LoveEast.53

| It's Art baby, Art!
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of print, and old-fashioned
printmaking in particular, so the opportunity to visit Russell
Frost in his Leytonstone studio was one I was not about to pass
up, extremely cold Sunday morning notwithstanding.
Once inside what can only be described as a very compact
space, I immediately spotted several wooden plan chests
– beautiful objects in themselves. I was also struck by the
sheer amount of printing equipment, which included several
presses and seemingly endless drawers bursting with the
most extraordinary collection of wood and metal letter and
illustration blocks. I was in my element, and the more we talked,
the more I wanted to know.
Born in Canada and raised in a remote National Park, in the
South Island of New Zealand, Russell’s work references a
connectedness to place and is also inspired by his childhood
love of collecting Kiwiana and other ephemera; mostly objects
that he’d rescued ‘while scouring the dumps’ as a youngster.
Many of these finds, such as old matchbooks, cigarette packets
and tiny tins, hearken back to a different time and evoke
feelings of nostalgia for the craftsmanship that produced them.
Russell also has a passion for flyfishing and, after gaining his
degree in Landscape Architecture, he worked as a professional
Flyfishing Guide for about seven years before getting back into
design. After he had met and married his wife, who is British,
they relocated to the UK and have now been in Leytonstone for
several years, where he runs Hooksmith Press in Church Lane.
In talking with Russell, it’s clear that he’s a man who loves what
he does. He has a respect for, and a love of, typography and
of the written word. That, coupled with a relentless creative
spirit and a keen eye for detail, culminates in beautifully
produced, handcrafted, limited edition prints and cards. He’s
also a walking, talking encyclopedia regarding letterpress (and
flyfishing).
Russell sells an array of prints and cards, both online and at
the shop, as well as taking commissions. Go have a gander at
his website; better yet, pop by the shop to really appreciate his
beautiful work. The shop is open most weekends from 11am
- 6pm, and at other times by arrangement; you can also ring
or text during the week and if he’s nearby he’ll happily come
down.
LOVEEAST Jan/Feb 2020 19