‘I have always had may creative interests and the wish to excel in all of them, with specialised training in printed textiles, binding, graphic design, jewellery and ceramics.  Each discipline has influenced my work, and I believe life to be a continuous journel of education. After 1967-79, when I concentrated on graphic design, I was invited to create the binding for the Royal Ulster Constabulary Book of Remembrance, an illuminated vellum manuscript text. I was commissioned to create gifts for Prince William and Prince Henry, as well as medal boxes for the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition, and for scroll tubes, which led me to increasing work with small boxes, tubes and optical kaleidoscopes. I was taught drawn-off tube construction by Peter Waters, but my techniques have evolved greatly and are now more organic and sculptural in form. I am averse to using books as vehicles for self-indulgence and prefer my bindings to relate visually and conceptually to their contents. I use a great deal of colour, dyeing many of my own leathers prior to inlaying or onlaying.’

GK-portraitGeorge Kirkpatrick born 1938 in Northern Ireland.

Trained as a textile designer, bookbinder and teacher at the Ulster College of Art and Design and at Leicester College of Art. In 1960 a travelling scholarship from the C.E.M.A. (now the Arts Council) made possible visits to all the principal bookbinding ateliers in France, including those of Georges Crette and Paul Bonet.

Invited to live and  study with Roger Powell and Peter Waters where, in addition to personal projects, carried out studio work for Roger, and assisted with the restoration of the St Chad Gospels.

Taught Bookbinding and Foundation Studies at the Ulster College of Art (1962-7), carrying out many commissions and a series of television programmes on bookbinding.

After working on the flood-damages books in Florence (1967), entered the Royal College of Art as a graphic design student, graduating in 1970.

Senior Publications Designer for the Natural History Museum in London (1970-74) and from then til today a lecturer at the Kent Institute of Art and Design in Canterbury.

Since 1979 has worked privately in creating bindings and binding-related artefacts for private collectors and gallery exhibitions.

Portrait in oils of George Kirkpatrick by Phil Brown (a former student) entitled ‘The Old Master‘.