Giclée prints

A selection of my original watercolour paintings is available as high-quality giclée prints.

Each print is carefully produced using archival-quality inks on fine art paper, capturing the colour, detail and atmosphere of the original painting as faithfully as possible.

Giclée printing gives a beautiful level of detail and tonal range, making it a lovely way to enjoy my work at a more accessible price.

Choosing your print size

I offer a selection of print sizes for each painting. The available sizes have been chosen to maintain the proportions of the original artwork, so the painting is reproduced without distortion.

The sizes have also been selected to work well with commonly available picture frames.

If you'd like a different size, this may be possible depending on the proportions of the original painting. If you're unsure which size would work best, please contact me and I'll be happy to advise.

Typical frame options

  • 12.5 × 17.5cm (5 × 7") print — works particularly well with an 8 × 10" mount and frame.
  • 20 × 28cm (approximately 8 × 11") print — can be used unmounted in an 8 × 10" frame, although some of the white border will need to be trimmed, or mounted as supplied in an 11 × 14" frame.

Professional mounting

If you'd prefer your print to arrive ready for framing, I can arrange professional mounting for a small additional cost when the print is created.  High-quality mounting board is used for this and it is noticeably thicker and more substantial than many standard pre-cut mounts.

Each mount is machine-cut to precise measurements, and the print is professionally attached with a backing board included.

As a guide, mounting a 5 × 7" print in an 8 × 10" mount costs £7.50.

Ordering a print

If you'd like to order a print, please contact me with the name of the painting and the size you'd like.

If you're unsure about the most suitable size or whether a particular print can be supplied in a different format, just ask. I'm always happy to help.

More information

What actually is a giclée print?

A ‘giclée’ is a print made digitally, most commonly using a high specification form of inkjet printer.

The ink is sprayed onto the surface of specially coated paper or canvas providing even coverage and excellent tonal accuracy which results in rich velvety colours.

Giclée printing was developed as a way to reproduce original artworks as accurately as possible. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish between the print and the real thing! 

The essential component of a giclée print is the combination of lightfast pigment based inks of an inkjet printer and the archival quality of the substrate which has a minimum weight of around 300gsm.

What makes giclée prints special?

Their excellent quality and superb capacity to achieve high levels of accuracy in colour reproduction.

Giclée prints are produced using high gamut inkjet printers with up to 12 different coloured pigment based inks which are lightfast and archival. They not only produce a phenomenal range and depth of colour, but also smooth transition of tone and great luminosity, where required.

Giclée printing is particularly suited to fine art reproduction because of enhanced colour accuracy, richness of tone and potential longevity of the prints. 

The use of archival-quality pigment based inks and museum quality substrates ensures that giclée prints are durable and long-lasting, with colours that remain vibrant for many years.

Where did the term ‘giclée’ come from?

The term ‘giclée’ (pronounced "zhee-clay") was adopted by a Californian artist and print-maker named Jack Duganne in the 1990s to describe highly accurate fine art reproductions made on IRIS inkjet printers.

It stems from the French word ‘gicleur’ (meaning ‘jet’ or nozzle’) which is derived from the verb ‘gicler’ meaning ‘to spray or spurt’ and in this context, refers to spraying of the ink onto the substrate, usually paper but also canvas.

Despite being French in origin, the word ‘giclée’ is more commonly used within English speaking countries to refer to the process, in many parts of the world including the U.S.A. and U.K. The expression ’giclée print’ came into common usage following Jack Duganne’s adoption of the term.

'Giclée' therefore refers to both the process and final product.


Notes on print availability

Not all of my paintings are listed as available in print form. However, if you do not see  a specific painting listed in the range of available prints then please simply just contact me and I will quickly be able to advise on availability.  

I also do not carry a large stock of each print and so there may be a short delay whilst I have it printed to your requirements.