THE HAZELNUT PRESS
Fine Art Printmaking
The finest presses and materials are used to produce award-winning art prints. Printmaking courses are tailored to users. We offer an editioning service for artists.
The Hazelnut Press has established a fine printmaking reputation.
The Press is an artist led printing studio in Rochester, Medway for intaglio, relief, letterpress, screen and hybrid printmaking. It is owned and run by Heather Haythornthwaite.
We offer taster days and short courses for all ages, tailored to your skill and abilities. The studio can accommodate four printmakers at any one time.
The widest range of relief plate making is possible using diverse proprietary printmaking lino: softcut, japanese, clear, traditional, foam board as well as hand made relief plates, printmaking ply, floor tile and repurposed flooring.
Intaglio plate making of collographs from found materials, Karazuri blind embossing, drypoint engraving into plastics and metal plate, as well as traditional safer etched platemaking and aquatinting enabling the printmaking experience to be enjoyed at all levels.
Water based, non toxic inks and materials are available, as well as more traditional oil based inks.
Our attitude is both supportive, and open to experimentation. We encourage our students and members to exhibit their prints and participate in the Hot Bed Press 20:20 Print Exchange.
We provide an editioning service for artists and accept commissions.
What do we use?
We have an 1822 Albion press which we've recently found out was used to proof the Evening Standard from 1822 to 1956, click here for details. It will print relief images (linocuts, letterpress etc) larger than A2 (24" x 18"), plus border.
The Etching press is a geared Rollaco Boxer made for us in 2009, bed size 100cm x 50cm. It can be adjusted to print relief prints.
The foolscap Albion Press, made in 1863 has an A3 bed. It does letterpress, linocuts and any other relief processes.
The Adana 8-5 delivers small prints quickly prints, and our nipping press is invaluable for bookbinding and Colagraphs. In addition we have various hand printing tools and techniques.
For workshops outside the studio, we have a portable etching press.
We also have an A1 vacuum screen printing bed.
We use a wide range of equipment for various plate making processes involving heat , light and an aquatint box. There are diverse tools for cutting and mark making, and rollers in a range of firmness and sizes for inking. Both oil based and safer water wash based inks made by Caligo, Charbonnel and Hawthorn are available as well as mysterious old tins of letterpress ink.
We keep good but small range of paper for proofing and trials, and recommend you bring what you want to work on.
Hotbed Press 20:20 -Print Exchange
We're delighted to have participated again, and we've been twinned with the Hot Bed Press this year. We've fixed a date for the Reveal and Swap party. Any remaining prints will be for sale at our next Open Studio event. Click here to see more information and the Hazelnut Press entries down the years.
Studio Sessions & Calendar
Regular Studio Times
Studio time can be arranged for Wednesdays and/or Thursdays in the morning, afternoon or evening.
To discuss this, please contact us with details of how many hours per week you prefer and what work you are looking to complete.
To book courses or discuss your needs please contact us.