I am Sophie Mutter a printmaker living in Worthing. After graduating from a photography degree at Nottingham Trent University in 1997, I went on to have
a successful career on the picture desk of OK! Magazine. I loved the celebrity world but was always drawn to the sea, and in 2013 finally took the
plunge and left London for Sunny Worthing. Once here I set up We Are Mountain, creating seaside influenced screen prints and linocuts, turning them
into cards, fridge magnets and tea towels. Being able create artwork in my workshop by the sea and freelancing at magazines in the big smoke, means
I have the very best of both worlds!
Describe your printmaking process.
I start with a photograph. My favourite places for inspiration are the seafront here in Worthing and also the Booth Museum in Brighton.
I work on the photograph in photoshop to break it down into layers, which I then screen print.
How and where did you learn to print?
I did a tiny amount of printmaking, mainly linocuts, at school and on my art foundation course, but learned how to screen print
on a brilliant course at Westdean Collage with Jane Sampson in 2014.
Why printmaking?
I was drawn to it mainly because you don’t have to rely on being able to draw well (I’m rubbish at drawing, sadly!) I love the way
you can combine photographic technique with a more artistic approach to create a piece of work.
Where do you work?
I work on my images at home, and then use the open access studio at Inkspot Press in Brighton.
How long have you been printmaking?
I’ve been screen printing for almost four years.
What inspires you?
I find living by the sea hugely inspirational, I’ve always been drawn to the sea – before I moved to Worthing I lived in Harrow in North West London…
but the decor inside the flat was decidedly nautical… I think living by the sea was meant to be!
What is your favourite printmaking product?
I mainly use Speedball Screenprinting Inks.
Where can we see your work? Where do you sell?
I sell my work at Inspired By The Sea, the Worthing Museum shop and
Flowers4 in Worthing,
The Jerwood Gallery shop in Hastings, The Bureau of Change in Southsea, The Art House in Southampton, The Green Tree Gallery at Borde Hill Gardens and online on Etsy, Folksy, Buy The Sea and MicroMkt. I am also
selling at a few Christmas Markets including the Handprinted Makers’ Market!
What will we be seeing from you next?
The Booth Museum has just acquired the most wonderful taxidermy cheetah (created by ethical taxidermist Jazmine Miles-Long). I have
just started work on a print from photographs I took last week.
I am also planning more full colour tea towels and hopefully fabric that will be made into cushion covers.
Do you have any advice for other printmakers and creatives?
I’m very new to printmaking, so not sure what advice I could give, apart from there is no right or wrong way of approaching your
work, and if you’ve never tried screen printing before, give it a go, it’s brilliant!
Keep up to date with Sophie and her work on Etsy, her website and instagram