Courses
We are planning our weekend and evening courses for 2025. There will be lots of courses for beginners to more experienced printmakers. Expect a few new courses and surprises. Watch this space or contact us to get on our mailing list.
Course listings
Introduction To Screenprinting (Friday Evenings)
Short Course
Over 4 evenings learn to screenprint in quick easy steps. From mixing your water-based inks and printing using simple paper stencils you will go on to layer and build up colours. Mandy will show you how to coat and expose a photographic image onto screen, register and print your final ‘key’ colour bringing the image together. You will come away with a small edition of screenprints and can go on to print further designs and editions.
Expressive Printmaking
Short Course
This is a great way to free yourself up with expressive & gestural mark-making. You will be shown how to create vibrant multilayered and multi-coloured images combining the different qualities of monoprint, drypoint and carborundum. Painterly brushstrokes can be married up with raw scratched lines and strong tonal carborundum plates. You won’t need to worry about perfect registration as we will have plates bigger than the paper so you can focus on a freer way of working and to reacting to each printing, building up a variety of prints.
Screenprinted Lampshades
Short Course
Learn to Screenprint your own unique lampshade with Textile designer and printmaker Natalie Laura Ellen. In the morning session Natalie will teach you the basics of screen printing on to fabric, choosing your own colour palette to create a unique print from a selection of floral designs. Once your print has dried in the afternoon, you’ll learn how to use your fabric to make a 20cm lampshade to take away and cosy up a corner of your home for the winter months ahead. Perfect for Mother’s Day!
Tetra Pak Printing
Short Course
Upcycle your old milk, soup and custard cartons to create printing plates. The shape of the packaging can be integrated into a motif or can be collaged together to create larger prints. With its layers of paperboard, polyethylene and aluminum foil, Tetra Pak offers not only an immediacy which other collagraph materials lack, but also a satisfying tactility when cutting, scoring, peeling and printing with this distinctive material. You will be encouraged to explore the potential of combining the plates for collagraph, drypoint and even relief print a combination of the two processes, and you will also learn how to integrate Chine Collé with your Tetra Pak prints.
Painterly Screenprinting
Short Course
Take the painterly approach to screenprinting. Paint and draw directly on the screen with acrylic paint/inks, flood with medium and pull it through the screen for a vibrant print full of energy and subtleties of mark. You will be shown how to build up a unique print adding depth and intensity of colour. Jeni will also show you how to use cut stencils and overprinting to layer up your images and introduce pastels and different paints to vary your marks and give choices of effects. Across the weekend you will be shown how to use the ghost of the last printing to create a varied edition of mono-screenprints and to develop your image and produce a set of prints.
Copper Sulphate Etching
Short Course
Copper sulphate etching plates can be created safely at home without the need of specialised equipment or extraction. Using BIG (Baldwin’s Ink Ground, a safer alternative to traditional ground that can be cured in an oven) with aluminium plate, you will be shown how to etch lines and develop your artwork using the natural plate tone to create an effect similar to aquatint. The course will also cover a number of resists (some of which you may already have at home) and techniques such as sugar-lift. This course is suitable for beginners. Over four evenings as well as creating your plates you will be shown how to print your etchings, developing your inking and wiping technique as well as enhancing your work with techniques such as roll-overs and coloured inking. Your tutor will explain how to maximise the potential of your etchings by selecting the right paper and what to look for when using a press.
Cyanotypes
Short Course
Learn how to create cyanotype prints from digital negatives of your own images. You’ll be shown how to mix your own chemical solutions and explore ways to coat different papers to achieve interesting brush strokes and effects. Participants will learn how to calculate exposure settings using a controlled UV exposure unit and process your images to achieve smooth gradations and a good tonal range. Get creative as we experiment with the variables of timing and layering and learn how to create beautiful multi exposures prints. Moving beyond the blue, discover how to shift the colour of the traditional Prussian blue in new directions, by toning your prints using natural tannings, such an oak, tea, coffee and wine.
Screenprint With Natural Dyes
Short Course
Explore the world of sustainable screenprint with artist Nell Smith. Using a selection of foraged plant materials, kitchen waste and natural dye extracts, you will learn how to make plastic-free print pastes and how to use modifiers to unlock the magic of natural colour. Then use simple cut paper stencils to create your own designs. This course is suitable for those with a basic level understanding of screenprint who want to challenge and change their practice. On day one we will make and test colours and use modifiers to alter them. Day two will cover cutting stencils to make your own print designs.
Monoprinting
Short Course
Spend a weekend taking your drawings, sketchbooks, and photographs in a new direction. You will be taught to vary your mark-making adding colour, overprinting and overlaying lines and marks to build an image. You will go on to a more expressive approach in painterly monoprinting, painting and rolling ink directly onto a metal plate, using stencils to block out areas and printing through our etching presses. These one-off prints, (officially called ‘monotypes’), are full of vitality and expression and open a new treasure trove to those interested in getting to know printmaking and anyone wanting to freshen up and bring new life their drawing practice.
Photopolymer Printing
Short Course
Discover the subtle tonal qualities and fine detail available through photopolymer plates using photographic imagery and hand drawn originals. You will learn how to make test strips and achieve perfect exposure of the plate to get great depth and tonal range from your original imagery. The plate is ‘developed’ in tap water. No need for acid or caustic solution. Go on to ink and print in different ways achieving perfect printing.
Secret Belgian Binding
Short Course
In this two day course, you will learn the process of Secret Belgian binding. Also known as Criss Cross binding, this unusual binding method utilises a distinct weaving pattern to create hardback books that are sturdy yet flexible, and lie flat when opened. Our book arts tutor George will teach you how to create a text block and mixed colour covers, introducing a number of bookbinding tools, followed by learning the intricate weaving pattern. Participants will leave the workshop with a handmade hardback that lies flat; perfect for sketchbooks, notebooks and scrapbooks, and you’ll know the secret!
Introduction To Screenprinting (Weekend)
Short Course
Spend a weekend being shown how to screenprint. From mixing your water-based inks and printing using simple paper stencils you will go on to layer and build up colours. Mandy will show you how to coat and expose a photographic image onto screen, register and print your final ‘key’ colour bringing the image together. You will come away with a small edition of screenprints and can go on to print further designs and editions.
Repeat Printed Textiles
Short Course
Learn how to turn your designs and motifs into repeat pattern fabric. Over the weekend you will be taught how to create good repeat designs and how to consider the quirks of screen printing onto fabric. You will be shown how to coat and expose a screen and go onto printing your fabric lengths on different fabrics. You will come away with one to two meters of patterned fabric which could be made up into bags or cushions, or if you prefer for creating your own wrapping paper. There are endless possibilities and applications…once you know how!
Kitchen Sink Litho
Short Course
An ideal introduction to lithography. Sometimes called ‘coca-cola litho’ we will be using kitchen foil as a plate and cola to ‘etch’. You will be shown making the plate followed by drawing and mark-making on the foil surface with various crayons, processing the plate with cola and inking up. You can print by hand with a baren, or through the etching presses. Coca-cola litho is accessible and can be done at home. It offers subtle tonal marks with more contrasted blacks to print an edition with and is really suited to anyone who likes to draw and enjoys mark-making.
The Art of Lino
Short Course
Niki will show you how to design and cut your block to get the best out of a design. You will learn how to ink your lino consistently and print your block on our lovely Albion and Columbian relief presses. Starting with black & white printing on Saturday, on Sunday you will go on to be shown the difference between multi-block and reduction printing and produce a two-colour printed edition.
Introduction To Rubber Stamping
Short Course
Get creative with stamps by the bloke who wrote the book on it! During this two-day workshop, you will learn how to carve and print your own mini collection of rubber stamps using small and large erasers. Stephen will inspire with his own stamps and prints as well as showing you his collection of vintage rubber stamps from around the world. Once you’ve cut your design you can create a story with multiple stamps showing narrative sequence and movement through a selection of simple book forms. You will also be encouraged to play with random repeat printing and repeat pattern. By day 2 Stephen will also show you how to design and print 2 colour stamp prints and go multi-coloured.
Book & Box Weekender
Short Course
This workshop offers two-day creative making journey where you’ll craft your own A5 hardback book and a matching fold-out portfolio box. Day One: Dive into the art of traditional bookbinding as you create a beautifully cloth-bound hardback book, complete with headbands and a bookmark ribbon. Day Two: Build a custom fold-out portfolio box designed to perfectly house your book, featuring elegant hidden magnetic fasteners. You can choose from a selection of book cloth colours and stunning decorative lining papers to personalize your project. Whether you have some bookbinding experience or are a beginner, this workshop is designed for all skill levels. All materials are provided. It’s worth noting that sewing and cutting materials requires some level of precision and dexterity.
The Complete Printmaker 2026
Long Course
The Complete Printmaker 2025 is now underway. We are currently taking expressions of interest for the Complete Printmaker 2026. Please send an email to andy@hotbedpress.org to receive information with an early invitation to book your place when we open up bookings for next year's intake of students. Dates will run Feb - Dec 2026. Specific term times are yet to be confirmed.
The Complete Book Artist 2026
Long Course
The Complete Book Artist 2025 is now underway. We are currently taking expressions of interest for the Complete Book Artist 2026. Please send an email to andy@hotbedpress.org to receive information with an early invitation to book your place when we open up bookings for next year's intake of students. Dates will run circa Feb - Dec 2026. Specific term times are yet to be confirmed.
The Complete Letterpress 2026
Long Course
The Complete Letterpress Printer 2025 is now underway. We are currently taking expressions of interest for the Complete Letterpress Printer 2026. Please send an email to andy@hotbedpress.org to receive information with an early invitation to book your place when we open up bookings for next year's intake of students. Dates will run circa Feb - Dec 2026. Specific term times are yet to be confirmed.
Enquire about a course
faq's
We are happy to answer any questions on the phone but here are some commonly asked questions and answers below.
Do I need to be experienced to come on a course?
No experience necessary! Some courses are specifically designed for beginners; such as Introduction to Screenprint, Print or Letterpress, Painterly Screen-printing or The Art of Etching. Other courses such as Mokuhanga, Screen-printing with Natural Dyes or Photopolymer Printing are more tailored to those with some previous experience. However, if in doubt phone us to discuss.
How do I book a place on a course?
The best way to book a place is to phone us on 0161 743 3111. Our courses book up so quickly that we can be answering the phone all day whilst e-mails may take more time to get through every enquiry and still need us to phone or e-mail you back. We are a friendly bunch and can answer any of your questions when you ring to book.
Do you take a deposit to reserve a place?
No sorry, we are a small team and don't have capacity to have multiple systems in place. We only confirm bookings on full receipt of payment
What materials do I need to bring?
Nothing! We provide all materials for courses. All we need you to bring is some inspiration and clothes you don't mind getting ink on. (In Winter it is best to dress up warm too.) You will receive an introduction letter letting you know what to prepare, such as drawings, photos, photocopies, collected images, and what size you can expect to work to.
Is food provided?
If you are on a day or weekend course please bring your own food. In our small kitchen we have tea, coffee, milk, and sugar and an urn as well as a microwave. The Co-op and Sainsburys are both nearby and we have the luxury of a couple of cafes nearby now with fancy coffee.
Do you have disabled access?
We are limited in our access, with the workshop situated on the first floor and no lifts. We purchased the building in 2017 with the aim to expand and create a fully accessible facility. Unfortunately our ambitions have been set back by covid and other challenges. We are still trying to get full funding to develop the building further and be fully accessible.
Do you have any teacher training courses?
We have Wednesday evening specific CPD teacher training sessions situated under short courses or please email our education officer on education@hotbedpress.org for the details of our latest courses or to discuss bespoke courses.
Membership
Come And Join Us
We welcome new members all year round. Anyone can join. You need a little bit of experience; but that can be from doing one of our weekend or evening courses, after which you can carry on and practice what you've learnt on the course. We've got a few types of membership to suit your purse or your time. Just g to our Membership section for more details.
Send us a message!
Let us know what you are enquiring about.