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'Book Arts' as in illustration?
More the art of making a book. This artist-run studio offers access to printing and binding facilities as well as the instruction you’ll need to become a dab hand at using them. Want to lay out your own letterpress Christmas cards, or use a trendy risograph to print your long-awaited zine? This place will help your design abilities turn over a new leaf.
But I can barely even manage the colouring-in trend!
Don’t panic – you don’t need to be arty to create something beautiful here. Use the collection of antique lettering to create anything from invites to banners on the letterpress printers, mix your own psychedelic masterpiece in a paper-marbling workshop or make your memoirs look magnificent with an introduction to bookbinding.
Actually I did do a lot of paper-marbling in the '90s...
No problem, craft friend. The studio is open access so if you already know how to use the equipment you can buy a studio pass, or even become a member. There are always experts on hand to help you find what you need, and you can use the little kitchen to make as much tea as your creative juices require.
I'm not good with commitment, can I just look at everyone else's prints instead?
Pop by any time to browse the lovely little shop and watch the members at work. Hopefully you’ll be tempted into booking (wahey!) into one of their introductory courses, most of which cost £85 for non-members.
London Centre for Book Arts is at Unit 18, Britannia Works, 56 Dace Rd, E3 2NQ, the nearest station is Hackney Wick Overground.
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