St.Barnabas Press, in Cambridge, offers artists' proofing and professional editioning services, studio space for rental by artists working on individual projects in printmaking or related disciplines and media, and open-access printmaking courses for artists.

The Press was founded in 1993 by James Hill in premises in St Barnabas Road, Cambridge, partly with the aid of a Prince of Wales Trust loan. It initially offered etching and silkscreen printmaking courses and open-access printmaking. Four years later it was possible to expand to make studio space for artists in adjoining buildings.

In 2001 the Press moved to its current, larger premises at Belfast Yard where a good deal of building and development work has taken place to extend the range of processes that can be applied in traditional and innovative printmaking, and in photography.

The Press supports etching, lithography, screenprint and relief printing processes and is developing expertise in multimedia and new printing technologies. There is scope for preparation and manipulation of images on computer for transfer to photostencil processes.

A new mezzanine floor has been built at the Press with studio spaces for about a dozen artists, who work in printmaking and other media.

The programme of open-access printmaking activities has continued at the new premises but the Press now puts a greater emphasis on collaborative editioning projects with artists, and the publication of original prints, and on the promotion of work of the resident artists. Unlike most open-access printmaking studios, the Press is entirely self-financed, through sales of art produced here, and earnings from the services it provides to artists and the local community.

There are flexible membership and access schemes to allow those with some printmaking skill to use the facilities of the Press with support from skilled print technicians.

A small gallery space in the mezzanine contains a rolling programme of new works by resident artists for sale, and there is a programme of occasional exhibitions at the Press throughout the year.

• Relief printing
  • Columbian Press 20" x 30"
  • Albion Press 20" x 30"
• Screenprinting - two presses are available:
  • smaller max print size 60" x 40"
  • larger max print size 1000mm x 2000mm
• Etching - two presses are available:
  • max print size on each is 26" x 60" (ie each will accommodate a full sheet of Jet plate)
• Lithography
  • Small Stone Litho Press
  • Larger work can be accommodated on one of the etching presses
• Darkroom - Photo-print processes include:
  • Indirect and direct photostencil screenprinting
  • Photo-etching and relief-printing
  • Photo-lithography
• Digital scanning and black/white processing
• Epson 7600 printer for digital photography and photo film positives
  • 620mm wide x as long as you like, A1 plus

St Barnabas Press offers editioning by contract with artists, and also publishes its own editions of folios and individual works to the public.

Relief, etching, and screenprint processes are available, and exploratory use of combinations of techniques is something of especial interest at the Press.

The process of editioning for artists is a collaborative, creative and experimental one, based on the extensive experience of print editioning of James Hill, the master printmaker at the Press. The Press is emphatically not a reprographics shop but a fine art printmaking studio.

To discuss this further please email or call .

The Press contains a number of mezzanine studio spaces, rented to local artists and artisans. Studios sometimes become available for rent and can be rented on a long- or short-term basis. There is usually a waiting list for spaces and take-up is based on your portfolio and your plans for work at the Press.

Studio spaces cost £135.00 per month, inclusive of heat, light, power. Rental of studio space includes access to the printing equipment and tools in the workshops provided you are suitably trained in their use. Fine papers, plate, screens, lino etc (that is, what you print with, and what you print on) are charged separately depending on what you use.

Studio spaces are advertised here on the website when they become available. If you'd like to discuss renting studio space please .

Short and longer courses in a variety of printmaking techniques are provided during autumn and spring. The aim is to give newcomers a basic competency in printmaking, and assist those with some experience to develop and extend their range. The work is based around individual projects and will to a large extent be guided by what you want to achieve and the nature of your own project.

• One class per week, 10.30 am - 1 pm, over 7 or 10 weeks
• mixed ability classes for novices and printmakers with some experience
• techniques available include etching, screenprinting, relief printing, and lithography

The seven-week course costs £110.00 and the ten-week course £150.00.

Several options are available to users of the facilities at St Barnabas.

A standard hourly charge is made for use of equipment and tools and for cleaners, scrim, etc.

Papers, plates, screens, lino, etc. (what you print with and what you print on) are charged separately depending on what materials you use. (This is because materials vary in quality and therefore in cost to the Press.)

Individual skilled technical help with and support of your printmaking project is provided under one of the following schemes.

Teaching Flexi-card

The card covers five hours of one-on-one tutorial help in total (outside the taught courses), and users pay in addition for open access to facilities at an hourly rate. You get individual technical help with developing your own printmaking projects.

The Flexi-card costs £100.00 for five hours tuition. In addition you pay £5.50/hour open-access charge, plus materials costs.

Standard Open Access

Membership costs £50.00 per year, and Temporary Membership costs £20.00 for 3 months. A £5.50/hour open-access charge applies on top of this, plus materials costs (excluding inks and general workshop materials, which are included in the cost).

Keyholder Membership

Available for skilled printmakers only, keyholder membership costs £100.00 per month flat rate. No hourly open-access charge is payable, ie cleaners, scrim, etc. and use of equipment and tools are included in the cost of membership. Materials are charged separately. Membership is for a minimum of six months.