‘Bee’ is a new edition, the second in this series, perfected to sit in harmony with ‘Butterfly’ and the now sold out bee editions.  A continuation of Waggett’s focus on the circle of life. The meticulous, monochrome bee is encased in a large circle of brilliant gold, representing the lifecycle of all things. The worker bee, so small and unassuming, is amplified here to showcase not only its tireless work ethic but its fundamental necessity for our own very existence.

“The worker bee is the emblem of Manchester, it symbolises the hardworking people who made the city what it is. Even though I am across the pond, whenever I work on one of my bees, it brings me closer to my hometown of Manchester.”

After spending several months in France recuperating after an accident, Waggett found her priorities and pace of life shifted. Living in a quiet village, enriched with history, heritage, and 11th century architecture, she was forced to recalibrate her life. The renewed tempo provided a clarity and focus that she openly welcomed.

The new edition “Bee” embodies a shift to a slower, more intentional way of life; taking time to be still, grounded and focusing on what is truly  important. This is expressed through a more relaxed, resting wing on the humble worker bee while continuing the large circle of glorious gold, representing both the circle of life and the fleeting of time.

“With her wings close to her body in a resting state, this piece represents my transition to a more gentle appreciation of life, taking the time to be still, grounded and focus on what is truly valuable.”

*Artist’s proofs are generally considered a status symbol in the world of art collecting. Their resale value is proportionally higher than the numbered editions.

Artists Proofs are impressions of a print taken during the printmaking process. They are used to evaluate the current state of a plate, stone, etc. while it is still being worked on by the artist. The artist will pull proofs to evaluate issues such as color and line and then alter the plate, stone, etc. accordingly until the print is perfected to the artist’s standards.

After perfecting the print, the artist will set aside a number of “artist’s proofs.” Though technically considered proofs, the quality of these prints is the same as those from the regular edition. Artist’s proofs are not included in the regular edition but are still of the same high quality; they are exactly the same as works from the regular edition, but are not numbered or noted as works from the regular edition.

Instead, artists will often designate artist’s proofs with the initials ‘A.P.’ for ‘Artist’s Proof’. The amount of artist’s proofs is 10% or less of the full edition, so for this edition of 100 there is only 10 APs.

Artist's proofs maintain their collectability and value because A) They are a small subset of the edition, and B) they usually come directly from the artist. In these days of mass marketing, getting something directly or even indirectly from the artist is rare.