Letterpress Workshop

I got a brilliant introduction to the wonderful world of letterpress a couple of weekends ago at the Hot Bed Press in Salford when I took part in a letterpress workshop. We were taught by the lovely Graham Moss of Incline Press who was kind enough to share his 20 + years of knowledge with a group of keen printmakers. 

The long history of letterpress (mid 15th century invention!) has meant old printing terms have slipped into common usage. Ever wondered the origins of 'upper case' and 'lower case' ? They refer to the two cases that hold the lead type, one containing the capital letters on the upper shelf and other containing the non-captials on the lower shelf. What do you call a printer's get-together or fair? A 'wayzgoose' apparently! 

So as we got to know our fonts from our founts and our ems from our ens, we set about setting type by hand using a composing stick, locking it in place in a chase using furniture and quoins and printing using Adana 5x8 platen presses. It was harder work than I imagined! I worked up a sweat trying to get the impression I was after, which was hard with the wood type I was using on a small press like the Adana. I ended up with a funny little postcard, which I am looking forward to sending out to friends and family back home.

 After sighing about how much I would love a letterpress at home, look what I found under my pillow one morning? Cheeky or what? 

Cloudy with a Chance of Rain

Alas, that pretty much sums up the summer I am having back in the UK. Now the idea of living IN a cloud as opposed to under one is much more appealing, don't you think??


Cloud House, an alteration and addition I worked on whilst at McBride Charles Ryan has finally been finished! This was one of the smallest jobs in the office, so it was fitting to give it to one of the students (didn't seem so small to me at the time!). The detailing on this job was particularly challenging; drawing a gutter in a cloud was not something I had encountered whilst at university. Interesting detailing, lovely (trusting!) clients, excellent craftsmanship from the builder...the perfect first job?? 


Seeing this little house all finished certainly brightened my day. It's also in the running for a Victorian Architecture Award in the Residential (Alterations + Additions) category. Check out Arch Daily for more juicy photos...

images © John Gollings

Cheeky Screen Prints

Summer (of sorts) has arrived! It lasted a week, but hasn't been seen since. No problem, I caught two weeks of glorious sunshine in Croatia, from where I have just returned, happily sufficient in vitamin D and full of good spirits. Croatian spirits. Picked two delicious liquors, one pomegranate and one fig from the islands - bliss! 

Before I left, I decided to put my Thursday nights to good use and signed up for a four week Screen Printing class at the Bluecoat. I'd been meaning to do something with that photo I took a while back of three red kites chasing each other across the sky. I will be popping into the screen printing studio at the Bluecoat over summer to complete the series. The kites will change position and the sky will change colour - I'm hoping to complete a set of three. Similarly, I will be working up my Cheeky Girls illustration and experimenting with different colours in the studio over summer, more to follow...

Lost in the Lakes

As promised, here are the photographs from the Lakes District. Like a picture postcard innit?

Lost in the Dunes

Long time no post! Apologies. Been too busy hunting for easter eggs in the Lake District. 

Currently working on a photography series called 'Lost.' These images were taken all over, some in the Lakes District, some around Liverpool. These particular shots were taken in the sand dunes along the coast at Formby and Crosby beaches, north of Liverpool. It was mesmerising to watch three red kites chase each other in the sky, but hard to capture in a single photograph. I will be doing something more with those kite photos, and will also put up the 'Lost' photographs from the Lakes District soon. 

Enough chocolate egg eating. More work to follow soon!

Spring Peek

The daffodils are peeking out, the weather forecasts constantly tease me with promises of sunshine and temperatures above 10 degrees...so it was a pleasure to see beneath the heavy winter coats, a peek of spring colour!!


I've heard the daffodils are particularly nice in Sefton Park, has anyone been this month? Has spring sprung?!

Double Rainbow

Does this count as a hipster twin? Well they're certainly twins and who says a rainbow can't be hipster? 

A double rainbow sighted on the Seine, oh la la. It was quite a sight to behold, everyone stopped on their tracks and turned to look. Can you see where the rainbow plunges into the water? I've never seen so many people whip out iPhones, Blackberries, SLRs so quickly...and then scuttle for cover from the rain as soon as the rainbows were gone!

These photos were from the trip to Paris for New Year. Crossaints, cafe breakfasts, champagne, chic 6th floor apartment, double rainbows and a bit of sunshine, ahhhh...take me back already.