Tree ring art

Tree rings not only reveal a tree’s age, history of forests, climate and human impact but they’re also incredibly beautiful, worthy of a piece of art.

Spotted on instagram, Lee Richards, a Swansea based Illustrator is particularly skilled at using felled slices of trees for printing making. Printed by hand on acid-free paper, the use of minimal black and white, enables the detail of the tree rings to come through.

Richards uses a variety of trees ranging from yew, elm, oak, sycamore to olive, fruit and cypress – each a celebration of the tree’s rich history. For every print, Richards adds information about the tree’s provenance with added species background, helping to raise awareness amongst the purchasers and perusers.