Print Studio at the Bluecoat offers a range of short courses, workshops, guinea-pig sessions and talks from regular monthly and biweekly sessions to special, one-off workshops and talks.

With an emphasis on "safe" printmaking, we are keen to build a community of printmakers who can share skills and research as well as using the facilities. The two studio spaces are also available to hire for experienced groups who have undertaken an induction. 

For more information on the studios please visit the Intaglio Print Studio and Screen Print Studio pages, contact the Print Studio Manager on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  or download the Print Studio Brochure here:

Print Studios Brochure

A full listings leaflet is also available to download:

Event listings leaflet

Courses

Introductory Level Etching, Intaglio Print Studio
Tuesdays 6.00 – 9.00pm, 15 June – 20 July, (6 wks)
How to apply a range of acrylic grounds or aquatint and etch your designs onto zinc using copper sulphate, taught by Hannah Fray A.R.E.
£100 / £95

Advanced Level Safe Etching, Intaglio Print Studio
Thursdays 10.00am – 1.00pm, 17 June – 15 July (5 wks) 
Tricky manoeuvres with aquatinting including spit bites, fades and sugar lift options, taught by Tracy Griffin Hill (UCLAN and Artlab)
£92 / £87

Introductory Level Screen Printing, Screen Print Studio
Thursdays 6.00 – 9.00pm, 17 June – 22 July (6 wks) 
Everything you need to know to get started in our new space, from paper cut stencils through to photo-emulsion and exposure times taught by Martin Kochany (Hot Bed Press).
£120 / £115

Workshops

Once a month a specialist workshop for a maximum of 6 printmakers only, guaranteeing you a learning experience of the highest quality:

Saturday 10 July, 10.00am – 4.00pm, Screen Print Studio
Screen printing onto Fabric with Christine Toh
Textile artist Christine Toh leads this workshop on fabric printing: what inks and dyes to use; how to fix them; when to opt for a different mesh or specialist equipment and how to chose your fabrics with a view to creating artworks, clothing or accessories.
£60 / £55

Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 July, 10.00am – 4.00pm, Intaglio Print Studio
Collographs with Paula Smithson
Day one explores the complexities of making collograph plates from cardboard and bits and pieces one might find around the house. Paula will reveal which glues to use and the advantages and disadvantages of the various sealants available to us. Day two will cover various inking techniques how to register two plates to print one image, inking a la poupée and use of chine collé. Paula is a member of Artlab and recently completed the AA2A scheme. 
£120 / £110 

Other events 

Fri 16 July. As part of the Durer and Italy exhibition at the Lady Lever Art Gallery, Emma Gregory, Print Studio Manager will give a gallery talk, to find out more click here.  

Coming Soon....

Sat 18 September 10.00am – 4.00pm                                                         
Copperplate Engraving
Tutor: Bob Porter
.£60 / £55     
Bluecoat creative community master engraver Bob Porter leads a rare workshop on the engraving techniques used by Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer

Sat 16 October 10.00am – 4.00pm                                                                   
Press and Peel                                    
Tutor:  Liz Miller                                            
£60 / £55
London printmaker Liz Miller teaches this rough and raw transfer technique using Intaglio Printmaker’s Press and Peel, a new product suitable for both gestural and graphic work. 

Sat 13 November 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cyanotype
Tutor: Sian Hughes
£60 / £55
Sian Hughes shows how to create detailed photographic images on paper, fabric and other surfaces using Ferric Ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide.
                                                                                                                                                                               
Thurs 18 November  6.00pm – 10.00pm                                                                    
Long Night                                                       
As part of the Long Night, our print studios will open to the public - a perfect opportunity to see demonstrations by local printmakers and have a go yourself.

Tuesdays (four weeks) 28 September – 19 October 6pm – 9pm
Introductory Level Safe Etching
Tutor: Hannah Fray
£80 / £75

Thursdays (four weeks) 11 November – 2 December, 10am – 1pm
Advanced Level Safe Etching
Tutor: Tracy Hill
£80 / £75

Thursdays (four weeks) 30 September – 21 October 6pm – 9pm                                                                     
Introductory Level Screen Printing         
Tutor: Jane Spencer. Note: this course will run again after half term.  
£80 / £75
                                
Thursdays (four weeks) 25 November – 16 December, 6pm –9pm                                                                            
Introductory Level Screen Printing                
Taught by Martin Kochany   
£80 / £75
                            
Wednesdays (four weeks) 10 November – 1 December, 10am – 1pm
Advanced Level Screen Printing
Tutor: Dave Henckel
£80 / £75