Foraging for Natural Ink & Colour — Printed Notes Vol. 1
Where does colour come from? Not a shop, it turns out — but a hedgerow, a woodland floor, or the windfall beneath an autumn tree.
Printed Notes On: Foraging for Colour is a full colour, 32-page printed booklet by Emma Hogbin of Princetown Press, made in Devon on recycled paper. It's the starting point for anyone curious about foraging for botanical colour and making natural ink from the plants around them — no specialist equipment, no rare ingredients, and no prior experience required.
What's inside
Written from years of hands-on experimentation on Dartmoor, this booklet introduces the principles of foraging for colour with care and curiosity. You'll learn which common UK plants yield the most rewarding inks — oak galls, rowan berries, hawthorn haws, gorse petals, nettles, willow bark, holly, and more — alongside guidance on how to identify, harvest, and use them responsibly and sustainably. Each plant entry includes identification notes, botanical and folkloric background, which parts to use, and the range of colours achievable.
A straightforward basic ink recipe is included, with notes on adjusting water pH and using simple kitchen modifiers — citric acid, baking soda, iron sulphate — to shift and transform your colours in surprising ways.
Available as a single book, or as part of the complete three-volume bundle.
This booklet is perfect for:
- Foragers, naturalists, and walkers who want to bring the landscape into their creative practice
- Watercolour artists and calligraphers exploring natural and historic pigments
- Gardeners curious about dye plants and plant-based colour
- Anyone interested in slow, sustainable making rooted in seasonal rhythms
- Crafters looking for a thoughtful, nature-connected gift
Common questions
What plants can I forage for natural ink in the UK?
Oak galls, rowan berries, hawthorn haws, gorse petals, nettles, willow bark, and holly all produce usable natural inks — this booklet covers identification, sustainable harvesting, and the colour range each one yields.
Do I need any special equipment to forage for ink-making?
No. Everything covered in this guide can be gathered with basic care and made using kitchen equipment you already have.
Is this a good starting point if I've never made natural ink before?
Yes — Volume 1 is written as the entry point to the series, with no prior experience assumed.
Curious what this practice looks like applied to a specific landscape — your estate, garden, or land? Get in touch about a commission.
All of our papers are recycled, and British where possible. We can provide you specific details on certifications each paper has, and the mill where they were made.
All of our papers are recycled, and British where possible. We can provide you specific details on certifications each paper has, and the mill where they were made.
- Delivery costs will be calculated at the checkout
- Free UK delivery on all orders over £30
- You can return your order for a full refund or exchange within 30 days of purchase
- Delivery costs will be calculated at the checkout
- Free UK delivery on all orders over £30
- You can return your order for a full refund or exchange within 30 days of purchase
Where does colour come from? Not a shop, it turns out — but a hedgerow, a woodland floor, or the windfall beneath an autumn tree.
Printed Notes On: Foraging for Colour is a full colour, 32-page printed booklet by Emma Hogbin of Princetown Press, made in Devon on recycled paper. It's the starting point for anyone curious about foraging for botanical colour and making natural ink from the plants around them — no specialist equipment, no rare ingredients, and no prior experience required.
What's inside
Written from years of hands-on experimentation on Dartmoor, this booklet introduces the principles of foraging for colour with care and curiosity. You'll learn which common UK plants yield the most rewarding inks — oak galls, rowan berries, hawthorn haws, gorse petals, nettles, willow bark, holly, and more — alongside guidance on how to identify, harvest, and use them responsibly and sustainably. Each plant entry includes identification notes, botanical and folkloric background, which parts to use, and the range of colours achievable.
A straightforward basic ink recipe is included, with notes on adjusting water pH and using simple kitchen modifiers — citric acid, baking soda, iron sulphate — to shift and transform your colours in surprising ways.
Available as a single book, or as part of the complete three-volume bundle.
This booklet is perfect for:
- Foragers, naturalists, and walkers who want to bring the landscape into their creative practice
- Watercolour artists and calligraphers exploring natural and historic pigments
- Gardeners curious about dye plants and plant-based colour
- Anyone interested in slow, sustainable making rooted in seasonal rhythms
- Crafters looking for a thoughtful, nature-connected gift
Common questions
What plants can I forage for natural ink in the UK?
Oak galls, rowan berries, hawthorn haws, gorse petals, nettles, willow bark, and holly all produce usable natural inks — this booklet covers identification, sustainable harvesting, and the colour range each one yields.
Do I need any special equipment to forage for ink-making?
No. Everything covered in this guide can be gathered with basic care and made using kitchen equipment you already have.
Is this a good starting point if I've never made natural ink before?
Yes — Volume 1 is written as the entry point to the series, with no prior experience assumed.
Curious what this practice looks like applied to a specific landscape — your estate, garden, or land? Get in touch about a commission.
All of our papers are recycled, and British where possible. We can provide you specific details on certifications each paper has, and the mill where they were made.
All of our papers are recycled, and British where possible. We can provide you specific details on certifications each paper has, and the mill where they were made.
- Delivery costs will be calculated at the checkout
- Free UK delivery on all orders over £30
- You can return your order for a full refund or exchange within 30 days of purchase
- Delivery costs will be calculated at the checkout
- Free UK delivery on all orders over £30
- You can return your order for a full refund or exchange within 30 days of purchase