Cyanotypes

Cyanotype is an early photographic process creating images without a camera. Two chemicals, ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide are mixed together to create a photosensitive solution which is painted onto the surface of paper or fabric and left to dry. This process needs to be conducted away from UV light and once dry the paper must be kept in a light proof bag until it is used.

Photograms are created by placing a flat object such as leaves or flowers onto the surface of the treated paper, a piece of glass over the top keeps it in position. The paper is then exposed to ultraviolet light, either the sun or a UV light. When using the sun, as Jill does, exposure times vary depending on the strength of the sun, time of day, weather, time of year and the object being imaged. 

​Recently Jill has been creating unique prints using wet cyanotype, a modified version of the 19th century photographic printing process, introducing moisture, in a variety of ways, onto the treated paper before exposure. The chemical reaction produces interesting fluid patterns and colours not normally present in a traditional cyanotype print. The resulting pieces are unique and present botanical prints in a different and painterly manner.

Click on the links below to view more.

A traditional blue and white cyanotype photogram of five snowdrop flowers by Jill Welham
Original cyanotype print of five snowdrops
Traditional Cyanotype Photograms
Double exposure cyanotype and wet cyanotype photogram of two tulips by Jill Welham
Tulip Duet. Wet Cyanotype
Wet Cyanotypes
An original wet cyanotype print of two sprigs of Smyrnium perfoliatum by Jill Welham from the Secret Garden project.
Wet cyanotype of Smyrnium perfoliatum
The Secret Garden Project
A lampshade created by Jill Welham using a wet cyanotype photogram of various leaves on a piece of fabric. Cyanotypes on fabric.
Cyanotype Lampshade
Cyanotypes on Fabric
An original wet cyanotype of a vine leaf picked from the walled garden. Created by Jill Welham during her year long residency at Burton Agnes Hall in East Yorkshire and exhibited at Jill's solo exhibition, The Year in a Garden, in the Garden Room of the Hall.
Vine Leaf. Wet cyanotype
The Year in a Garden Residency
A double exposure traditional and wet cyanotype of grasses and wildflowers picked from fields and hedgerows in the Scottish Highlands. Created for the Field and Hedgerow Collection by Jill Welham.
Among the Tall Grasses

Field and Hedgerow Collection