This screenprint illustrates what can be achieved in collaboration between artist and printer in the digital medium of printmaking.

It was originally conceived to accompany the publication of Alasdair’s landmark novel of 1981 and a series of pen and ink drawings were translated into seven black and white lithographs published by Glasgow Print Studio.

Alasdair felt that the original series of works could be revisited, edited, refreshed and presented as full colour screenprints via the application of digital technology within a solo show that he was due to have at GPS in 2014.

The original pen and ink works were scanned and their somewhat eroded condition addressed by hours of restorative digital work. These cleaned and restored works were then printed out and Alasdair selectively redrew or cut and pasted new elements and updated text onto the prints. The new additions were then scanned and added to the digital files.

Alasdair then sat with myself for repeated sessions guiding me in refining the edited elements and creating the colour separations. Each work required around nine or ten hand drawn colour stencils generated via a digital drawing tablet. Colour proofs were created for the reference of the screenprinter and screens made from each acetate stencil.

Murray Robertson – Collaborative Printer