Printmaker Rosanna Morris Reveals Inspiration Behind Lanny Artwork
3 Apr 2026Check out our behind-the-scenes video (above) featuring Bristol-based printmaker Rosanna Morris, offering insight into the creative process behind the artwork for our upcoming world premiere production of Lanny. Film by Bristol Old Vic films, music by Dom Coyote.
Directed by Nancy Medina, Bea Roberts' adaptation of Max Porter's bestselling novel will open at Bristol Old Vic this autumn.
The striking visual identity for the production has been created by Rosanna Morris, a printmaker, illustrator and teacher who works at the intersection of handmade craft, botanical drawing and earth-based inks. Her original linocut and woodcut prints are grounded in a deep connection to the land, making it a perfect partnership with this story of one boy's relationship to nature and community.
I've always been in a really urban environment, and always had this kind of longing for nature and that's what informs my work - rather than being in nature. The carving is a representation of Lanny, peaceful and set apart from the village - nestled in the nature he loves so much...I found it fascinating that the whole book is basically about an absence of Lanny. You never hear from him, just what other people think of him. That idea formed the basis of this artwork - the absence of Lanny in the landscape.
Rosanna Morris
It's incredibly important for us to work with local artists and creatives whenever possible, and Rosanna's work was a natural fit with the story of Lanny. The artwork generated a real buzz when we released it earlier this year, resonating with lovers of the original novel and those who were new to the story too. We wanted to share that creative journey, which is why we’ve released this film capturing Rosanna’s process.
Lydia Scott, Bristol Old Vic Producer
Rosanna has worked in the realm of print for well over 10 years. She developed her own unique style, evoking the traditional feel of British wood engravings within the aesthetic of contemporary illustration. In 2016 Rosanna co-founded Cato Press, where she prints, teaches and facilitates grassroots and community lead projects in Bristol. Rosanna has also long been interested in sustainability, food sovereignty and growing food. Many of her prints explore themes of agriculture, horticulture and the natural world. She believes in the use of print as a medium of communication and the exploration of ideas and is always seeking to inspire change with her work.
Rosanna also teaches printmaking and drawing at various art schools, including the Bristol Drawing school at the Royal West of England academy and at Spike Print. She was awarded Modern Crafter of the Year in 2022.
The video offers a rare glimpse into the craftsmanship behind the production’s visual identity, highlighting the enduring power of handmade processes in contemporary theatre.
I was so thrilled to learn we were having a woodcut for the poster. I love how in Rosanna’s beautiful design you see not just the branches and trunk of the tree but a cross section down to the roots where fossils and bones lie. It’s a brand new image created with an old technique just as in the story's modern life mingles with centuries old village traditions.
Bea Roberts, Lanny Playwright
It's amazing to see Rosanna's extraordinary print come to life because one of the characters in the book likens their experience to being in the reverse of the world, in the carved absences of a print block. It captures the weird absence of Lanny and the all-seeing eye of the mythic presence, and everything is tangled, everything is connected. It chimes so perfectly and so intriguingly with Bea's adaptation for the stage.
Max Porter, Author of Lanny
