Paper Symposium on Printmaking Paper with St Cuthberts Mill
In collaboration with St Cuthberts Mill – makers of heritage Somerset printmaking paper – the Centre for Print Research is delighted to be hosting a 1-day symposium dedicated to paper. This special event will bring together experts and enthusiasts, featuring contributions from John Purcell Paper, Michael Craine of Cranfield Colours , and the St Cuthberts Mill ambassadors for Somerset paper.
When: 27 January 2026
Time: 9.30 – 16.30
Where: Centre for Print Research, W Block, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Bristol.
Ticket prices:
General admission (in person) £30 +VAT (SOLD OUT)
Online ticket £10 +VAT
Reserve your place at the online shop
Tickets include: Lunch, refreshments, and a gift bag of exquisite printmaking paper (worth £36 RRP), a small treasure to spark your next creation.
Discussion: A Paper Mill’s Ecology
Chaired by Centre Director, Professor Carinna Parraman, will be talking with Marketing Executive Catherine Frood, Technical Manager Nicola Dobson, Quality Manager Lee Hasemore and Technical Assistant Emily Vincent, about how fine art paper is made at St Cuthberts Mill, harmonising centuries of papermaking heritage with skilled artisans, to create paper with the science of mould-made technology, taking care with environmental management. From the mill’s intrinsic relationship with the River Axe, with careful water sourcing and treatment, to responsible fibre use and wildlife protection, the mill demonstrates how sustainability and precision combine to produce exceptional archival papers for printmakers. https://www.stcuthbertsmill.com
Presentation: Ink, Paper and Drying
Discussing the importance relationship ink has with paper will be Michael Craine of Cranfield Colours and Emeritus Professor Steve Hoskins, they will explore what is needed to get inks to dry, plus inks for different forms of printmaking, specialist inks, environmental issues and recent developments in health and safety for the printmaker. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/ink-for-printmaking-9781789942026
Presentation: Ink, Fibres and the importance of longevity
Professor Carinna Parraman, will demonstrate how different print processes and paper appear under magnification (sponsored by Nikon Metrology UK Ltd) and delve into what happens to ink on paper as it ages, highlighting the effects of non-archival paper.
Showcase: Prints on paper: Lino, Stone Lithography and Etching
Aga Kubish and Jemma Gunning St Cuthbert Mill’s Ambassadors will be showing and talking about their work.
Aga Kubish has developed a detailed and distinctive linocut style influenced by natural forms, architecture, and everyday quiet moments. Her work often features fine hatching and dotwork, drawing on traditional engraving aesthetics. https://agakubish.com
Jemma Gunning‘s practice navigates landscapes in flux, focusing on sites where human activity and natural forces leave visible traces of change. From derelict industrial buildings to receding glaciers and quarrying landscapes, her work captures the fragility of environments marked by both time and intervention. Working primarily through printmaking and drawing, she uses traditional etching techniques, allowing material processes to echo the erosion, extraction, and weathering present in the places she studies. Her practice is rooted in walking and place-based research, exploring how ruins, quarries, mountains, and waterways speak of wider narratives of impermanence, ecological crisis, and transformation. https://www.jemmagunning.com
Workshop with Master Printer Laura Clarke on how to move and handle large sheets of paper without causing damage. The art of soaking paper effectively for printing and how to prepare paper correctly for editioning Intaglio prints.
Showcase: Discover the various types of paper with John Purcell Paper, which offers a wealth of knowledge about different papers suitable for printmaking processes. John Purcell Paper will be on hand to showcase samples, including handmade, Japanese, printmaking, drawing, watercolour, bookmaking, and digital coated papers. https://www.johnpurcell.net
We’d love to learn more about you and your interests. To help us tailor the day to our audience, please share a few details about your background, your level of experience, and any paper-related questions or topics you’d like to explore- email us you thoughts at cfprinfo@uwe.ac.uk
Date of Event
27th January 2026
Last Booking Date for this Event
20th January 2026
Description
In collaboration with St Cuthberts Mill – makers of heritage Somerset printmaking paper – the Centre for Print Research are delighted to be hosting a 1-day symposium on paper. To make this day extra special, we will be joined by John Purcell Paper, Michael Craine of Cranfield Colours and the St Cuthberts Mill ambassadors for Somerset paper.
Each ticket includes: Lunch, refreshments and a gift bag of Somerset printmaking paper (worth £36 RRP).
