Established in 1969, Glasgow’s Compass Gallery revisits the spirit of the early 1970’s when it forged strong working relationships with many of London’s leading contemporary galleries. These included the Marlborough, Waddington’s and other Cork Street galleries, and the consequent exhibitions showcased many of the foremost names in contemporary Modern British art – such as John Hoyland, whose work is pictured above, Howard Hodgkin, John Piper, Victor Pasmore, Norman Ackroyd, Patrick Caulfield, Elisabeth Frink, and the St. Ives group of artists.

Scottish printmakers also became regular exhibitors at Compass, and the exhibitions at that time enabled Scottish audiences to view and make acquisitions of works by the UK’s foremost printmakers: the Gallery frequently visited print workshops which had opened and developed across Scotland in the 1960’s and 70’s, selecting and exhibiting a wide variety and range of prints, styles and techniques of printmaking. This helped foster a creative growth in printmaking across the country with many artists who expanded their practice, exploring new creative possibilities presented to them through a huge variety of methods such as wood engravings, etchings, lithographs and screenprints.

This exhibition includes work by both high profile and emerging artists – a small selection of the hundreds of talented printmakers who have graced Compass’ walls – as well as those whose printmaking accompanies their painting and sculptural work.