Journal — Letterpress & Printmaking

Have you got a favourite book? Not necessarily the topic, although that's important too, but the actual physical object. A book that you thought, "Yes, this is exactly how a book should be." Perhaps you even have a small collection of books that are differently perfect. (Please share pictures with me if you are in this lucky situation!) There were a few books we used as inspiration for the chapbook I'm putting together now. The first was Notes on Printing and Publishing Literary Books by Andrew Steeves. The second, A Daibo Coffee Manual, was more of an affirmation that we...

The pollen record of Dartmoor is captured in three distinct formats in our new collection, On the record. I've had my head in scientific papers for several months researching this work. The project started with a mild feeling of uneasiness reading a popular book about land use and forests in the UK. The book suggested that Dartmoor had always been forested, which didn't match my understanding. A little scratching, a little sniffing (and a lot of support from friendly scientists) and I found nearly a dozen research papers on the pollen record of Dartmoor that had been conveniently ignored. Our latest...

Nothing Lasts, Nothing is Finished, Nothing is Perfect: The Beauty of Handmade Posters There's something profoundly liberating about pressing ink into paper, watching words take shape under your hands, and creating something that speaks your truth. At our letterpress workshop in Princetown, nestled in the heart of Dartmoor, we've printed everything from bold protest statements to gentle affirmations, from cheeky large swears to heartfelt declarations of love. Each poster tells a story, and more importantly, each one is perfectly imperfect in its own handmade way. The Magic of DIY Poster Printing Letterpress poster printing isn't about achieving machine-perfect results—it's about...

Found an Adana printing press on eBay or inherited one from the attic? You're not alone! These lovely table-top printing presses are amongst the most common letterpress machines you'll find, but getting them up and running can feel like a bit of a mystery if you're not sure where to start. Can't Figure Out How to Make Your Adana Print? The most common problem we see with Adana presses isn't mechanical failure – it's simply not knowing whether your press is complete and functional in the first place. Many people acquire these beautiful machines without any instructions, spare parts, or...