About
Well met!
We are Foolish Magpie, an artist duo creating works inspired by history and mythology, highlighting perspectives that history may have left in the margins.
Most of our prints are created using Risograph printing, a process partway between screen printing and photocopying. Stencils are burned onto drums, ink is layered one colour at a time, and no two pieces are exactly alike, resulting in a totally unique print.
We're history enthusiasts ourselves, and after being inspired by source materials like medieval manuscripts and epic mythologies, we carefully produce each image in our studio in Newcastle Upon Tyne before they hit the stencils to be reproduced in vibrant (often flourescent) colours, one layer at a time.
We like to think our process echoes our ethos; Risograph reminds us of medieval and heritage methods like woodcuts, manuscripts, or blockprints, while being a thoroughly modern tool that is ethical and sustainable.
Each piece we make is a meeting of past and present, and a chance for us to bring a little bit of history to your walls without needing a castle to hang it in.
We hope you enjoy our work as much as we enjoy making it for you.
Love,
Mark and Red x
Personal. We are a small business run by a queer creative couple who live in the north east and just love history.
We are Foolish Magpie, an artist duo creating works inspired by history and mythology, highlighting perspectives that history may have left in the margins.
Most of our prints are created using Risograph printing, a process partway between screen printing and photocopying. Stencils are burned onto drums, ink is layered one colour at a time, and no two pieces are exactly alike, resulting in a totally unique print.
We're history enthusiasts ourselves, and after being inspired by source materials like medieval manuscripts and epic mythologies, we carefully produce each image in our studio in Newcastle Upon Tyne before they hit the stencils to be reproduced in vibrant (often flourescent) colours, one layer at a time.
We like to think our process echoes our ethos; Risograph reminds us of medieval and heritage methods like woodcuts, manuscripts, or blockprints, while being a thoroughly modern tool that is ethical and sustainable.
Each piece we make is a meeting of past and present, and a chance for us to bring a little bit of history to your walls without needing a castle to hang it in.
We hope you enjoy our work as much as we enjoy making it for you.
Love,
Mark and Red x
Our Values
Personal. We are a small business run by a queer creative couple who live in the north east and just love history.
Research Informed. Our work is informed by research into historical sources and contemporary visual culture.
Queer. We are queer led. We support progressive causes and centre marginalised stories.
Carefully Crafted. Every design is drawn by us, and every product is produced and packed by us.
Art for all. We keep prices accessible though DIY processes like risograph that embrace variation.
Independent & Ethical. We work with small UK-based suppliers who align with our values.
Eco-conscious. We use recycled, recyclable, and compostable materials wherever possible.
Anti-slop. We do not use generative AI.