Sue Lewry
Bracken Jelier went to meet Sue to find out more about her exciting new project. It's been two years in the making after a very successful Crowdfunder and this September it will launch during a week's residency at Grow Plymouth.
1. Who is Sue Lewry....
I'm a printmaker whose creative practice centers around collaborative making and photo collage. I started my career as a graphic designer and art director in London's fashion industry. In 2013, I stepped into the world of printmaking, a game-changer that led me to pursue a Master's in printmaking.
Today, I run my DIY print studio in Plymouth, creating high-quality print pieces and exploring various experimental processes. I also share my expertise as a HE Lecturer in Graphic Design and frequently collaborate on community projects and commissions with other visual artists and organisations.
Colossal is my mobile print project, which aims to make printmaking accessible and engaging for people of all ages and abilities. Through Colossal, I bring screen printing to public spaces and events, inviting participants to experience the joy of creating their own prints.
I launched a Crowdfunding campaign two years ago to expand Colossal's reach and capabilities. With the support I received, match-funded by iMayflower Creative and Digital Plymouth, I'm using innovative technologies like digital fabrication and 3D printing to create portable tools and equipment in collaboration with city talent. This enabled me to offer more ambitious and inclusive creative experiences, enriching our community through art.
2. Tell us about Colossal - how did it start - what was the dream? Where has that dream taken you?
Colossal began out of necessity. I wanted to make handmade prints without needing specialist facilities and overcome barriers to accessing what I needed to do that. So, I took matters into my own hands and created this low-tech small-scale DIY print workshop on wheels.
Since then, this initiative has brought printmaking experiences to diverse groups in Plymouth and around the country, sparking artistic interest and collaboration. Since its start in 2018, Colossal has grown into a vibrant project and expanded my influence as a creative.
2a. You are about to launch your next phase - What has got you here, and why?
Stepping up to challenges and embracing uncertainty has taught me that taking action brings richness. Working in different environments with diverse people introduces new approaches, shaping my creative practice and work with Colossal. I love the diversity and its impact on what I do.
Surrounding myself with the right people is essential. Those who respect my boundaries and give me space to evolve are crucial. Grow Studios excels at this. They supported me in launching my event on 5th September, which is part of a week-long residency with them; Jordanna and Kieran have provided time and space without pressure and allowed me to deliver the final stages of my project on my terms. It's terrific to have that support, setting the conditions for my creative work to thrive.
Beth Munroe at RAMP gave me a platform to share my work with their audience at their Print In Action: Creative Intersections Event at Ocean Studios earlier this year. These opportunities and alignment with artist-led art spaces become stepping stones for each project development phase.
b. What's the purpose of your work, and what drives your passion?
I often wonder what drives me, and it's simple: being creative is my way of life. I'm incredibly passionate about what I do and grateful for the privilege to pursue it. I love carving out a unique space for my work and ideas to exisit in the world, enabling others to see and experience it too.
Colossal's vision is to ignite creativity and connection through the joy of printmaking, making art accessible to everyone who wants to join me in the process.
3. What do you generally hope to achieve through your work? Has this changed over time - and why?
The project started from a desire to overcome barriers to printmaking from a grassroots perspective. It was born out of necessity and a willingness to take risks, even if it meant failing. It's been a roller coaster, achieving more than I imagined.
Last year, Colossal was invited to Woolwich Print Fair and featured in a six-page spread in Pressing Matters Magazine, reaching a global audience. I've also run projects at The Box Plymouth and British Art Show 9.
When I launched the crowdfunding campaign in 2021, I had no idea I would raise over £8K. This success showed me that people want projects like mine to succeed, giving me the confidence to be more ambitious.
Commissioning local talent through the money raised has been so good. I have collaborated with Designer Maker Matt Holmes or Holmseylogic, who combines traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge digital fabrication to help me bring my vision for the additional Colossal unit to life. In parallel, web and motion designer Calum Campbell-Coles has created an accessible and interactive website that reflects the spirit of Colossal so people can reach the project online.
Woolwich Print Fair with Printing Matters Magazine
4. Where does your inspiration come from? Have there been specific people and experiences in Plymouth that have helped you to get where you are?
My inspiration comes from my mum, Anne Lewry, a resourceful and creative woman with a spectacular capacity for life. I cherish my independence, and creating Colossal has allowed me to work on my terms. It is an evolving artwork shaped by support from people in Plymouth's creative scene. The project's approach was inspired by artist Ciara Phillips, whom I assisted in 2017 during the multi-site exhibition We The People Are The Work at Plymouth Art Centre. Assisting Ciara was transformative, igniting my determination to turn my ideas into actionable projects in which communities can be involved.
A recent impactful project was The British Art Show 9 in 2022. Using my pop-up screen printing workshop, Colossal, I held events at various locations, including a skatepark, pub, beach, KARST gallery, city centre, and Mayflower Community Academy. This initiative extended the British Art Show beyond the traditional gallery setting, connecting with people in their environments.
My creative and open-minded approach fosters genuine engagement with a broad audience, including those who might not typically attend contemporary art shows. Connecting with people is vital to the project's success. It reminds me of my childhood and my sense of belonging to the local community I grew up in, Lincolnshire. I strive to cultivate that same sense of community in my work now. Being a part of things is very important to me; it's the driving force behind my efforts.
5. How do you think your work impacts the community in Plymouth? How would you like to amplify that impact?
Creativity plays a crucial role in our lives. In recent years, more people have recognised its impact on our health, happiness, and sense of self and community.
My work brings printmaking directly to the community, making it accessible and engaging. Through Colossal, I've seen firsthand how printmaking can spark creativity and bring people together. My teaching at Arts University Plymouth and involvement in supporting Plymouth Design Forum further enrich the local creative scene, encouraging dialogue, innovation and including people.
To amplify this impact, I will expand Colossal's reach, collaborate with more organisations and host events highlighting the value of arts and culture in fostering community connection and inclusion. I aim to develop more workshops in my studio, attracting funding and commissioned opportunities to cater to diverse groups.
Sue Lewry: Credit Dave Rowswell
6. Why are you based in Plymouth? What is it about living and working in Plymouth that attracts/keeps you here?
Growing up in a military family and marrying a Royal Navy seafarer, I've always been connected to Plymouth. In the 1980s, one of my favourite memories is doing cartwheels down the path to the Smeatons lighthouse. My two older sisters, trailing behind me, were mortified by my antics.
Since leaving London in 2005, I've built a life here with my husband, Aynsley, and our two teenage sons. Though the transition was initially challenging, I've grown to love Plymouth. My friendships here have become lifelong, and I cherish the community. Plus, I love being by the sea.
Plymouth is a city with a lot to give. At a grassroots level, I see people working hard to make visual arts happen. While we're less polished up than other cities, it leaves room to grow and keeps us authentic. I love seeing new things pop up around the city as it evolves. I'm proud to play a small part in Plymouth's growth and transformation.
7. What path did you take to get to this point? Were there any particular organisations that stood out to you and were crucial on your journey?
My path to where I am has grown organically. Arts University Plymouth is a highlight for me, returning to education as a mature student and reconnecting with my creative roots in art and design after several years as a military wife raising our boys at home and juggling freelance work in and out of London. The university offered new creative opportunities and personal transformation.
Another is The Plymouth Design Forum, founded by James Edgar and Darren Foley, which has been instrumental in my sense of belonging here. We share a drive to make things happen in Plymouth, fuelled by our love for design thinking and its impact on creativity in the city.
Nudge Community Builders gave me my first Colossal pop-up opportunity in the store room out the back of The Clipper pub (see photo); that's where it started. I love their ethos and approach, and they inspire me.
Various organisations have impacted the development of my Colossal project, such as; Plymouth Culture, Eat Work Art at Alma Yard, RAMP (Real Art Make Print), The Box, Karst Contemporary Art-space and CAMP (Contemporary Arts Membership Plymouth).
8. What would be your advice to creatives starting their careers?
Do that thing! If you're afraid, that means you have to try it. Embrace new opportunities and take risks—they lead to personal growth and creative transformation.
My journey shows that navigating through your fears can bring richness and fulfilment. Carve out your unique space and make your ideas a reality.
Do you, always!
I advise waiting until you're ready, but don’t let that be an excuse. I got braver as I got older.
9. What are your hopes for your work in the future? What do you hope to achieve?
As a creative leader, I've envisioned Colossal as a small arts organisation in the future, aiming to broaden its scope beyond printmaking to encompass various forms of artmaking and design. This expansion will enable more people to participate in its activities and initiatives, fostering creativity and community engagement on a broader scale.
10. What are your hopes for Plymouth? What do you think it should aspire to be? What do you hope it can become? How do you think we need to evolve or change? What does the city need to do better?
Earlier this year, at Print in Action, held at Ocean Studios, the creative community engaged in empowering discussions with cultural leaders within the city, envisioning how culture can positively impact Plymouth's future. My hope is that people in Plymouth will recognise more the importance of arts and culture and how it can improve the creative economy as well as the health and happiness of our communities.
I believe Plymouth will evolve into a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive city that attracts people from all walks of life while preserving its unique identity and heritage.
11. Where do you go for a night or day out in Plymouth? Give ussome suggestions..
When my husband Aynsley and I feel like treating ourselves, we head to The Honky Tonk wine library for delicious sharing platters and a laid-back vibe. The Dolphin Pub on the Barbican is another favourite place for pints and chips. Sunday's dinner at the Lord High Admiral is a high recommend. I love mainstream and popular films, so the Everyman cinema in Royal William Yard is an extra special treat when we have the extra pennies. We're homebodies at heart, though, enjoying cooking for friends and family rather than going out.
12. What’s the one cultural venue/place/work/person you would recommend to an outsider visiting Plymouth?
I have two. Devil's Point Park gives me my perspective back. It offers breathtaking views from the southern tip of the Stonehouse peninsula. From there, you can look across the Hamoaze to Mount Edgcumbe in Cornwall and take in the Plymouth Sound. The venue is Karst, an independent, contemporary art space and gallery in Plymouth's Millbay. They attract a diverse audience through exhibitions, screenings, music events, and performances. It's well worth planning a visit there.
Sue Lewry Devils Point British Art Show 9
13. How can people find out more about you?
Follow on NEW Instagram @colossal.print
Colossal website launching in September 2024 www.colossalprint.uk
Join me at the Colossal Launch Event Colossal Launch Event
For updates, visit my website, www.suelewry.com or follow me on Instagram @suelewry