Honiton Toyshop

(Hidden high street series)

Honiton Toy Shop celebrates the charm and enduring magic of a beloved local institution. This silkscreen print captures the architectural beauty of the shop with its bay windows, cheerful façade, and an inviting "OPEN" sign, evoking a sense of nostalgia and wonder. In creating this work, I sought to move beyond mere representation and instead convey the joy and anticipation experienced by children entering such a space.

The piece combines elegant simplicity with imaginative touches. I approached the colours through layers of translucent silkscreen inks, allowing each hue to interact subtly and give the work a luminous quality. The soft, puffy clouds and the antique white paper serve as a backdrop of purity and lightness, reinforcing the sense of whimsy. These elements work together to elevate the building itself into a character—a familiar yet enchanting presence in the town.

The playful addition of a "party of toys" inside the windows reflects the inner life of the shop. Simplified displays of toys and boxes transform into a celebratory scene, a disco of sorts, capturing the delight and sense of discovery children feel when stepping into such a space. This imagined interior contrasts with the structured exterior, introducing a sense of narrative and movement that invites viewers to engage with the piece on a deeper level.

Honiton Toy Shop leans towards the lighter, more whimsical side of the "Hidden High Street" series, yet it remains consistent with the overarching theme of celebrating overlooked aspects of everyday community spaces. It is a tribute to the small joys that define our childhood and remain with us in memory—a visual homage to the excitement, curiosity, and wonder sparked by a simple visit to a toy shop.

This work is from the Hidden High Street series - an exploration of the often unnoticed spaces and everyday encounters that form the essence of our shared communities.

Read more about the Hidden High Street series here

Produced as a limited edition - hand‑pulled in the studio, this work is signed/stamped and numbered to ensure their authenticity and collectability. Each edition is created using traditional silkscreen techniques on archival paper, with every layer printed by hand.

Collectors can choose to acquire these works in two forms:

• On Paper — the edition in its purest state, unframed, offering flexibility for personal presentation.

• Artist‑Framed — mounted and framed by the artist, using bespoke methods to present the work as a complete, ready‑to‑hang artwork.

This dual approach allows the work to be appreciated either as a print to be lived with and framed to taste, or as a finished object crafted entirely within the artist’s practice.

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