The artists

Jake Lever

'I approach my practice as a contemplative activity. My images are often derived from fragments of medieval paintings, frescoes and icons. Recently the hand has provided a focus for my work, a framework for the exploration of frailty, vulnerability and the presence of the divine.

My work is created using an intaglio printmaking technique. Plates are made in a very physical way, scoring and cutting into the surfaces. Gold leaf is often applied to the paper prior to printing, making each piece unique. I think of these works as contemporary icons, points of stillness amidst a fast turning world.'

Born in 1963 in Hertford, England, Jake studied Fine Art at Reading University, PGCE at Bretton Hall, Leeds and obtained his MA at Birmingham City University. He has since worked as an artist and printmaker and held several residencies. His work is in the permanent collection of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.