RKL Tools
(Hidden high street series)
RKL Tools began with something very ordinary - a simple spray bottle I spotted in the local hardware shop. I liked the straightforwardness of it, especially the price tag reading “RKL TOOLS £2.39”, and that became the anchor for the print. From there, I found myself imagining a much more dramatic moment around this everyday object, letting humour and a bit of nostalgia shape the scene.
The exaggerated action—the big, stylised “SPLASH” and the caption “VAL SQUEEZED THE TRIGGER AND… BOOM!” - was my way of taking something practical and pushing it into the realm of the playful and unexpected. I enjoyed the contrast between the functional nature of the spray bottle and the over‑the‑top energy surrounding it. It let me turn a familiar item into the centre of a small, theatrical moment.
Visually, I leaned into a comic‑book‑inspired style. The enlarged Letratone dots add texture and a touch of retro charm, while the bold colours help give the piece its sense of immediacy. Working in silkscreen allowed me to build up the layers with precision and create a feeling of movement that almost bursts off the surface. For me, the mix of traditional printmaking with these lively, graphic elements reflects the balance I was aiming for - rooted in craft but open to the playfulness of Pop Art.
Within the Hidden High Street series, RKL Tools feels a bit different because of its humour and upbeat tone. While some of the other works lean more towards reflection or critique, this one simply enjoys the idea that even the most ordinary objects can spark a story. It’s a small celebration of the hidden moments and imaginative possibilities tucked inside everyday high street life - proof that even a spray bottle can have its own starring role.
This work is from the Hidden High Street series - an exploration of the often unnoticed spaces and everyday encounters that form the essence of our shared communities.
Read more about the Hidden High Street series here
Produced as a limited edition - hand‑pulled in the studio, this work is signed/stamped and numbered to ensure their authenticity and collectability. Each edition is created using traditional silkscreen techniques on archival paper, with every layer printed by hand.
Collectors can choose to acquire these works in two forms:
• On Paper — the edition in its purest state, unframed, offering flexibility for personal presentation.
• Artist‑Framed — mounted and framed by the artist, using bespoke methods to present the work as a complete, ready‑to‑hang artwork.
This dual approach allows the work to be appreciated either as a print to be lived with and framed to taste, or as a finished object crafted entirely within the artist’s practice.
more from this series…
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![Framed picture of "Wendy's Cookshop" storefront with British flag bunting.]()
Wendy’s Cookshop honours a high street gem, celebrating its warmth, individuality, and the quiet beauty of personal, independent businesses.
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![Framed artwork featuring a grid of colourful squares with abstract lace patterns on a black background.]()
This work weaves together light, reflection, and heritage, turning a quiet tradition into a luminous meditation on craft and memory.
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![Illustration of various sports equipment including sneakers, backpack, shirts, socks, basketball, tennis rackets, squash racket, ping pong paddles, volleyball, swimsuits, sports bag, soccer ball, and rugby ball.]()
Honiton Sports blends vivid sporting imagery with personal memory, turning everyday objects into quiet reflections on identity and nostalgia.
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![Framed artwork featuring bold white text "TOUCH SMELL TASTE LOVE" overlaid on a background of colorful books on shelves.]()
This work turns the quiet charm of a second-hand bookstore into a rich, sensory tribute to memory, literature, and the beauty of physical experience.
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![Colorful abstract artwork featuring a figure holding a bouquet of flowers, with splashes of pink, blue, yellow, and black against a white background.]()
Hillview Floristry transforms a fleeting market exchange into a quiet meditation on identity, labor, and the intimate beauty found in overlooked moments.
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![Minimalist artwork of blue trousers with a red "sale" tag]()
Dalzell Distributors transforms a simple shopfront spectacle into a bold, humorous tribute to the eccentricity and ingenuity of independent retailers.
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![Illustration of a toy shop with blue and white facade, labeled "The Honiton Toy Shop," featuring colorful toy displays in the windows.]()
Honiton Toy Shop captures the nostalgia and quiet magic of a familiar high street gem, blending architectural charm with childhood wonder.
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![Pop art-style illustration of a person holding a pneumatic nail gun, with abstract shapes and a yellow-orange colour scheme. The image is framed and mounted on a white wall.]()
Power Shoes elevates the quiet craft of cobbling into a bold tribute to expertise, resilience, and the artistry of skilled manual labor.
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![Framed black and white abstract print of a stylised stack of wine bottle]()
WineWorld abstracts a simple shop display into a stark, unsettling critique of excess, dependency, and the fragile illusions of refinement.
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![Vintage-style menu board with items like jumbo burger, king rib, fish cake, and their prices. Decorative illustrations of people depict different interaction scenes.]()
Chippie Joe’s turns a humble peg board menu into a lively portrait of community, routine, and the quiet charm of the local chippie.
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![Cartoon-like image depicting two people walking past a pub with a sign advertising entertainment like jukebox and quiz night. A blue car with barrels in the trunk is parked nearby. A black dog crosses their path.]()
The Three Tuns transforms a pub sign into a layered reflection on identity, relationships, and the uneasy role of alcohol in British culture.
