With a forty year history of printmaking on site, the Bluecoat has reopened its Print Studio to the public. The Studio is clean, safe, light and airy, and current working practice is geared towards new developments in ‘safe’ printmaking.

Equipment and materials on site include:

One large etching press (Hughes and Kimber, bed 66 x 135cm)

One small table top press (bed 28 x 55cm)

A hot plate and oil based intaglio proofing ink

A range of mordants, grounds and strippers

Acrylic aquatint spray booth (you need your own spray gun)

Home-built UV exposure unit for plates and screens of up to A3

Sessions are timetabled daily from 10.00am – 1.30pm and 2.00 – 5.30pm and 6.00 – 9.30pm (no evening session on Mondays) with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.  

The cost of a session is £30. To book a session or sessions please visit Tickets and Information at the Bluecoat in person or call 0151 702 5324. You will be asked for payment when you book. 

Hire the studio on your own to print an edition, or work in a group of up to 6 to swap ideas and techniques.

The only restrictions are that you must be over 18 years old, you will need to have received a free Health and Safety Induction. You will also need to have some relevant printmaking experience due to the fact that the hire sessions are not staffed.  

To book a Health and Safety Induction ring the Print Studio Manager directly on 07708 024 528. The Induction is free and lasts approximately 40 mins.

Print Partner at the Bluecoat 

Are you a local artist with an idea for a print based research project or body of work? Then you might want to consider becoming a Print Partner at the Bluecoat. As a Print Partner you will receive advice and support on your project proposal, help with your fundraising and the offer of time in the Studio as income in kind, on condition that you are able to raise some funding towards your project. Sounds interesting? Call the Print Studio Manager on 07708 024 528 for a chat.