To Work Is To Pray by Clare Curtis

Linocut Edition of 50

Image size: 29 × 17.5 cm

Paper: Somerset

Paper size: 39 × 28 cm

Inspired by a visit to David Parr House, this three‑colour linocut draws on the botanical motifs that David Parr used to decorate his Cambridge terrace. The design reinterprets the Arts and Crafts forms found throughout the house, celebrating the quiet devotion to handwork that shaped Parr’s life and legacy.

Its title, To Work is to Pray, comes from the motto of the firm Parr worked for — a phrase that resonates strongly with contemporary makers who share a belief in the dignity of labour and the contemplative rhythm of craft.

Clare Curtis is a printmaker based on the Suffolk coast, known for her distinctive linocuts, lithographs and screen prints. After studying Illustration and Printmaking in Scotland, she established herself as an illustrator in London before returning home to focus on printmaking. Her work often explores British art, design and our relationship with plants and gardening, and she has collaborated with institutions including the V&A, the Hepworth Wakefield and the National Portrait Gallery.