I have been peripherally or directly involved in art for most of my life even while first a dental student, then a dentist – drawing, photographing, painting and latterly printmaking. When I left the job I went first to a wonderful PLC course and from there to Limerick School of Art and Design where I am just completing my third tear in printmaking.

I first heard about the notebook project from a friend of mine who was involved the year before and it fascinated me because artists books bring together my two main passions –art and books.

In retrospect I feel I might have been somewhat more deconstructive with the book but I enjoyed the challenge of putting together content that had a reasonable – if tenuous –theme. Anyone flicking through the book will note an interest in gothic themes.

It is also a challenge to fill all those pages but again if I ever undertook such a project I might take a different approach. The experience of finishing the book will be of great value to me because making artist books is becoming a steadily more important part of my practice and during the coming summer I intend to make and fine bind a book of etched prints with images derived from photographs I have taken.

It was wonderful to see all the other books and it never fails to amaze me how many different artistic answers there can be to any one proposal