Etc. Artist Talk: Isabel Rock

In the first of this year’s series of artist interviews, Draw’s Jake Spicer will be talking with artist Isabel Rock. The event is free and everybody is welcome, so please feel free to share THIS LINK as widely as you would like.

About Isabel Rock

London-based artist Isabel Rock is a creator of contemporary fairy tales. Her work is an explosion of strange occurrences while a surreal narrative takes the audience on a journey into the imagination. Taking inspiration from Japanese woodblock prints and Indian miniature painting Rock has developed a unique collage technique that combines bold structures with large-scale woodblock prints and intricate detailing. The subject is a grand mixture of humour, drama, hidden morals, fanciful characters, modern culture, mythical beings and fantastical situations.

Studying Fine Art Printmaking at The University of Brighton and graduating with First Class Honours in 2004 she went on to do a Masters Degree at The Royal College of Art. She has participated in international residencies in India, Iceland, Germany and West Africa, and in 2013 won the Arts Foundation Printmaking Fellowship.

Increasingly concerned about the damage humans do to the natural world, feeling frustrated with the lack of societal change and angry at government incompetence, in 2021 Rock became involved with non-violent civil disobedience. Taking part in actions by Extinction Rebellion, Insulate Britain and Just stop Oil, she has been arrested around ten times and spent a month in Bronzefields prison after climbing up a gantry on the M25. While in prison she drew her surroundings and entered one of these into the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize. This drawing, along with an exhibition proposal, won the prestigious Evelyn Williams Drawing Award.

Rock currently has her first major solo show at Hastings Contemporary Gallery in September 2025 until March 15th 2026.

How to join
If you'd like to join the online talk via Zoom you just need to click THIS LINK on the day of the talk - your image will not be visible on screen and you will be able to type questions for our guest artist.

Past Etc. talks

You can find all of our past interviews on our YouTube channel HERE. Thank you to our Patreon supporters for providing the support and funding for these free talks!

Supporting the sessions

Draw's Etc. programme of artist talks are free to attend and are funded by the Draw Patreon, with the artists paid for taking part. If you enjoy these talks, and would like to support them to continue, why not become a supporter by signing up to the Draw Patreon from just £4 per month. You’ll get the in-person concessionary rate, plus Patreons get tiered access to a wealth of resources including our extensive artist’s photo reference library, live online life drawing & portrait drawing classes, online recorded courses and much more.