Essex Print Studio hosts workshops and classes in a range of printmaking techniques. We invite practicing, professional printmakers to design and run some exciting and interesting classes at our studio in Margaretting.
Our workshops and classes are designed to appeal to everyone from interested beginners to professional artists wishing to extend their practice. We update the list regularly so keep checking for new classes.
Monoprinting From Two Life Models
Saturday 26th April 2025
11am – 4pm
Tickets: Standard Tickets £45
Tutor: Lynne Blackburn
Venue: Essex Print Studio
In this workshop you will be painting directly from the life models, using acrylic screenprinting inks, straight onto a silkscreen. You will then print your painting onto paper which produces just one, unique, print (hence the name ‘mono’ printing). Monoprinting is a great way to practice working quickly, and loosening up your drawing and painting skills. It can produce unique and unexpected results and your printed images will range from a bold statement to ghostly impressions. Come and explore the incidental qualities and textural possibilities of printmaking and how they can give your life drawing a new twist.
We will have the wonderful Life Modelling couple Ian & Andrea with us all day so plenty of time to make several screenprinted monoprints to take home. During the class our models will take up a series of dynamic poses so you can expect to be prolific monoprinters by the end of the day.
All the materials will be provided for the session so all you need to do is turn up
The ticket price is £45 which covers the models fee plus all printmaking materials for the session.
LIFE DRAWING
SECOND WEDNESDAYS !
6pm – 8pm
NEXT CLASSES – Weds 12th March; Weds 9th April; Weds 14th May
Tickets £12 per person
Tutor: Untutored
Venue: Essex Print Studio
Untutored Life Drawing sessions at Essex Print Studio.
We’ll be changing models frequently so you have a chance to draw directly from clothed and unclothed models; male and female models; and we even have a few surprises up our sleeves such as Mum and baby models and even two models together !
We’ll begin the class with some short poses to get us loosened up and move onto longer poses after that.
Please bring along your own preferred materials to use. We will have some materials and paper available for you to buy if you need to and we have a couple of large easels and plenty of smaller boards / clip boards you can use.
Drypoint with Chine Colle
Saturday 17th May 2025
10am – 4pm
Tutor: Susie Turner
Tickets: Standard Tickets £140 per person
This workshop will introduce participants to the simple technique of Drypoint Etching and Chine Collé using botanical specimens, found objects and existing drawings as inspiration.
Drypoint is the simplest and most direct form of intaglio fine art printmaking. It lends itself to drawing and mark making. Chine collé describes the technique of adding background colour and texture, using rice or starch paste and lightweight archival papers.
Please wear comfortable footwear, old clothes and bring along an apron. Disposable gloves will be provided. You are welcome to bring along existing drawings and a selection of drawing pencils or fine pens. There will be opportunity to make a drawing on the day. The tutor will provide a selection of dried foliage, found objects along with a selection of ready-made illustrations for the purpose of drawing. Participants will be working with two A5 size (210 x 150mm) drypoint plastic printing plates and then printing onto A4 size (290 x 210mm) dampened heavy weight paper. Please bring along a portfolio or suitable folder for transporting your prints home. All printmaking materials, equipment and a detailed handout will be provided.
Introduction to Linocut Workshop
Saturday 24th May 2025
10.00am – 1.00pm
Tickets: £65
Tutor: Eleanor Mulinder of Wee Bothy Art
Venue: Essex Print Studio
This 3 hour hands-on workshop is designed for complete beginners. You will be guided through the process of designing, carving and printing your own Lino block.
To begin with you will learn how to use the carving tools and the basic cutting techniques. An initial practice block is made which allows you to experiment with mark-making and will help you get used to the tools quickly.
You may wish to bring some of your own images to work from, however plenty of inspiration will be at hand to help you decide. You will be shown how to develop your image for printing and the process of transferring it on to the Lino block ready to print. You will be shown how to ink your Lino block and how to burnish prints by hand. By the end of the workshop you will have a small edition of your own prints and the knowledge and skills to continue your Lino printing journey at home.
All equipment and materials are provided. Please bring your own apron or old clothes to work in.
Kitchen Litho
10.00am – 4.00pm
Saturday 31st May 2025
Standard Tickets £140 per person
Tutor: Caroline Whitehead
Venue: Essex Print Studio
Kitchen litho is a great introduction to the amazing world of lithography. On this fun one day course we’ll learn how to make lithographic prints using kitchen foil, cola and readily available (and inexpensive) drawing materials. It’s also a very portable technique – small prints are easy to print without a press. With a bit of practice, it’s possible to make surprisingly sophisticated and subtle prints — and also achieve surprisingly long print runs — using everyday ingredients.Who is the course for?This course is suitable for people who enjoy drawing and mark-marking. Some printmaking experience will be useful, but it’s not required.MaterialsAll materials will be provided and students will receive a set of notes about the process.
We suggest that you bring along a packed lunch.
Suitable for beginners and those who have some experience
Mokulito Printing Weekend
Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th July 2025
10am – 4pm both days
Standard Tickets: £220 per person
Tutor: Caroline Whitehead
Venue: Essex Print Studio
Mokulito is a form of lithography which relies on the fact that oil and water do not mix, and is a great technique for anyone who enjoys drawing and experimenting with different kinds of mark-making. Unlike in traditional lithography, which uses a stone or metal plate, for Mokulito, the image is drawn on a plywood plate. Because wood is an organic substance, the image changes slightly each time the plate is printed, meaning that editions are small and variable. As the printing session progresses, the grain of the wood gradually becomes more dominant, often producing the evocative veils of colour that are so characteristic of this technique. A particular advantage of using wood as the printing matrix is the possibility of combining mokulito with woodcut, which can be used to produce contrasting sharp lines and textures. This weekend workshop will teach you how to draw, process and print one or two mokulito plates
All materials will be provided but we suggest that you bring along a packed lunch.
Suitable for beginners.
Solar Plate Weekend
Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th August 2025
10am – 4pm both days
Standard Tickets: £220 per person
Tutor: Susie Turner
Venue: Essex Print Studio
This two-day workshop will introduce participants to an innovative and versatile method of fine art printmaking using sunlight and water.
Solarplate describes the process of printmaking from light sensitive plates that have been exposed to daylight or an artificial source of UV light. The plates are developed in tap water and can be used for relief and intaglio printing. The main advantage is the plate is capable of holding much detail and offers versatility in image making – participants will be able to transfer found material, hand drawn originals and photographs into unique fine art prints.
Some preparation of artwork would be useful in advance though not essential. If you would like to work from your own imagery, guidance on how to prepare artwork in advance will be provided. Participants will be working with A5 and A6 size plates.
Participants will need to need to bring along an apron, a pair of household waterproof gloves, any prepared artwork, pressed materials and a portfolio for carrying damp prints home.
All materials will be provided but we suggest that you bring along a packed lunch.
Suitable for beginners.
EPIC POETS SOCIETY – SPOKEN WORD & POETRY MEETUP
Sunday 8th October 2023
2.00pm – 4.00pm
Tickets: FREE EVENT
Poets: AP Staunton; Robert Ford; Simon Zec; ‘Niallistic’; Gloria Maloney; Lynne Blackburn
Venue: Essex Print Studio
Join us for a FREE Sunday afternoon Spoken Word & Poetry Meetup with the ‘Epic Poets Society’ – a changing rosta of poets including Robert Ford, AP Staunton, Gloria Maloney, Serena Malcolm, Kelli-Marie Sellwood, Carmel Olivia-Jane Nazareth,
If you would like to read a piece yourself you will be welcome to do so. If you prefer to listen and watch the poets reading and performing their work you are also welcome to do this.
Our meetup is a friendly, safe and supportive space to gather with like minded creatives; join in and have a go at reading your own poetry; or simply enjoy the afternoon listening to some amazing contemporary poetry and spoken word. We ask that you respect all other guests and performers.
There will be refreshments available.
This event is FREE to attend but places are limited so book soon.
INTRODUCTION TO SCREENPRINTING
Sunday 3rd December
11.00am – 5.00pm
Standard Tickets £95 per person
Tutor: Julieta & David of Pixel Press
Venue: Essex Print Studio
On this one day Introduction to Screen Printing workshop we will introduce you to several different techniques to produce your own silk screen prints.
You will learn, and experiment with simple, freehand drawing/ painting techniques, combined with pre-cut stencils, to create layered screen prints.
Suitable for printmakers of all levels, we strongly encourage beginners to join in as a playful first step into silkscreen.
Wear something you wouldn’t mind staining; the process is not messy but ink has mysterious ways to get into places! Bring a packed lunch and snacks for sustenance.
All materials provided.
Pop Art Screen Printing
COMING SOON …….
11.00am – 5.00pm
Standard Tickets £95 per person
Tutor: Julieta Hernandez Adame & David Vassie
Venue: Essex Print Studio
Learn to screen print using simple techniques of hand painting onto the screens, cut and torn paper stencils, and the layering of bold with transparent colours. while creating a bold, colourful poster inspired by Pop artist Corita Kent.
Kent incorporated advertising slogans and song lyrics, as well as biblical verses and quotes from literature, to create vibrant screen prints.
On this one day workshop you will learn and experiment with these simple techniques which are all easy to achieve at home with the minimum of equipment. Through experimenting and playing you will create your own poster to take home.
Corita Kent advised her students never to start a project with a content-driven idea, but to focus first on shapes and colours or whatever visually interests them, which then – in the process of engagement – would naturally produce content.
Suitable for complete beginners and those who want to explore fun, analogue screen printing techniques.
Bring images that can inform your design, or could even be collaged into it. Wear something you wouldn’t mind staining, the process is not messy but art materials have their ways to get into places!
All materials provided.
Introduction to Screen Printing on Fabric
Saturday 13th AND Sunday 14th April 2024
10am – 3pm both days
Tickets £250 for the full weekend
Tutor: Eleanor Mulinder of Wee Bothy Art
Venue: Essex Print Studio
This Introduction to Screen Printing Workshop is a 2 day course, designed to teach you all the fundamentals of screen printing onto fabric. You will be creating a two colour print.
In this workshop you will learn how to expose and print a 2 colour screen print onto fabric. Over the course of the 2 days, you will be guided through the process of preparing your own art work by hand using pens, inks etc, coating and exposing your designs onto the screens, colour mixing, registering and screen printing your own 2 colour design onto fabric.
By the end of the workshop you will have a small edition of your own 2 colour screen prints on calico, natural cotton and natural linen and have gained the knowledge and skills to continue your screen printing journey at home.
All materials and equipment are provided.
INTRODUCTION TO PRINTMAKING
Saturday 22nd July 2023 & Sunday 23rd July 2023
10.00am – 4.00pm
Venue: Essex Print Studio
Tutor: Anna Alcock & Isabella Alcock-Reeve
The perfect health and wellbeing retreat – immerse yourself in printmaking while surrounded by nature.
Explore printmaking over two days in the beautiful Essex countryside with Inky Cuttlefish artists Anna Alcock and Isabella Alcock-Reeve. Course fees include all materials plus light refreshments. You will need to bring lunch for each day – we will sit outside and enjoy the fresh farm air!
Processes you will cover will include relief printing (multiple block woodcut and linocut), intaglio (collograph and etching) and screenprinting (paper and photographic processes).
This is a great way to get creative and focus on your health and wellbeing. At the end of the session you will have a small edition of prints from each process. Perfect for beginners and more experienced printmakers. Be surrounded by nature and other creatives.
REDUCTION LINOCUT WORKSHOP
Saturday 8th February 2025
10.00am – 4.00pm
Tickets: £110
Tutor: Eleanor Mulinder of Wee Bothy Art
Venue: Essex Print Studio
This is a 6 hour hands-on course where you will learn how to carve and print a multi-coloured linocut by hand. You will be guided through the process of designing, carving and printing your own series of reduction prints.
In this workshop you will learn how to carve and print a 2 to 3 colour linocut print by hand. This 6 hour hands-on workshop is designed for those who have completed the introduction to linocut workshop. You will be guided through the process of designing, carving and printing your own reduction print. You will learn how to create, carve and print your own 2 to 3 colour reduction linocut during this one-day course.
In reduction lino the design is produced from one single lino block, layering up the colour each time the lino block is cut. It is an interesting and challenging technique to learn and by the end of the session there will be little left of your lino block.
By the end of the workshop you will have a small edition of your own colourful prints and the knowledge and skills to continue your lino printing journey at home. You may wish to bring some of your own images to work from, however plenty of inspiration will be at hand to help you decide.
All equipment and materials are provided. Please bring your own apron or old clothes to work in.