Silver Screen Betty

The glamour and imagination of 1920s silent films have always captivated me. Their lavish costumes, sweeping sets and over the top performances create a unique visual world that continues to inspire me. These early movies possess a theatrical magic, capturing the wide-eyed innocence and bold ambition of cinema’s dawn. They tell tales of romance, intrigue and drama.

Inspired by these early films, I gathered friends to craft our own silent-era scenes. We invented costumes and props, turning our living room into a makeshift movie set with what we had on hand which was very little back then. Each of us slipped into a character, striking dramatic poses as if frozen in a lost film still. We had such a laugh and feeling joy is an important part of my practise.

The photographs became the foundation for a series of lithographs and silkscreen prints. Through printmaking, I moved beyond mere documentation, reinterpreting each scene with vibrant colour, rich texture, and layered depth. The tactile, hands-on process opened up unexpected visual possibilities, letting the images transform and develop their own unique character.

Through the use of vivid, contemporary colours and bold graphic treatments, I shifted these nostalgic scenes from the past into a contemporary future.