Michael Atkin

​Michael is an artist–printmaker working from his home-based workshop and private press, Bracken Press, which he established in 1974 following the purchase of his first Albion platen press from a printers in Wensleydale. Since then, the press has remained at the heart of his practice, where he produces limited edition etchings, linocuts, wood engravings and finely crafted artist’s books.
His imagery is figurative and often quietly narrative, rooted in the Yorkshire countryside. Drawn from observed moments — a passing encounter, a remembered scene, a fragment of rural life — his work begins with sketches that are gradually developed and reimagined before being translated into print. These images are less direct records and more considered interpretations, shaped over time through reflection and process.
Etching is central to Michael’s practice, with prints created from copper or zinc plates carefully drawn and then bitten using nitric acid. He builds depth and atmosphere through the addition of aquatint, applying fine powdered rosin to create subtle tonal areas and a rich sense of light and shadow. This meticulous, hands-on approach carries through all aspects of his work, from the making of individual prints to the production of limited edition books at Bracken Press.
Across his practice there is a strong sense of continuity — a lifelong engagement with traditional printmaking methods, storytelling, and the enduring character of the landscape that surrounds him.

Narrative prints inspired by observed moments in the Yorkshire countryside.

Available Work

Photos from the studio