Mark-making, simplicity and detail are important aspects of my work. My process starts with drawing using fine liner pens. Some drawings are then developed into screen prints using multiple layers of colour and gold leaf, others become digital artworks.

I begin with exploring abstract patterns, building up a visual vocabulary of lines and decorative forms. From these I develop abstract works that have a conceptual element. My areas of interest include economics, social justice and the environment.

I began my art career making textile art and painting with acrylics but soon developed an interest in print. I took a printmaking course at Leith School of Art where I fell in love with screen printing and have been developing my skills in that medium in my home studio and at Edinburgh Printmakers. If you’d like to try it for yourself, I teach one day screen printing workshops with The Arienas Collective in Edinburgh.

You can follow along with my pattern collecting and drawing processes on my fine liner YouTube channel, and on Instagram. I encourage you to draw along with me and develop your own patterns from my starting points.

You may be here looking for the Lou Davis who makes watercolour tutorials, and that’s me too! I’ve been sharing regular art projects for beginners on YouTube since 2020 featuring plenty of mark making and abstract patterns alongside more traditional subjects like buildings and seascapes. Find resources and more information about those at my dedicated tutorials website.