Letterpress workshop with lead and wood type and decorative woodblocks

Description

This workshop seeks to introduce you to setting type, along with printing and registration on a Vandercook SP20 proofing press. The print shop is equipped with full trays of Garamond in 14 and 18 point regular and 14 point italic, wood typefaces and wood block ornaments. Participants can choose to produce a poster to decorate their homes, typeset their favourite song or poem for framing or produce pages to be incorporated into a larger book project. Other options include producing a limited edition of your own bespoke stationery or cards. The workshop lasts a day, in which time you should be able to print two colours. Participation is limited to two people or groups of up to five people, who are willing to work collaboratively on two products. This is to ensure sufficient press time. Parents should accompany children and be aware that there are sharps in the workshop. The courses take place in a studio/small press on Bircher Common, which is a National Trust site in rural Herefordshire. It's a great location to go for a walk or have a picnic during the lunch break.

What's included in the price?

All materials and lunch are included.

Cancellation policy

Medium - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 4 weeks before the course starts

Maker

Bircher Common Press

with Craft Courses since 2025

Message the tutor

Bircher Common Press is a start-up business situated in rural Herefordshire. It's early days but the press aims to make bespoke books, stationery, posters and invitations as well as to provide tuition in letterpress and bookbinding to individuals and small groups of up to five people. Driving this little press is a love of language, paper, the intimacy of the book format and craftsmanship. There's also me - Anne. I studied fine art printmaking at Glasgow School of Art and attained a masters in the same subject in Montreal, where I specialised in artists’ books and taught a course on the same topic at Concordia University, as well as various workshops around the city. Subsequently, I worked in other fields for many years but am now trying to get the press up and running. Workshop participants can learn how to set and print lead and wood type on a Vandercook SP 20 proofing press in order to make cards, posters, personalised stationery and invitations.  Alternatively, you may choose to print your favourite lyrics, poetry or prose for inclusion within a book or for framing and display.   You can also make or commission bespoke books.  The press offers a variety of  bookbinding and case making workshops. You can personalise your books with dedication pages printed in letterpress and/or with text printed on the covers, using a hot foil stamping machine.