Mackenzie Leigh Hawkins

Lives and works in Gloucestershire, UK

Artist statement

Mackenzie Leigh Hawkins is an emerging illustrator and printmaker based in Bristol, graduating from the University of the West of England this year. He has recently begun to explore monotypes, broadening his visual language by blending spontaneous and deliberate marks to create striking prints that exhibit rich textures and depth. Thriving in the immediacy of the process, Mackenzie embraces the experimental nature of this technique, seeing it as an opportunity to free himself from the pressure of achieving the 'perfect' outcome. The marks he makes are fleeting, leaving a unique impression on the paper before he wipes the plate clean and starts anew. His gestural style is informed by a variety of artistic influences, particularly those that emphasize the sensuality of the human form and the complexity of portraiture. These inspirations are integral to Mackenzie’s developing practice as he focuses on capturing the human experience. He enjoys working with a variety of mark-making techniques, combining scraping, painting, and wiping to carve his subjects into the plate, celebrating the rich interaction between movement, emotion, and artistic expression.

Artwork