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The Gainsborough's House logo. A landscape ratio rectangle with a light, slate blue colour is accompanied with white typography within.

Print workshop

Open the door to print…

Gainsborough’s House Print Workshop welcomes artists, students and print enthusiasts of all abilities to its well-equipped, friendly and professional courses. The techniques taught include relief printing, etching, screenprinting and lithography.

The Print Workshop was opened in 1979 by distinguished printmakers Daphne Reynolds and Valerie Thornton to encourage artistic development and it has continued to draw a wide audience.

Since the transformational project, Reviving an Artist’s Birthplace, our Print Workshop has seen a beautiful refurbishment itself. The upgraded space has increased the capacity and range for people to access the facility, offering traditional skills in printmaking to a new generation.

Contents

The Print Workshop was ideally suited for the purpose of the linocut workshop. The instruction and support was exemplary, with knowledgeable leaders. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

— Print Workshop course participant

Print Workshop courses

Print Workshop

Today

    • Print testimonials

    Find out what our members and printmaking course participants said about their experiences with us…

    “I enjoyed learning a new creative art in a friendly environment.”

    “The group was fun. Quality of materials excellent. Leaders were extremely helpful.”

    “Explanations and help were exceptional yet still allowed freedom to be creative.”

    “Very positive experience. Well, run and led, with very knowledgeable and dedicated staff. All the help and advise you could want, but creative freedom encouraged. Inspirational and great for well-being as able to relax and enjoy the creativity.”

    “I have highly recommended both the excellent tutors and the venue to my arts friends.”

    Dates for your diary

    It is important to note that the Print Workshop won’t be bookable for Members on these dates while Print Workshop Courses are being run. If you have any queries about these dates, please contact pws@gainsborough.org

    Gainsborough’s House Print Workshop is a flagship of excellence… perfectly situated in the grounds of the artist Thomas Gainsborough’s (1727–88) childhood home who himself was a leading printmaker.

    — Anne Desmet RA 

    Become a Print Workshop Member

    Enjoy 12 months of the following benefits:

    • Induction to the Print Workshop
    • 10% discount for introduction to printmaking workshops with in-house specialist technicians
    • Annual print social with works displayed & sold in the café
    • Digital network and creative spotlights on Instagram and TikTok
    • Monthly newsletter spotlighting local creativity and what is happening in the studio
    • Tuesday – Saturday opening hours
    • Annual Gainsborough’s House Membership included (worth £45)
    • Access to print equipment such as a Britannia relief press, an Albion relief press, an HPL etching press, a Takach direct lithography press, aquatint booth, etching facilities, screen print facilities, an Adana press and traditional wooden letterpress type
    • Includes printmaking basics such as scrim and selected ink, specialist materials can be purchased on-site

    Basic Membership
    £125 joining fee; £10 per half day | £20 per full day

    Unlimited Membership
    £395 fixed fee

    25-and-under Unlimited Membership
    £350 fixed fee

    Enquire about becoming a PWS Member

    Gainsborough’s House Print Workshop celebrates in-person artistic exploration and collaboration, and the vibrant art scene we have in Suffolk. Members and visitors have the opportunity to engage in workshops, courses, and events tailored to all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals.

    Members of the Print Workshop will have access to technical support and a wide range of professional printmaking equipment including:

    • A Britannia relief press
    • An Albion relief press
    • An HPL etching press
    • A Takach direct lithography press
    • Traditional aquatint booth
    • Traditional etching facilities
    • A Screen-printing exposure unit
    • A screen-printing vacuum bed
    • Screen wash-out booth
    • Traditional wooden letterpress type
    • An Adana press

    A copy of our Print Workshop Risk Assessment can be found here.

    An image of Jason Hicklin inking up an etching plate.
    An image of the Gainsborough's House Print Workshop frm Weavers Lane.

    If you’re a member of the Print Workshop and are now eager to use the wonderful space, get technical input from our dedicated team and unleash your creativity— here is some information to bear in mind when booking. 

    How to book

    All Print Workshop members must book a space to use the Workshop by emailing us specifying the date(s) and time as well as what they would like to do. 

    This allows our technicians to ensure the right materials and resources are available in the studio for you, that there’s enough space for everyone to work comfortably, and that we can match your printing requirements to the specialisms of our technical support team.

    Once we receive your email we will look at the studio bookings diary and confirm your booking, usually within a day of you putting in the request.

    Book now

    Meet the Print Workshop team

    Our Print Workshop team are always happy to help, they share a wealth of printmaking experience and knowledge across multiple techniques. If you see them on-site, why not say hello and ask how they could support you?

    From left to right:

    Flo Cameron
    Learning & Engagement Assistant

    Rowan Collinson
    Print Workshop Technician

    Jilly Roberts
    Learning & Engagement Curator

    Sally Weatherill
    Print Workshop Technician

    Heidi Sharp
    Print Workshop Technician

    An image of the Print Workshop staff at Gainsborough's House. From left to right: Flo, Rowan, Jilly, Sally and Heidi.

    Print Workshop FAQs

    The Print Workshop is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm. Should you wish to work outside these opening hours, you should request this in advance with one of our technicians. You can make this request via email. Please be aware that when courses are running, the Workshop may not be available to members.

    Members of the Print Workshop will have access to technical support and a wide range of professional printmaking equipment including:

    • A Britannia relief press
    • An Albion relief press
    • An HPL etching press
    • A Takach direct lithography press
    • Traditional aquatint booth
    • Traditional etching facilities
    • A Screen-printing exposure unit
    • A screen-printing vacuum bed
    • Screen wash-out booth
    • Traditional wooden letterpress type
    • An Adana press

    You can bring any materials you like. If you have a special request, you should contact our technicians in advance to ensure we can accommodate your practice.

    Members should go to the main reception in the new galleries, show their membership card and then they will be directed to the garden door entrance of the Print Workshop. There is no access from the Weavers Lane entrance.

    Relief printing, wood engraving, drypoint etching, etching, aquatint, letterpress, screen printing, stone and photolithography, photopolymer printing, monoprinting, cardboard cut and collagraphs.

    Yes, the Print Workshop is for people to work independently. The technicians are there for technical support. Courses will be available in the future to build on your printing skills.

    You will enjoy a number of benefits as a Print Workshop Member:

    • Induction to the Print Workshop
    • 10% discount for introduction to printmaking workshops with inhouse specialist staff
    • An Annual Exhibition (off-site)
    • Prints sold in the shop & café
    • Two membership socials a year 
    • Digital network and creative spotlights on Instagram and TikTok
    • Monthly newsletter spotlighting local creativity and what is happening in the workshop
    • Tuesday – Saturday opening hours
    • Includes £45 annual Gainsborough’s House Friend membership
    • Access to print equipment such as a Britannia relief press, an Albion relief press, an HPL etching press, a Takach direct lithography press, aquatint booth, etching facilities, screen print facilities, an Adana press and traditional wooden letterpress type.
    • Includes printmaking basics such as scrim and selected ink, specialist materials can be purchased onsite.

    Yes! We have an array of print making courses on throughout the year for a range of abilities and techniques. To stay up-to-date with courses & taught sessions, please check Print making courses on our website and sign up to our mailing list. Members get first priority for course bookings.

    All information about courses will be on this webpage, under the Gainsborough’s House events section and members will get information sent directly if they have signed up for marketing and email updates on sign–up. If you don’t think you’re receiving email updates and would like to, please email the team to check you are subscribed to our mailing list. Members get first priority for course bookings.

    Remembering Sue Molineux

    Remembering Sue Molineux