Date: Wed 12 August | 10am–5pm
Ever wanted to try lino printing but weren't sure where to begin? This full-day workshop has been designed to give complete beginners plenty of time to build confidence, while also offering returning participants the opportunity to develop more ambitious prints and techniques. By popular demand, we've expanded our introductory workshop into a full day, allowing you to design, carve and print at a relaxed pace while getting to know the process in much greater depth.
You'll begin by learning the fundamentals of lino cutting, including how to carve safely, develop a simple design and ink your block effectively. If you've attended one of our previous workshops, we'll help you build on your existing knowledge with more advanced techniques, while beginners can work at a pace that feels comfortable throughout the day. Throughout the workshop, you'll print your work using our Victorian Albion Press, discovering how a traditional press can transform the quality and character of your finished prints.
You will learn:
How to design and carve a lino block safely and confidently.
Techniques for inking and printing by hand and with our Victorian Albion Press.
Ways to develop and print an edition of your own lino designs.
All basic materials, equipment and facilities are provided, and no previous experience is necessary. We provide an A6 sheet of lino to get you started, and additional lino, papers and specialist materials are available to purchase if you'd like to work on a larger scale. Please bring your own lunch and wear clothes you don't mind getting inky. Tea and coffee are provided throughout the day, and Cherry Farm Café is next door if you'd like lunch, coffee or cake.
Dates: Wed 19 & 26 August and Wed 2 September | 10am–5pm
We're delighted to launch our first multi-day printmaking course at Dorset Printmakers. Across three full-day sessions, you'll develop a solid understanding of both monotype and collagraph printmaking, exploring how these two versatile processes can complement one another.
Beginning with guided exercises and technical demonstrations, you'll gradually gain the confidence to develop more personal ideas and creative directions. As the course progresses, you'll spend more time experimenting with different materials, testing techniques and producing a body of original prints using our Victorian Albion Press.
Whether you're completely new to printmaking or looking to build on existing experience, this course offers the time and space to develop your practice while working alongside other printmakers in a supportive studio environment.
You will learn:
The fundamentals of monotype and collagraph printmaking.
How to experiment with a variety of printing materials and surfaces.
Techniques for developing your own printmaking ideas from initial tests to finished prints.
How to print confidently using our Victorian Albion Press.
All basic materials, equipment and facilities are provided. We'll have a wide range of papers and materials available for experimentation, with additional specialist papers and supplies available to purchase if you wish. Please bring your own lunch and wear clothes you don't mind getting inky. Tea and coffee are provided throughout the day, and Cherry Farm Café is next door for lunch or refreshments.
Dates: Sun mornings | 10am–1pm
Our Supported Print Studio is designed for anyone who would like to work more independently while still having guidance close at hand. Whether you're continuing a project from one of our workshops, printing an edition, developing new ideas or simply looking for dedicated studio time, we'll be available throughout the session to offer advice and technical support whenever you need it.
These sessions are less structured than our taught workshops, allowing you to work at your own pace while building confidence in using our equipment and developing your own printmaking practice. They're also a wonderful opportunity to meet other printmakers, share ideas and become part of our growing creative community.
You will learn:
How to work more confidently and independently in a print studio.
Ways to develop and refine your own printmaking projects.
Good studio practice and safe use of our Albion Press and equipment.
Techniques and practical advice tailored to your individual project.
Inks, tools, basic materials and studio facilities are provided. Papers, lino and Perspex are available to purchase if required. Please wear clothes you don't mind getting inky, and bring lunch or a snack if needed. Tea and coffee are provided throughout the session, and Cherry Farm Café is next door if you'd like refreshments.
Dates: Sun mornings | 10am–1pm
Sun afternoons | 2pm–5pm
If you're looking for dedicated studio time to continue a creative project, our Community Access sessions provide access to our print studio, equipment and facilities in a relaxed and supportive environment. These sessions are ideal for independent practitioners who are comfortable working on their own and simply need the space, equipment and time to develop their work.
At present, our Community Access sessions focus on relief printmaking using our Victorian Albion Press. While we can't yet offer facilities for intaglio processes, you're welcome to use the studio for lino printing, monotype preparation, drawing or other creative projects that benefit from a shared workshop environment.
Whether you're printing an edition, preparing work for an exhibition or simply setting aside time for your own practice, Open Access offers the freedom to work alongside other artists in our friendly community studio.
You will be able to:
Work independently using our printmaking facilities.
Continue existing projects or begin new ones at your own pace.
Make use of our Victorian Albion Press and shared studio equipment.
Meet other printmakers and become part of our creative community.
During your first Open Access session, we’ll need to give you a 30 minute induction, introducing you to the studio, equipment, studio guidelines and safe working practices. This induction is included with your first booking and is designed to help you feel confident using the space independently. If you're booking multiple Open Access sessions, select the induction option on the first date you attend; you'll only need to complete it once.
Inks, tools, basic materials and studio facilities are provided. Papers, lino and Perspex are available to purchase if required. Please wear clothes you don't mind getting inky, and bring lunch or a snack if needed. Tea and coffee are provided throughout the session, and Cherry Farm Café is next door if you'd like refreshments.
Dates: Fri 14, 21 & 28 August and Fri 4 September | 10am–1pm
We're delighted to launch Dorset Printmakers’ first Creative Bookbinding Course. Across four relaxed morning sessions, you'll discover the craft of bookbinding while exploring paper marbling and Coptic binding, one of the most versatile and rewarding book structures to learn.
Beginning with the fundamentals, you'll become familiar with the tools, materials and techniques used in contemporary bookbinding before gradually building the confidence to create your own beautifully hand-bound books. Coptic binding is a favourite among many bookbinders because it allows books to lie completely flat when open, making them ideal for sketchbooks, journals and artists' books.
Whether you're completely new to bookbinding or looking to expand your existing skills, this course offers the time to develop your confidence while creating a finished book to take home.
You will learn:
The fundamentals of Coptic bookbinding.
How to prepare, fold and sew book sections.
An introduction to paper marbling for creating your own covers.
How to use traditional bookbinding tools and materials with confidence.
All materials and equipment are provided, and both beginners and experienced bookbinders are welcome. If you have your own favourite tools, papers or materials, you're welcome to bring them along. Tea and coffee are provided throughout the course, and Cherry Farm Café is next door if you'd like lunch, cake or refreshments.
Date: Fri 14 August | 2pm–5pm
Suminagashi, meaning 'floating ink', is one of the oldest forms of paper marbling, dating back to 12th-century Japan. Gentle, meditative and beautifully unpredictable, it's a practice that encourages you to slow down and become sensitive to the movement of water.
During this workshop, you'll learn about the history of Suminagashi before exploring the process for yourself. Using sumi ink and brushes, we'll gradually build delicate patterns on the surface of water before carefully transferring them onto paper. Every print is unique, making each sheet a quiet record of the moment it was created.
You will learn:
The history and principles of Suminagashi.
How to create and control floating ink patterns.
Techniques for transferring patterns successfully onto paper.
How to embrace the calm, mindful nature of the process.
No previous experience is necessary, and all materials are provided. If the weather is kind to us, we may even take the workshop outdoors and work surrounded by Abbotsbury's beautiful landscape. Please wear clothes you don't mind getting messy or bring an apron, as we'll be working with ink throughout the session. Tea and coffee are provided, and Cherry Farm Café is next door if you'd like refreshments.
Date: Fri 28 August | 2pm–5pm
Paper marbling is one of those magical processes that never quite loses its sense of surprise. Every sheet you lift from the water reveals something completely unique, making it a wonderfully playful way to explore colour, pattern and movement.
In this 3-hour workshop, you'll learn how to prepare paper for marbling, mix a marbling bath and create your own colours before producing a collection of beautifully marbled papers. Whether you use them for bookbinding, wrapping paper, artwork or simply frame them, you'll leave with a collection of original designs to take home.
You will learn:
How to prepare paper for marbling.
How to mix and use a traditional marbling bath.
Techniques for creating vibrant colour and pattern.
How to produce your own unique marbled papers.
No previous experience is necessary, and all materials are provided. Please wear clothes you don't mind getting messy or bring an apron, as paper marbling can be unpredictable! Tea and coffee are available throughout the workshop, and Cherry Farm Café is next door if you'd like lunch, cake or refreshments.
Date: Tue 11 August | 10am–1pm
Following the success of last month's charcoal portrait workshop, we're returning to portraiture with a focus on colour. This relaxed 3-hour workshop offers the opportunity to slow down, observe carefully and build confidence through a series of guided drawing exercises. We'll explore warm and cool colours, discovering how they can shape the face and create atmosphere within a portrait.
Throughout the session, we'll experiment with a range of observational drawing techniques, helping you loosen up, become more confident with mark-making and develop a stronger understanding of colour in your drawing practice.
You will learn:
Core observational drawing techniques.
Ways to build confidence through expressive mark-making.
How to use line, tone and colour to create depth and character.
All materials and equipment are provided, and no previous experience is necessary. If you have your own favourite drawing materials, you're welcome to bring them along. The workshop takes place in our fully equipped studio in the heart of Abbotsbury.
Date: Tue 18 August | 10am–1pm
We're often taught to draw only what we can see, but much less time is spent exploring how to draw from our imagination. Learning to invent images allows us to build a closer relationship with the way we draw, helping us become more confident in creating places, stories and dream-like scenes.
During this 3-hour workshop, we'll begin with a series of drawing exercises designed to loosen up before exploring imaginative drawing through a combination of drawing and collage techniques. You'll be encouraged to experiment, take creative risks and discover new ways of developing your ideas on paper.
You will learn:
Techniques for developing ideas through imaginative drawing.
Ways to combine drawing and collage to build compositions.
How to draw with greater confidence and creative freedom.
All materials and equipment are provided, and no previous experience is necessary. If you have your own favourite drawing materials, you're welcome to bring them along. The workshop takes place in our fully equipped studio in the heart of Abbotsbury.
Date: Tue 25 August | 10am–1pm
We're excited to introduce collage to Dorset Printmakers, a practice that has long been central to artist Samsam Petherbridge's work. This playful and accessible workshop explores how collage can expand and support your drawing practice.
We'll begin with a series of observational drawing exercises before looking at the work of contemporary collage artists and asking the question: What is collage, and what can it offer our creative practice? Through cutting, layering and rearranging imagery, you'll discover new ways of thinking about composition, storytelling and image-making.
You will learn:
Different approaches to collage and image-making.
How collage can strengthen observational drawing.
Techniques for composition, layering and visual storytelling.
All materials and equipment are provided, and no previous experience is necessary. If you have your own favourite drawing tools, materials or papers, you're welcome to bring them along. The workshop takes place in our fully equipped studio in the heart of Abbotsbury.
Date: Tue 1 September | 10am–1pm
Discover how a drawing can become a print in this introductory workshop combining portrait drawing and monotype printmaking. Whether you'd like to make a self-portrait or work from a friend or family member (you're welcome to bring someone along), this session offers an enjoyable introduction to both practices.
We'll begin with a series of drawing exercises to loosen up before developing a portrait drawing. During the second half of the workshop, we'll use monotype printmaking to translate your drawing into a unique hand-pulled print, exploring how drawing and printmaking can work together.
You will learn:
Core portrait drawing techniques.
The fundamentals of monotype printmaking.
How to translate a drawing into a finished print.
All materials and equipment are provided, and no previous experience is necessary. If you have your own favourite drawing materials, you're welcome to bring them along. The workshop takes place in our fully equipped studio in the heart of Abbotsbury.
Date: Sat 29 August | 11am–12pm, 1pm–2pm or 3pm–4pm
Paper marbling is colourful, creative and great fun for all ages. This family-friendly workshop is a wonderful opportunity to discover the magic of marbling together while creating your own beautifully patterned papers.
You'll learn a little about the craft before having plenty of time to experiment with colour and create your own marbled designs. Your finished papers can be used for cards, book covers, wrapping paper or simply taken home as artworks in their own right.
Book one of our one-hour workshops in advance, or pop into the studio on the day to see if spaces are available. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or carer. Please wear an apron or clothes you don't mind getting messy, marbling can be wonderfully unpredictable!
Date: Mon 31 August | 10am–12pm
Joomchi is a remarkable traditional Korean paper craft with a history stretching back over 500 years. Using only water and gentle hand manipulation, layers of Hanji paper are fused together to create richly textured, fabric-like sheets full of colour and character.
In this hands-on family workshop, you'll begin by arranging colourful layers of Hanji paper before wetting, kneading and rolling them together until they become a single, durable artwork. It's a wonderfully tactile, playful and surprisingly relaxing process and completely glue-free.
You will learn:
The traditional techniques behind Joomchi.
How to layer and fuse Hanji paper using water alone.
Ways to create richly textured collage compositions.
No previous experience is needed, and all materials are provided. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or carer. As the process involves quite a lot of kneading and hand work, we recommend this workshop for children aged 12 and over.
Date: Sun 30 August | 2pm–4pm
Suminagashi, meaning 'floating ink', is an ancient Japanese art of paper marbling that began over 800 years ago. Traditionally practised outdoors, this peaceful process encourages us to slow down, observe and work gently with the movement of water.
Weather permitting, we'll take our workshop beneath the trees in Abbotsbury, where you'll have the chance to create your own floating ink patterns inspired by the surroundings. If the weather isn't suitable, we'll return to the studio and continue indoors.
You will learn:
The basics of the Suminagashi process.
How to create delicate floating ink patterns.
Techniques for transferring your designs onto paper.
Please bring a bowl and two cups; we’ll provide everything else. We will meet at the studio at 1.45pm before walking together to our outdoor location. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or carer.
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