In-person course
in Matlock Maker & location details

Tailor made booking for Debbie - Create with a gel printing plate in Derbyshire

Create with a Gel Plate - mono printing without a Press.

A warm welcome awaits you at The Slipper Studio.

Garden views from the workbench.

Prints are built up with several layers of acrylic paints.

Gel plate prints are unique.

An exciting process to learn about.

We’ll use flowers and leaves to create beautiful prints.

All will be revealed at the workshop.

You’ll leave with a surprising number of prints.

Let’s hope for some lovely weather.

Studio Cat is sure to drop by.

The workshop

Stencils are a great way to explore pattern.

Description

Saturday 13th June 2026. Join me at The Slipper Studio on the edge of the Peak District for a relaxing and creative day. Gel printing plates are a lively and instant product to create mono prints with, plus they have the advantage that they don’t require the use of a printing press. Each print is unique and this highly adaptable process invites experimentation. Gel printing plates look and feel like gelatin, but are durable, reusable and store at room temperature; they come in a range of sizes and shapes, are easy to clean with mild soap and water or baby wipes and are always ready for printing. They are used in conjunction with acrylic paints and need no more equipment than a cheap roller to apply the paint. Artist, teacher and maker Liz Wellby will guide you through a range of gel plate techniques including layering, impressing, creating stencils and exploring masking techniques with leaves and flowers; you will leave with a range of mono-prints that can be seen as outcomes in their own right or can be starting points for further processes, such as paintings or a linocut. They can also be collaged and used to create cards, gift tags or used in creative journals and sketch pads. This workshop will suit the creative beginner or those with some experience of different creative processes and techniques. Liz will host the workshop at her home studio, The Slipper Studio, on the edge of the Peak District. The venue is beautifully presented, with handcrafted workbenches and a wood burner, with views down into the village. About the tutor: Liz Wellby is a versatile and experienced artist, teacher and maker, with a particular interest in sculpture and printmaking. Following the completion of a Fine Arts degree at Loughborough University and subsequent post graduate studies, she returned to Derbyshire, where for over 25 years she has lived and worked. Liz now lives and works from The Slipper Studio, in a small village on the edge of the Peak District, kept company by her husband and a cat called Bert.

What's included in the price?

The workshop runs from 10 - 4pm, including: tuition, materials and use of equipment*, with refreshments provided throughout the day; just bring your lunch. Please select the 'message the tutor' button below if you would like to contact the course organiser in advance of booking with any queries or requests. * You will need to bring your own gel plate along to the workshop. 6 x 6 inch and 5 x 7 inch plates are most suitable and can be purchased online. Gelli Arts are my preferred brand - a little more expensive than other brands, but thicker, softer and more sensitive. As COVID and some virulent bugs are still around, it seems appropriate to maintain a number of sensible measures at The Slipper Studio: the studio will be well ventilated and hand sanitiser will be available.