Courses
Our latest course programme brings you a selection of courses to suit a variety of tastes and experience. We ‘curate’ our course programmes to be a range from introductions to print processes to more advanced courses for the slightly more experienced, curious and print savvy. Read on for weekend, day and evening courses...
Course listings
The Complete Letterpress
Long Course
This year-long course in letterpress will give students a full and comprehensive grounding in letterpress printmaking, from setting and printing wood and metal type, including book arts projects and much more besides.
Painterly Screenprinting
Weekend Course
Go direct. Go large. Go expressive. Layer up. This weekend will be full of experimentation and exploration. Craig will show you how to paint and draw an image on screen, flood with medium and build up a painterly image through the screen. Each print will be unique and you can bring your own style to the prints. Maximum 8 people
The Complete Printmaker
Long Course
Run over a year with 30 weeks of teaching this course gives students a full and comprehensive grounding in printmaking, from monoprint, drypoint, collagraphs through to relief printing, etching, photo-screenprint, waterless lithography and much more besides.
The Complete Book Arts
Long Course
Over a total of 30 weeks this course is aimed at anybody looking to learn how to make books and explore and develop ideas through the form of the artists’ book. The course is not accredited, but students ‘graduate’ with a Hot Bed Press certificate in Book Arts.
Reduction Lino print
Weekend Course
Relief printing has many possibilities and we will be concentrating on the reduction method. This is where an initial design is gradually printed and cut at different stages, slowly changing the surface remaining throughout the process, reducing the printable area. You will learn how to make a small edition of a three or four reduction colour linocut.
Printed Textiles
Weekend Course
Over the course of a weekend you will explore colour and composition to create your own printed textiles. You will learn how to screen print using simple paper stencils as well as how to coat and expose screens using the photo emulsion method. You will learn how to mix colours for screen printing.
Screenprinting fun (ages 11 plus)
Short Course
Learn the skills to help each other print a small edition, which you'll take home with you and can show off to the rest of the family! No experience necessary, just bring creativity and enthusiasm.
Developing your inspiration (ages 11 plus)
Short Course
This one day course is great for young people who love art and want to explore new techniques, or create an exciting final piece and for those interested in choosing GCSE/A Level and how to make their grades stand out!
Enquire about a course
faq's
We are happy to answer any questions on the phone but here’s some commonly asked questions and answers below…
Do I need to be experienced to come on a course?
No experience necessary! Some courses are specifically designed for beginners; such as Introduction to Screenprint, …Print or Letterpress, Painterly Screen-printing or The Art of Etching. Other courses such as Mokuhanga, Screen-printing with Natural Dyes or Photopolymer Printing are more tailored to those with some previous experience. However, if in doubt phone us to discuss.
How do I book a place on a course?
The best way to book a place is to phone us on 0161 743 3111. We always try to answer the phones. Our courses book up so quickly that we can be answering the phone all day whilst e-mails may take more time to get through every enquiry and still need us to phone or e-mail you back.
Do you take a deposit to reserve a place?
No. We only confirm bookings on full receipt of payment. We have found in the past that when people book only paying a deposit, it takes twice the time to take bookings and can get complicated when people don’t confirm by the full payment and others want to book a place.
What materials do I need to bring?
Nothing! We provide all materials for courses. All we need you to bring is some inspiration and clothes you don’t mind getting ink on. (In Winter it’s best to dress up warm too.) You will receive an introduction letter letting you know what to prepare, such as drawings, photos, photocopies, collected images, and what size you can expect to work to.
Is food provided?
Unfortunately we can’t lay on lunch. If you are on a day or weekend course please bring your own food. In our small kitchen we have tea, coffee, milk, and sugar and an urn as well as a microwave. The Co-op and Sainsburys are both nearby and we have the luxury of a couple of cafes nearby now with fancy coffee.
Do you have disabled access?
We are limited in our access, with the workshop situated on the first floor and no lifts. We purchased the building in 2017 with the aim to expand and create a fully accessible facility. Unfortunately our ambitions have been set back by covid and other challenges. We are still trying to get full funding to develop the building further and be fully accessible.
Do you have any teacher training courses?
We have Wednesday evening specific CPD teacher training sessions situated under short courses or please email our education officer on education@hotbedpress.org for the details of our latest courses or to discuss bespoke courses.
Membership
Come And Join Us
We welcome new members all year round. Anyone can join. You need a little bit of experience; but that can be from doing one of our weekend or evening courses, after which you can carry on and practice what you've learnt on the course. We've got a few types of membership to suit your purse or your time. Just g to our Membership section for more details.
Send us a message!
Let us know what you are enquiring about.