Factory Friday: Edinburgh Printmakers

In our ongoing Factory Friday series, we are delving into the stories behind some of the Scottish Manufacturers and workshops that you can find on Make Works.

This week we've interviewed the team at Edinburgh Printmakers; an open access printmaking studio, gallery and shop providing printmaking facilities, commission print making and digital printing in Edinburgh.

Could you tell us about how Edinburgh Printmakers got started?

Judith Liddle, events co-ordinator, explained: Edinburgh Printmakers was born almost 50 years ago, created by a group of graduates from Edinburgh College of Art as an affordable and supportive space to practise printmaking. The organisation has grown from strength to strength, in various locations throughout the city, however to this day we keep the spirit of the collective alive.

We are a passionate, creative and friendly community of individuals and artists. As we are currently undergoing a major capital development project to relocate to a new world-class facility in 2018, we hope that many people will join us on our new journey in print.

What kind of people come into Edinburgh Printmakers?

Leena Nammari, Studio Co-ordinator: All kinds, every kind. We have professional artists, graphic designers, architects, retired architects, retired teachers, working teachers (art and non art) Social workers, botanists, management consultants, AND, printmakers.

Judith added: Our exhibitions are always free, and there is no charge to book a short tour of the studio. Some of our visitors have an interest in contemporary art and print, however our pull extends far beyond people who would identify as “art aficionados".

Visitors are always fascinated to catch a glimpse of the processes behind the artwork, building interest and a lasting connection with the fine-art practice, sparking inspiration and intrigue. Our lively community engagement programme has built long-lasting and meaningful relationships with community groups based locally and beyond.

Where can we see work from Edinburgh Printmakers out in the world?

We have an annual programme of UK-wide offsite exhibitions, and also regularly co-produce work with arts-organisations and established artists to be exhibited elsewhere. We have long-standing relationships with the NHS, various creative businesses and we were recently delighted to receive a large retail investment from the Montpelier Group. Work produced at Edinburgh Printmakers has been shown in Eyestorm Gallery, London; Ingleby Gallery, Edinburgh; The Glasgow Print Studio, Glasgow; Peacock Visual Arts, Aberdeen; Tolquhon Gallery, Ellon; Gallery North, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and David Krut Projects, New York.

Could you tell us about some of the projects that have come through Edinburgh Printmakers that have been particularly memorable?

In recent years, standout projects include DARK MATTERS, a collaboration undertaken by astronomers and engineers from the UKATC (UK Astronomy and Technology Centre), and artists and printmakers, curated by David Faithfull. This resulted in a fantastic exhibition and a large-scale kinetic public artwork coinciding with and conceptually drawing from the recent solar eclipse.

Also of note was the exhibition and publishing project we undertook with Rachel MacLean, her first solo show. This exhibition was a dynamic cultural statement during the time of the Scottish Referendum. Rachel Maclean will be representing Scotland at Venice 2017.

We also worked in collaboration with The Big Issue during our project “No Fixed Abode”, in which artist members of Edinburgh Printmakers directly engaged with vendors of the magazine. Together we explored the psychological realities of being homeless or vulnerably housed and produced a beautiful body of work. As a result of this project, Edinburgh Printmakers were able to produce thermos flasks, which were given to every Big Issue vendor in Scotland.
 

What’s it like being based in Edinburgh? 

Edinburgh is an innovative and industrious city. The art scene is increasingly expansive in showcasing emerging and grass roots practitioners; has a strong community of local artists; and a multifaceted, vibrant creative industries sector.

In addition to this, Edinburgh supports fantastic international programming, especially during the festival season, when the city comes alive with creative energy. Edinburgh Printmakers benefits from existing within a stunning historic city with a fascinating history of print, and a thriving and dynamic contemporary arts scene.

Thanks very much to Edinburgh Printmakers! You can take a look at Edinburgh Printmakers on Make Works here and if you'd like to find out more about Printmaking take a look at our Guide to Printmaking