Edinburgh Printmakers

Edinburgh Printmakers is a creative hub for printmaking and the visual arts in the Fountainbridge area of Edinburgh, and I’ve recently been excited to join as a member to use the printmaking studio, perfect for experimentation and the many possibilities of working with print!

I sometimes find myself feeling a little stuck in the same mediums. After working digitally for such a long time, I occasionally miss the tactile and handmade side of being an artist.

Exploring printmaking, and lino printing in particular, has been a lovely way to get messy, slow down and take my time. There’s something about the process that gives the work a different character. I’ve started to embrace the imperfections, little surprises and unexpected results that come with making something by hand.

I’m currently working on a much bigger printmaking project that I’m planning to exhibit towards the end of this year. But before diving into that, I wanted to have some hands-on fun and get more familiar with the studio. So, I decided to spend some time there printing a few notebook covers. I had originally illustrated these Highland Cow designs digitally a couple of years ago, and thought it would be fun to give them a new life as playful notebook covers.

I especially enjoy creating pieces that are both practical and cute, so this felt like the perfect little project to experiment with. It was also a great opportunity to explore the Edinburgh Printmakers studio, familiarise myself with the space and start feeling more comfortable with the equipment before taking on my larger project.

I’m really looking forward to continuing to explore this side of my practice, learning more about traditional and contemporary printmaking techniques, and connecting with other artists and makers in Edinburgh.

Sometimes, getting away from the screen and simply getting your hands dirty is exactly what you need to start making something new.