From plate to print: Kirsty Wark celebrates artistic legacy of great aunt

Glasgow Print Studio is thrilled to announce the release of a new limited-edition print by journalist, TV presenter and writer Kirsty Wark as part of their Call & Response series.

Article Source: Glasgow Print Studio
Last Updated: 9 December 2025 10:28

Glasgow Print Studio is delighted to announce the release and public launch of a new limited-edition print by journalist, TV Presenter and writer Kirsty Wark, created in collaboration with the Studio’s Master Printmakers as part of its ambitious Call & Response project.

Hand-printed at Glasgow Print Studio by Master Printmakers Ian McNicol, Rosalind Lawless and Alistair Gow, Wark’s print draws on a deeply personal family story rooted in Glasgow’s artistic traditions. Titled Polly Wark: Pieces of Glasgow, the work is inspired by her great-aunt Polly – a talented painter who worked at the Bank of Scotland on Byres Road by day, and from the First World War until the 1950s was also an accomplished china painter. Born in the late 1800s, Polly created a hand-painted china plate in 1944/45 that now forms the visual and emotional starting point for the print. Her delicately painted tea services and domestic wares became a cherished thread of creative practice within the family, and the print honours women’s creative labour and the intergenerational passing down of craft.

The work also features “MW” in gold leaf, taken from the original maker’s mark used by her great-aunt Polly, who was known formally as Mary on her china paintings. Pieces bearing the MW mark can still be found in charity and antique shops today. Wark recalls growing up with these hand-painted cups and saucers in daily use at home – objects that quietly carried family history into everyday life.

“I feel incredibly rooted in Glasgow – its stories, its architecture, its art,” said Kirsty Wark. “My great-aunt Polly’s work was beautifully intricate and made with such care. Creating a piece that connects her legacy to Glasgow’s long-standing traditions of craft and printmaking felt like the perfect contribution to Call & Response.”

Reflecting on her experience of working with the Studio, Wark added: “Glasgow Print Studio is extraordinary in how open and welcoming it is to people of all abilities – giving everyone the chance to get hands-on with printmaking and experience a real sense of achievement. The teaching that happens there is remarkable, and it’s a true testament to the city’s printmakers, apprentice printmakers and aspiring printers.”

Wark’s edition is available in a limited run of 50, priced at £200, and will be sold exclusively through Glasgow Print Studio’s gallery and online shop.
The release will be celebrated with a public launch event on Thursday 11th December at Glasgow Print Studio from 6–8pm , where guests will have the opportunity to view the print, meet Kirsty, and learn more about the making of the work.

Kirsty Wark is one of the UK’s most influential and trailblazing political and cultural broadcasters. She presented BBC Newsnight for 30 years, stepping down after the 2024 General Election. Alongside political journalism, she has consistently championed the arts across television and radio, including The Review Show, Front Row, The Reunion, and numerous BBC arts documentary series. Her awards include multiple BAFTAs and a 2024 RTS Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Call & Response project brings together leading figures from Scotland’s music, fashion, theatre, literature, design and broadcast sectors to create original fine art prints in collaboration with Glasgow Print Studio’s Master Printmakers. Participants include Peter Capaldi, Alan Cumming, Franz Ferdinand, Greg Hemphill & Julie Wilson Nimmo, Ashley Jensen, Sanjeev Kohli, The Pastels and Kirsty Wark , with more to be announced.

“We are delighted to be working with Kirsty Wark, a truly iconic Scottish cultural figure,” said Claire Forsyth, Creative Director of Glasgow Print Studio. “Her print is deeply personal and mirrors the core tenets that drew her to the project – the strength of creativity that runs through all strata of life in Scotland. By focusing on the craftsmanship of her great-aunt Polly, Wark brings attention to the quiet creativity and talent of women at the turn of the century, influenced by ‘Glasgow Girl’ Elizabeth Mary Watt.”

Now in its sixth decade, Glasgow Print Studio remains a cornerstone of Scotland’s cultural landscape, fostering innovation, inclusivity and excellence in contemporary printmaking.

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