Courses
We still have a few places left on Gum Arabic Transfer, Mokulito, Waterless Litho, Geometric Drawing, Textile Printing, and Collagraphs. We have just announced a new course: Japanese Dying & Bookbinding with Lucy May Schofield. ALL OTHER COURSES ARE FULL.
Course listings
Introduction to Screen Print
Weekend Course
Over a weekend learn to screenprint in quick easy steps. From preparing your artworks to coating and exposing screens, mixing your water-based inks and printing, building up layers of colours.
Gum Arabic Printing
Weekend Course
Turn simple photocopies into printing plates. By saturating the photocopy with just the right amount of gum arabic solution, you can create a ‘plate’ in a similar way to lithography.
Mokulito
Weekend Course
In plywood lithography, or ‘Mokulito’ traditional lithographic drawing materials are used to draw and paint onto the plywood surface. The drawing is then processed using gum arabic, and the block is inked up and printed using the etching press. Blocks can also be cut into using woodcutting tools, marrying up lithography with woodcut. Because of the coarser nature of wood in comparison to stone or metal plate, fine detail cannot always be retained, so this process would suit those who have a more experimental approach to image-making, embracing and working with the natural properties of the wood.
Easter Screenprint fun (youth workshop)
Short Course
Looking for something creative to do in the holidays? Make new friends or bring a friend or parent, and spend the morning learning about the process of screen printing; you'll get a chance to practise doing it before being shown how to create your own artwork to make a two-coloured print.
Introduction to Screen printing (Evening)
Evening Course
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.
Photo Etching
Weekend Course
Presenting Guest Tutor Clare Phelan, this course is ideal for photographs or hand-drawn images; this specialist course offers hands on experience of etching images into steel plates prepared with specialist photo-etch emulsion, some experience of etching will be useful.
Screenprinting with Natural Dyes on Fabric
Weekend Course
An introduction to using natural dyes and plant-based pigments in your work. After learning how to mix ink from plant materials and natural dye extracts, you’ll spend the day screen-printing onto fabric with these beautiful and natural colours, You’ll also make your own non-toxic and plastic-free screenprinting medium, learn how to alter colours using modifiers and how to use mordants. This course is suitable for those with a basic level understanding of screenprint who want to challenge and change their practice.
Geometric Drawing
Weekend Course
Come and explore the wonder of geometric drawing on this two day course. You will be shown how to create an underlying grid, and learn about this fascinating drawing technique.
Experiments in Waterless Lithography
Weekend Course
Ideal for those who have done a bit of waterless lithography before. This course takes a different approach and will open up new possibilities.
Collagraph Print
Weekend Course
Collagraph is a fun and accessible printmaking process where paint and textured materials are collaged onto the surface of the plate, the various textures of materials will hold or resist ink.
Printing onto Textiles
Weekend Course
Over the course of a weekend you will explore colour and composition to create your own printed textiles. You will learn how to screen print using simple paper stencils as well as how to coat and expose screens using the photo emulsion method. You will learn how to mix colours for screen printing.
Japanese Paper Dyeing, Bookbinding & Box-making
Short Course
Over 5 amazing days with internationally renowned artist Lucy May Schofield this workshop offers the unique experience of combining Japanese paper dyeing, bookbinding and box-making. Learning the techniques to dye papers using suminagashi (Japanese marbling) and Orizome (resist dyeing) to include them as the covers for 5 different Toji binding styles, (four hole, five hole, noble, tortoise shell and hemp leaf) housed within a Hako Chitsu (wrap around box).
The Complete Letterpress
Long Course
* We will announce next year's Complete year-long courses later in the year; around August/September.
The Complete Printmaker
Long Course
We will be announcing next year's Complete year-long courses later in the year around August/September. Courses start in February 2025.
The Complete Book Artist 2024
Long Course
We will be announcing next year's course later in the year around August/September for a February 2025.
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.