There aren’t many opportunities in life to view and buy original prints spanning five centuries – but the London Original Print Fair, founded in 1985, is one of them. It is, in fact, the world’s longest-running dedicated print fair, specialising in pieces made specifically for printing and celebrating them as collectable works of art. After 35 years at the Royal Academy of Arts, the fair moved to Somerset House in 2022 – and it’s back this week, from May 14 to 17.
Its 41st year promises a vast selection of prints, with huge names including Rembrandt alongside new pieces by contemporary greats like Tracey Emin and Noel Fielding. “I am particularly excited that [printmaking publisher] Counter Editions will be launching six new lithographs by Tracey Emin,” the fair’s director Alice St Clair tells Broadsheet.
“What makes printmaking so exciting is its accessibility. When an artist, Tracey, for example, makes a lithograph it is printed in an edition, so it gives several people an opportunity to own a piece, not just one.”
Broadsheet asked St Clair, who runs the fair alongside her mother Helen Rosslyn, for her five standout pieces.
Martin Lewis, Relics, 1928
I have always loved Martin Lewis. This print feels almost film-like. The glow of a city at night is something I have always connected with. The urban scene. Ladies on their way out somewhere nice. A man popped out of a bar for a smoke? Who knows. This work comes from Allinson Gallery – one of our US exhibitors – and highlights the importance of our online fair, allowing access to a far wider selection of works.
William Tillyer, York Vases – The Jacobson Vase, 1981
I love this piece from Jacobson Graphics (Stand S12) because of the printerly marks. You can really see the skill in Tillyer’s handling of texture and the physicality of the print process. Tillyer and (Bernard) Jacobson have worked together for over 50 years and this print represents to me the important relationship of artist and publisher. You will most likely find Bernard on his stand at the fair willing and ready to share anecdotes about the artists he has worked with.
Sean Scully, Wall Yellow (Myanmar), 2021
This Sean Scully comes from Migrate Art (Stand W16). They collaborate with well-known artists to create work whose profits are donated to charities. I like the muted tone and the satisfying shape of the composition.
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, Cornelis Claesz Anslo, Preacher, 1641
This work comes from Jette Fine Art (Stand S1), one of our old master dealers. When the fair first opened in 1985, old master dealers predominated. Now, the fair includes many more contemporary galleries. But it is still important to us to continue celebrating the traditional methods of printmaking, and to be able to see contemporary prints in their historical context. Rembrandt was an artist whose etchings were as important to him as his paintings.
Chloe Barnes, Self Portrait (Bleeding), 2026
Chloe Barnes was the first printmaker to win Sky Portrait Artist of the Year in 2025. A very exciting moment for the medium to be acknowledged on such a major television show, Self Portrait (Bleeding) (Julian Page, Stand W7) is a personal and emotional piece that cleverly combines etching and paint. I love the colour. And I love her stare. Chloe is speaking as part of our talks programme this year.
The London Original Print Fair runs at Somerset House from May 14–17. Tickets are on sale now.
