The Complete Book Artist 2026

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.

price £1300 / £*
date 01 Jan, 2026 - 28 Dec, 2026
times 6pm - 9pm
duration 1 year

Run over 30 weeks, this course will give students a full and comprehensive grounding in Book Arts, with a sprinkling of printmaking to incorporate into your beautiful books and design your book forms around.


To be confirmed for the next year but sessions usually run on Wednesday evenings between 6.00pm and 9.00pm.


On top of the 3 hours taught sessions each week there are 4 hours a week as part of our open access to carry on your work from the lessons.The course is aimed at anybody looking to learn how to make books and explore and develop ideas through the form of the artists’ book. You will develop a sound knowledge of materials and techniques and will learn how to make a variety of book structures. These range from simple, yet fascinating structures to more challenging multi-section case-bound books. You will also learn how to make two different portfolio boxes to house and protect loose prints or some of the great books you have made on the course. Whether you have never made a book before or have some experience already, if you like books and you like making, this course is for you.

 

As well as equipping you with technical knowledge, the course will also dip into exploring narrative, sequencing, text & image and consider the relationship between form and content. If you are new to creative practice, you can use the book form to discover your own creativity. If you already have an established visual practice, you will be able to explore how this might be translated into the form of the artists’ book. In addition to bookbinding, the course includes an introduction to some of the other facilities available at Hot Bed Press, such as screen printing, lino-printing and letterpress, spread out over the year and this year we are really lucky to have secured two tutors to share the teaching so you will have the benefit of an even wider array of knowledge and experience.About the tutors:

George Gibson is an artist, educator, and Manchester School of Art Technician, specialising in book arts, zinemaking, and risograph printing.

Predominantly working collaboratively, George co-ran publishing based collective Shy Bairns from 2016 - 2023, attended alternative education program School of the Damned from 2020 - 2022, and is a current member of ABC [Artists Books Cooperative], an international group of artists who experiment with the form of the book. George has worked with writers, artists and researchers to publish works exploring cryptozoology, queer retellings of Godzilla, the brief history of ‘Goblin Mode’, and an evaluation of the psychological impact of the hit 00s science fiction drama LOST. These works have been exhibited, and are held in collections, internationally. 

Sylvia Waltering makes and publishes books as one half of Battenburg Press. She is an artist working with a variety of media, including photography, text, installation and artists' books, and also works as a lecturer at Manchester School of Art. Her books and installation work often involve domestic objects and (fictional) collections, exploring their narrative possibilities. Sylvia’s books have been exhibited internationally and her publications are held in private and public collections in the UK, Denmark, Hungary, Australia and the US


Membership of Hot Bed Press

The course includes Hot Bed Press membership that runs from Feb 2025 to end of Jan 2026. This entitles you to come into the workshop to use up any hours still to use up from the course’s 120 hours open access. These hours can be ‘saved up’ if you cannot come in for the extra 4 hours each week outside of the taught sessions and can be used in Summer.

 

Open access hours are :

Monday – Friday 10.00am – 5.00pm,

plus Thursday evenings up to 9.00pm

and alternate Saturdays 10.00am – 5.00pm

 

There are Technicians and volunteers around to help you when you are in, and you will be mixing with some of our 300 members who use the workshop.


To book your place simply call the workshop on 0161 743 3111 and we can take your course deposit of £300 which will secure your place on the course.

Course tutor

how to join

In order to book please enquire about availablility for the desired course. Please send an email or give a ring stating the required course and date.

0161 743 3111
info@hotbedpress.org

Enquire about a course

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?

Do you take a deposit to reserve a place?

What materials do I need to bring?

Is food provided?

Do you have disabled access?

Do you have any teacher training courses?

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.