. I’m always looking for new ways of doing things.

The peculiarities of the intaglio process mean that the initial drawing is translated in ways that are only obtainable in an etching. Because of this there are disasters as well as successes. Printing an ABC (4) of twenty six small plates it’s very easy to put one the wrong way up. The resulting print will be useless. I have a drawer full of them”.

(1) Morley College London. An adult educational college established in 1889. Vocational courses in arts, music, humanities and languages.

(2) Greenwich Printmakers. Co-operative group formed in 1979. www.grenwichprintmakers.co.uk

(3) 12PM Twelve Printmakers group. Formed in 1984. The aim of the group is to produce high quality handmade images.

(4) Elizabeth made several ABC alphabet prints which may be be viewed online – e.g Hayletts Gallery.