Our Team
Green Door Printmaking Studio is a family run business. Founded by Anna Johnson and operated by partners Pandora Johnson (Anna's daughter) and Steven Allen. Through the help of our close printmaking community members and mentors, we have built Green Door together to become the open and friendly studio we are today.
Green Door Printmaking Studio is run on a not-for-profit basis. All of our printmaking tutors are master printmakers who volunteer their time to create a supportive learning environment within the studio.
Anna Johnson
Founder (retired)
Anna is an artist/printmaker originally from Edinburgh with Shetlandic roots. She studied under Elizabeth Blackadder and Sir William Gillies whilst studying Drawing and Painting at the Edinburgh College of Art before taking a career as an Art Therapist, mentored by Joyce Laing, working in various institutions in and around Edinburgh. It was at this time that Anna was involved in the setup of the The Scottish Association of Psychoanalytical Psychotherapists.
Anna's work is influenced by her psyche, her interest in chance happenings and her Viking roots. She works predominantly using both photographic and acrylic resist etching, incorporating both digital and hand drawn elements.
Pandora Johnson
Administrator
Pandora (Pan) is an illustrator/printmaker/website designer born in Derby. Pan studied for a BA(Hons) Illustration degree at the University of Derby before setting up her own freelance website design business Applebox Designs, catering specifically to artists and small creative businesses.
Pan works predominantly with screen printing, often creating her illustrations first using hand drawn and manually created textures which are then combined with digitally composed elements. Pan’s work is influenced by her interest in Eastern design and pattern, a sense of the fantastical and her love of mark making.
Steven Allen
Communications Manager
Steven is an illustrator/printmaker and cartoonist, originally from Wolverhampton. Steven studied at the University of Derby for a BA (Hons) Illustration for Animation degree before returning to his hometown to study for his Masters Degree in Illustration.
Steven's work often relates to surreal and exaggerated caricature, focusing on figures and forms, traditionally drawn and inked before finally being transposed to print, mainly through the medium of screen printing. Relying on oddities, random thoughts or strange occurrences, Steven's work draws from these instances to help create unique imagery in which to portray to others as a means to understand the world around him.
Our Patron
Brent Millar is a Scottish artist who utilises both paint and print in his work. Brent’s paintings, drawings and etchings reveal a true mastery of exuberant line and colour that make him one of the most accomplished artists working in Scotland today. He finds inspiration in nature but his imagination and inventiveness ensure that these works are more than mere transcriptions of appearance. Regardless of their complex layering of images, they attempt to capture with subtlety and simplicity a rare spiritual beauty.
Brent is a life-long friend of Anna’s (and Pan’s Godfather!). Brent is also the official Patron of Green Door Printmaking Studio.
I Never Saw Flowers Before
A documentary directed by Drew Taylor, on the artist Brent Millar and his 2007 exhibition I Never Saw Flowers before. It examines the background to his work and his life as an artist. Featuring Alfons Bytautas as Brent’s interviewer.
Our Mentors
Alfons Bytautas is a master printmaker from Scotland. His research and development of Acrylic Resist Etching and Photopolymer Etching when working with Edinburgh Printmakers Workshop (EPW) lead the way in innovative printmaking. Alfons regularly teaches and promotes these techniques both within the UK and abroad during his master classes and workshops. Alfons himself is also a practising artist and printmaker.
Anna and Pan both hold Alfons in high regard as their mentor and friend. His services to innovative printmaking mean that many future printmakers can produce their work in a safer and more environmentally ethical way for years to come.
Professor Nik Semenoff D. Litt. is a Renaissance man. His specialities include: Fine Art, including printmaking, originally commercial Lithography, using very fine representational draughtsmanship but also encompassing all methods of printmaking. He is a painter, jewellery maker, has been a T.V. art director, a publicity man and early computer buff. Chemist, alchemist , teacher, engineer, and tireless experimenter. He is the original printmaking Guru, responsible for finding and inventing all manner of environmentally friendly materials and techniques including Waterless Lithography, Toner techniques and safer etching, including the mordant Green Door uses. His research has been recorded in Leonardo, the refereed journal for the arts.
Anna is also fortunate to call him a friend, although they have never met! Anna and Nik have been email friends for some years, and he has selflessly shared his ideas and techniques with her, as he has with many others worldwide.
In memory of...
David Michael Johnson
1948 - 2010
David (Anna's husband and Pandora's father) was a musician and writer with a strong belief in socialism and the arts. In fact, if not for David's encouragement and support, Green Door Printmaking Studio would not exist.
David was the founder of our International Print Exchange project but was diagnosed with terminal cancer shortly after our first exchange was completed, and after a precious few months with his family around him, he sadly passed away on 4th June 2010.
Unfortunately, David's sudden illness took away his chance of ever seeing the fruition of our second IPE in late 2010, nor any other subsequent exchanges.
Even though David is no longer with us, we have continued his legacy and every year we dedicate each exchange in his memory.
Learn more about the International Print Exchange
Alethe Barber
1929 - 2014
Alethe was an fine artist, philosopher and printmaker. During her membership of the studio she specialised in etching and photographic methods, and regularly exhibited her artwork.
Her work was inspired by the universe and her experience of the world - "...existing as we do at specific coordinates within historical time – and the ideas and interpretations that I and others come up with in our attempt to give meaningful interpretations to our experiences."
Alethe was an amazing woman who inspired everyone around her, and she will be greatly missed by everyone at Green Door Printmaking Studio.
Music of the Spheres
A sound installation by the artist Alethe Barber. Film by Kevin A. Pickering.
‘Alethe’s Lament’ - Rehearsal (17th May 2014)
As part of the launch evening of our International Print Exchange 2009-2013 exhibition at Artsmith LIVE we hosted a special performance dedicated to the wonderful Alethe. As our small tribute to her, members of Green Door collaberated to create a fusion of music, dance and film performed by Walt Shaw, Alan Jenkins and Pandora Johnson with Joanna Geldard.
Sarah Bithell
1975 - 2018
Sarah was always a ray of happiness in our studio, bringing positivity wherever she went. Her work was truly inspirational, often drawing on her relationship with her personal experience of living with cystic fibrosis.
In her own words, “I am not afraid to show the vulnerable aspects of myself in my work, such as my battles with self-esteem, illness and grief. Tapping into art should allow oneself to escape.”
Sarah's personal ethos that 'art should be for all' influenced her work as our voluntary events officer where she regularly encouraged members to take part in fairs and outreach to further art in the community.
Sarah’s family have asked for donations to be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust in her memory. Sarah herself often donated the proceeds of her artwork to this organisation, to raise awareness, fund research and help others who are affected by CF.
Kevin A. Pickering
1960 - 2021
Kevin Pickering was a long-standing member of Green Door. Not only was he a prolific printmaker, he was a staunch supporter of the studio, as well as a mentor to our printmakers from a wide variety of printmaking and artistic practices.
Kevin was able to use his background in textiles and photography to create bodies of work that explored his relationship with the world around him. In his own words, " I try not to keep to fixed topics, as I like the freedom to explore all things, however recurring themes throughout my work, are the male form and our perception of beauty, and the aesthetics of decay and degradation".
After his passing, Green Door was bequeathed with Kevin's many works and prints, which have since been archived, stored safely and securely as part of Green Door's collection. It is our hope in the future to exhibit Kevin's work in a dedicated gallery.
