Printing Pauline Beynon’s Artwork for The Bug Farm
Every year, we produce a batch of colourful art reproductions featuring the work of the late St Davids artist Pauline Beynon.
The finished pieces are sold through the shop at The Bug Farm, which is owned by Pauline’s daughter, Sarah. They remain extremely popular with visitors, and it is not difficult to see why, we have a few signed Pauline Beynon prints hanging at home ourselves.
Pauline was a well-known mixed-media artist whose semi-abstract landscapes and seascapes drew heavily on the light, colour and changing moods of the Pembrokeshire countryside. Having farmed with her family around St Davids Cathedral, she was closely connected to the landscape she painted.
Watch the prints being produced
See how Pauline Beynon’s artwork is printed, matte laminated and mounted onto aluminium composite at our Pembrokeshire workshop.
Producing artwork for retail
These pieces are reproductions of Pauline’s original artwork rather than conventional paper fine-art prints. Each image is printed onto vinyl using our solvent-free print technology. We then apply a matte protective laminate before mounting the print onto a rigid aluminium composite panel.
The matte finish helps retain the character of the artwork without introducing an overly glossy surface. Mounting it onto composite gives each piece a strong, flat and durable finish that is ready to display, although many customers choose to frame theirs after buying them.
We produce the collection in two sizes, with the 600mm x 600mm format giving Pauline’s bold colours and Pembrokeshire landscapes plenty of impact.
Matching familiar colours on new printers
This year’s batch involved a little more work than usual. Since printing the previous collection, we have installed new printers in our workshop. New equipment brings improvements in print quality and consistency, but it does not mean that an established piece of artwork can simply be sent to print without checking it.
Different printers, inks and colour profiles can all affect the finished result. With artwork that customers already know and recognise, even a small change in a familiar shade can alter the overall feel of the image.
We therefore carried out a series of colour tests and calibration work, comparing the new prints with previously approved examples. The aim was not to reinterpret or “improve” Pauline’s work, but to reproduce the colour and character of the established prints as faithfully as possible.
Once we were happy with the colour, the full batch could be printed, laminated, mounted and carefully checked before returning to The Bug Farm.
More than putting ink onto vinyl
Art reproduction printing is a little different from producing an ordinary sign or commercial graphic.
The technical process may be similar, but the colour, tone and finish are the product. That makes accurate colour management, consistent printing and careful finishing particularly important.
The resulting panels are durable, easy to display and provide an accessible way for more people to enjoy Pauline Beynon’s distinctive work.
It is a project we always enjoy producing, partly because of the colour involved, partly because of the local connection and partly because we know how popular the finished pieces continue to be.
Need artwork reproduced for display or retail?
We produce colour-matched art reproductions, display panels and printed products for artists, galleries, visitor attractions and retail spaces.
From initial print testing through to laminating, mounting and finishing, we can help turn original artwork into a consistent, practical product ready for sale or display.
Talk to MOBAD about art reproduction printing and mounted display panels.
