Description

An accurate mine plan is a legal requirement whatever the size of the mine workings and is of major importance to the safety of the miners. This print depicts a section of a plan typical of the many small, private drift mines along the northern and western edges of the South Wales coalfield. A number of my in-laws made their living in mines such as these.

I have incorporated embossing within this print to emphasise that the galleries are dug out of the coal. To increase the effect of the embossing two layers of dampened paper were used. The first sheet, cut to slightly larger than the block, was run through the press on the inked block and was left in place. A water-soluble glue was applied to the reverse and the second sheet was applied and then run through the press again.