From Falmouth to the Royal Academy: graduate Eska Marsh on a decade of artistry
12 August 2025
Eska Marsh’s monochromatic prints stop you in your tracks; brimming with quiet energy, her folk-inspired still life compositions have garnered a cult following since she graduated from Falmouth School of Art a decade ago.
Primarily working with drypoint and carborundum, Eska’s limited edition prints grace the walls of galleries and private collections internationally– including in this year’s Royal Academy (RA) Summer Exhibition – and are set to be exhibited at contemporary gallery Morgans in Falmouth this autumn.
Finding Falmouth
So, where did Eska’s creative spark come from? “I always thrived more in creative environments than academic ones, and when my older brother came to Falmouth to study graphic design, it left a very strong impression on me as a 15 year-old”, Eska tells us of her early years.
Enchanted by the spirit of creativity she felt when visiting her brother, Eska enrolled at Falmouth herself when the time came. “I loved the old seaside town architecture and the way people expressed themselves creatively. I’d also heard from my tutors at college that it was one of the best universities in the country to study multidisciplinary creative subjects”, she explains.
Studying at Falmouth School of Art shaped Eska’s creative curiosity, and introduced her to the mechanics of the art world – both practically and theoretically. “I had exceptional tutors at the top of their field who taught me how to present my work to the high standards expected in the art world. They encouraged me to look at my work from different perspectives – I really miss that now ”, she recalls.
“I also loved the art history lectures we had once a week looking at artwork that came before us – something that I now know is vital to any artistic journey.”
Eska’s artistry in focus
Building on the experimental approach she nurtured at Falmouth, Eska has explored many mediums over the past decade on the journey towards the distinctive monochromatic printmaking style she is now celebrated for. Drawn to materials for their tactile and expressive possibilities, as well as their light environment footprint, she tells us: “Working in colour has never felt necessary to my practice – my focus remains rooted in form, tone, and texture.
“Drypoint, which involves scratching directly into a metal plate to create bold, intricate lines, give my prints a raw, tactile quality, highlighting the spontaneity of the mark-making process. This method – which is more environmentally friendly than traditional etching – often results in an intense contrast between light and shadow, lending a sense of immediacy to my work.
“Carborundum, on the other hand, introduces a layer of texture that’s harder to achieve with traditional printmaking techniques. By applying abrasive powders to a plate, I am able to create a velvety, almost sculptural surface that holds ink in a way that adds softness and richness to the image.”
Creating sell-out collections
With an idiosyncratic style that’s in high demand, Eska’s limited edition prints can sell out within days of launching at leading contemporary art galleries, print fairs and on her website.
Her career thus requires lots of commercial prowess, as she explains: “I try to have certain days or mornings dedicated to the admin side of things to then give me uninterrupted time in the studio. I work quite well if I have deadlines, but the trouble I am finding is taking too much on at the same time. It’s a learning process, working out which projects and galleries are the most viable to put my time and energy into.”
A homecoming
This summer marked Eska’s second appearance at the RA Summer Exhibition – a prestigious talent showcase for artists which has run annually since 1769 – and which has provided a boost to her practice each time. “Whether bridging the gap to different galleries, or meeting new clients, it’s been an incredible experience. In 2023 my work was hung in a room curated by printmaker Katherine Jones RA, next to Cornelia Parker’s work – it really doesn’t get better than that!”, she says.
Hot off the heels of the RA show, Eska is excited to be exhibiting her work across Cornwall over the coming months; first at Milieu Studios in St Ives, and then at Morgans in Falmouth this autumn.
“Given the textural nature of my work, seeing them in person really helps audiences to fully appreciate the way they come to life”, she explains. “Morgans is a stunning gallery so I feel very honoured to show my work there. It’s been ten years since I graduated, which is a wonderful reason to come back to Falmouth; it’s gone full circle.”
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