It was sad to hear about the death of artist Norman Ackroyd. I feel very privileged to have been able to work with Norman recently on a number of documentary film projects.

Earlier this year I filmed with Norman as part of a feature documentary I’m currently working on with Goldmark Films on the life story of British printmaker, painter, war artist and film director Anthony Gross.

And more recently I filmed with Norman as part of the Alchemy on Anglesey project. This was Norman's final project, 18 years in the making, which he was very excited about and gave him much pleasure during his illness. As part of this , I worked on a number of short promotional films to promote a cloth covered, 32 page hardback book, limited to an edition of 75, which includes original aquatint etchings, signed and numbered by Norman Ackroyd as well as 18th Century Parys mountain copper work token and a fragment from the hull of Nelson's HMS Victory. You can find out more about this on the Goldmark website.

I’m also currently working on a feature documentary all about the Alchemy on Anglesey work produced by Norman, with Ceri Levy, a British filmmaker, director, and writer. He is mostly known for directing Bananaz, a documentary film about the band Gorillaz.

Born in Leeds 1938, Norman Ackroyd was a British draughtsman and printmaker best known for his etchings and his work with aquatint. Having studied at Leeds College of Art and the Royal College of Art in the early 1960s under the tutelage of famed British artist Julian Trevelyan, Ackroyd moved to the United States where he would live for several years.

Ackroyd came to recognition through his work as a landscape artist, predominantly produced as etchings. He was extremely proficient in the medium, being appointed as the Professor of Etching at the University of Arts. He was also elected as a Royal Academician in 1988 and as Senior Fellow of the Royal College of Art, as well as being made CBE for services to Engraving and Printing. Ackroyd died in September 2024.

Read the Norman Ackroyd obituary on The Guardian website here