This website uses cookies. Read more about our cookie/privacy policy.

Accept and Close

The Sheffield culture guide written by in-the-know locals

James Green

It started with a flock of pigeons. Then came the donkeys, dinosaurs and gambolling lambs.

We’ve been smitten with the work of Sheffield printmaker James Green for a good while now. His bold rooftop views of the city show our fabled hills in rich colourful splendour.

Our favourite pieces are the series of donkey prints, which combine storytelling and empathy with each cut… from the sadness of Little Grey Donkey to the folly of Red Donkey Regrets the Adventure.

How would you describe your work?
Linocut prints. My work is fairly bold, I guess. I do like the limitations that linocut printing dictates. You can’t really be subtle, so have to make interesting compositional decisions.

What inspires you?
Currently donkeys, urban and coastal landscapes, cats and a variety of other random things that catch my eye. As far as other creative people are concerned I love the work of artists like Max Beckmann and Egon Schiele, but a lot of the time it isn’t artists that inspire me, but other creative forms. I’m a big fan of film-makers like Mike Leigh and Werner Herzog and the music of Erik Satie and the pop group Villagers; anything that makes me think/laugh/cry in equal measure.

What’s your workspace like?
I work from my house. I have two workspaces, one for printing/lino-cutting, and the other for admin and storing my work. The former is usually quite tidy, and the latter usually a bit of a mess.

What do you love about Sheffield?
The views! I love finding a new view to work on. Its like a puzzle for me to work out. Also I love that people in Sheffield seem really interested in arts and craft. I don’t know another city where there is such a genuine passion for hand-made stuff.

I know some very talented fellow artists and crafters (I’ll big up We Live Here, Butterscotch and Beesting, Elodie Ginsbourg, Sarah Waterhouse and Leaf City Press if I may), and some splendid independent shops like Forge Bakehouse on Abbeydale Road – amazing bread!

What would you do to improve the city?
Close Meadowhall.

You might also like...

Clee Claire Lee

A sculptor working with wire, welding and weaving it into ethereal forms and bringing in light and sound to create immersive installations.

Old Post Hall

Sheffield Hallam's art school gallery shows off students’ work and brings inspiring artists to the city, in a beautifully repurposed old post hall.

Celebrating 150 Years of Weston Park Museum

Weston Park Museum

This summer, join one of our city’s best-loved museums as it kicks off celebrations for its 150th anniversary. Including chance to play retro games, build a giant 3D map of the city, create decorations for the museum's big birthday party, and more.

Kid Acne

If you've spent a decent amount of time in Sheffield, chances are you'll have come across, and come to love, the work of graffiti artist-musician-printmaker Kid Acne in one form or another.