Suitable for complete beginners, with all materials and tools provided.

Learn how to prepare work, and print on a press from start to finish. An ideal workshop for people to learn the skills to create their own business cards, greeting cards, invitations, artist books, and posters.



Letterpress printing is a method of printing from movable wood or metal type, polymer plates, and other relief surfaces to produce a beautiful, crisp impression. A technique for printing with a history dating back to the 15th century, letterpress printing was widely used for printing books and newspapers until the second half of the 20th century.



Workshop participants will have an introduction to the composing room, and will be introduced to the Vandercook, FAG and Stephenson Blake presses.



Participants will learn how to:

Hand typesetting in both lead and wooden type

Lock up work into a forme

Selecting paper stock

Choosing and mixing inks

Prepare work, order, and print from polymer plates

The correct and safe use of the press



Upon completion of the workshop, participants will leave with their own hand-printed edition and will be able work independently on the presses by becoming a studio member or purchasing a Studio Pass.

London Centre for Book Arts is a recognised artist-run, open-access studio with a focus on books and publications. Since 2012, LCBA has been at the forefront of teaching and promoting the heritage craft of bookbinding in the UK. Based on our popular workshops, Making Books: a guide to creating hand-crafted books by the London Centre for Book Arts was published in 2017 and has since been published in seven different languages.

Workshop participants receive 10% discount on purchases made in-person from the LCBA Shop on the day of the workshop.

Workshops will be small (up to eight participants and an instructor) and held in a spacious workshop studio. We will do our utmost to maintain a safe environment but we also ask that participants exercise a bit of caution and sensitivity to others and their surroundings. We will be closely monitoring official health and safety guidance, so please bear with us if and when there are any updates.

Masks: following the latest government guidelines regarding face coverings for adult education providers, masks and face coverings are not mandatory in the LCBA studios – although we still encourage visitors to wear one when appropriate.

Cancellation policy: If you are unable to make a class, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can re-list it. We are a very small organisation and proceeds from each ticket goes towards crucial overheads. Cancellations made after 14 days before the date of the workshop will not be refundable.

Contact us at hello@londonbookarts.org for bespoke workshops & experiences.

Accessibility:
LCBA is wheelchair accessible and barrier free.
There are accessible and gender neutral toilets.
Public transport options to LCBA can be seen here: https://londonbookarts.org/about/ but the routes from stations to LCBA has uneven pavements that are narrow.
There are two disabled parking spaces just across the road from the entrance to LCBA.
Please contact us for more information on access.