New Lino Print of Plymouth Hoe's Smeaton's Tower

Plymouth has always been a bittersweet place for me. As a military spouse, it’s where I’ve often waved goodbye and then welcomed my husband home from months at sea. There have been many happy and sad tears shed there. I quite often still find myself visiting and walking up to Plymouth Hoe to enjoy the views, especially of Smeaton’s Tower, the Tinside Lido and Drake’s Island.

Smeaton’s Tower stands at 72 feet and is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. The tower itself has a remarkable story. It was originally built on the Eddystone reef in 1759 by engineer John Smeaton and was later dismantled and reconstructed on Plymouth Hoe, as it was discovered the sea was eroding the rock it was standing on. Today it remains both a historical symbol and a much-loved viewpoint for locals and visitors alike.

My new lino print ‘Smeaton’s Tower’ captures this iconic lighthouse as it overlooks the sea from Plymouth Hoe. The print focuses on its striking silhouette rising above Plymouth Hoe and the little shelter I've sat in many times to escape the rain in the winter months. In this lino print I’ve aimed to capture both the architectural beauty of the tower, the atmosphere of the Hoe and the city’s strong connection to maritime history.

Whether you know this landmark well or have only just discovered it through seeing my linocut, I hope you enjoy its bold and graphic tribute to one of Plymouth’s enduring icons. If you are ever in Devon, take the time to visit; I believe you can climb the 93 steps and steep ladders to the top for spectacular panoramic views of Plymouth Sound and the city.

There are 60 editions of this print, and it measures 15 cm wide by 20 cm high and is printed on an A4 sheet in dark blue ink. You can purchase my ‘Smeaton’s Tower’ print in my online store.