Valentina Usai Zucca

Artist based in Alnwick

I am an artist based in Alnwick, Northumberland. Originally from Sardinia, Italy, I have been living in Northumberland since 2016. Two years ago, I joined Northern Print after finishing college, and since then I have used the studio facilities to experiment with different printmaking processes. I am highly inspired by and connected with nature. I love my walks in the countryside, growing plants and taking care of my allotment garden. My primary sources are my own pictures, plants, and botanical materials I gather when out and about. I am fascinated by how I can use light to make permanent impressions of the ephemeral natural world around us.

I discovered Cyanotypes after attending a workshop organised by the Northern Print, and I started experimenting with this technique at home and during my time in the studio. I coat the paper with the cyanotype solution and let it dry. I select the picture I want to use, and I manipulate it to create a negative image to print on acetate. I place the negative on the coated paper, and I expose it to light. I usually make exposure tests to check the negative has enough contrast to translate into a good cyanotype picture. After the paper has been exposed, I put it in a water bath and then let it dry. The cyanotype process is similar when using found materials; however these last ones are unique pieces as the arrangement on the paper changes.

I recently started to experiment with Botanical Monoprint for Northern Print’s end-of-year project “Fabled”. I collected wild botanicals from the countryside and I used them to create monoprint impressions on Fabriano paper. I printed the different layers across a few weeks in order to give them time to dry in between the different stages. I printed the last layer using a small linocut to create the image of the ant in the field.

“Summer”, Monoprint & Linocut, 2025

Group Exhibitions:

  • 2025 – “Fabled”, Northern Print, Newcastle upon Tyne. A new body of work, inspired by Aesop’s fabled, created by studio members of Northern Print.
  • 2025 – “Opening the Furnace”, Derwentcote Steel Furnace, Rowlands Gill. End of project exhibition, made possible by English Heritage’s Community Connections.
  • 2025 – “Printing with light Exhibition”, Northern Print, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Exhibition of studio members work made using photographic processes.
  • 2025 – “Northern Summer Exhibition”, Newcastle Art Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Hosted by the North of England Art Club, it is an open submission exhibition from artists based in the North East.
  • 2025 – “20:20 Print Exchange”, Northern Print, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Exhibition of prints created by artists for the annual 20:20 organised by Hot Bed Press in Manchester.
  • 2024 – “Blueprints”, Northern Print, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Inspired by the distinctive rich blues of cyanotypes, an early photographic printing process renowned as the method for creating blueprint designs, this exhibition showcases original prints that all use the colour blue. (Cyanotype)
  • 2024 – “Endless Forms, Most Beautiful”. A new body of work inspired by Bestiaries and Herbaria created by studio members of Northern Print. (Linocut)
  • 2023 – “End of Year Exhibition”, Gateshead College
  • 2023 – “Celebrating Difference”, Gateshead College

Volunteering experience:

  • 2025 – “Ouseburn Open Studios”, Northern Print, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
  • 2025 – “Opening the Furnace”, Derwentcote Steel Furnace, Rowlands Gill. Installation, exhibition invigilator.
  • 2025 – “Journey’s Into Printmaking”, Northern Print, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Planning and installation of the exhibition with a small group of other studio members.

Education

  • 2025 – Alternative Processes Academy. International online course about historical, experimental & sustainable photography.
  • 2023 – UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication. In-depth introduction to the creative industries: The Creative Process; Developing Creative Practice; Responding to a set brief.
  • 2022 – NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Art and Design. Exploring materials, techniques, creative enterprise, and creating an art and design portfolio for internal assessment.