East London Printmakers started with a group of printmaking artists exhibiting together and hoping to eventually create an affordable print studio in East London. For a short period, an interim studio was set up in a sublet half-room at Bow Arts. When Space Studios were opening a new building near London Fields, It was negotiated that in return for Space paying for a few basic pieces of equipment, ELP would rent a studio and provide Open Access facilities for the community. There were about ten in the group at that time, and through working hard collectively, building work benches, sourcing equipment, they established a functioning studio which was available for Open Access in 2003. These were facilities that the individual artists could not afford on their own but could manage to acquire communally.

The group grew to between 15 and 20 people and expanded into a second room. Studio maintenance was carried out collectively, so everyone had to know how to look after the studio. Administration was carried out voluntarily. The cost of the equipment initially bought by Space was repaid gradually through profits from Open Access, and as the group expanded Wednesday courses began to ensure more printmakers continued to attend Open Access.

By 2010 a one-day-a-week technician was hired. Around 2012 a paid administrator became a necessity, which in turn meant the studio’s cash flow became crucial, to ensure wages were paid. Consequently, the range of voluntary tasks for keyholders widened, enabling more activities to take place. The studio grew further, to about 35 keyholders and a third room was taken on as a clean space. Despite this growth, the cooperative ethos of the studio meant rents for keyholders could be kept as low as possible: this was the driver.

However, in 2016 a massive increase in rent at Space Studios, meant that to maintain these affordable keyholder rents, new premises needed to be found. Fortuitously for ELP, three rooms became available in ACME’s Mile End location, our current site. It was a mammoth task to relocate such an established print studio – but thanks to everyone’s efforts, dismantling, packing, transporting, and rebuilding were completed in 14 weeks.

There are now around 47 keyholders, a part-time studio coordinator, a part-time technician, and a part time marketing coordinator. The shared cooperative ethos that was the foundation stone of ELP is now its bedrock. The active participation of all keyholders working voluntarily and contributing as much as they can, keeps the studio running smoothly and enables many events and activities to take place. Crucially it keeps costs as low as possible, ensuring maximum accessibility for all levels of creative activity.

We welcome everyone to use the studio. If you are starting out on your printmaking journey, or refreshing old skills, you can book into a course in your chosen process. If you have completed a course with East London Printmakers or are similarly qualified, and wish to develop and consolidate your skills, then booking some Open Access sessions is the next stage.

Scroll down for further details about our Open Access sessions.

The printmaking studio has equipment for water-based screen-printing, etching/intaglio, relief printing, fabric printing and photo-etching. For a more detailed list of what we supply and sell, please refer to our shop list.

The printmaking studio has equipment for water-based screen-printing, etching/intaglio, relief printing, fabric printing and photo-etching. For a more detailed list of what we supply and sell, please refer to our shop list.

Screenprinting

• Large exposure unit for photo-silkscreens (130 × 180cm)
• Six vacuum tables (max print size 110 x 80cm)
• Various sized squeegees and coating troughs
• Various sized screens (for hire – max size 125 × 85cm)
• Back-lit wash-out unit for screens
• Drying racks

Fabric Printing

• PVC topped fabric table 3.6m × 1m print width (123cm table top) with registration bar & 7 repeat stops.  Three 49T screens 130 x 105cm with registration fittings available to hire.
• Largest usable area 88 x 100cm
• Gum Arabic is supplied
• Users must provide their own backing cloth

Etching

• Rochat Etching Press – bed size 81 x 137cm
• French American Tool Press – bed size 102 x 187cm
• Henderson Press – bed size 76 x 153cm
• Tofko Press – bed size 100 x 180cm
• Ferric chloride for etching copper
• Edinburgh Ferric for etching copper
• Copper Sulphate for etching Zinc
• Rosin aquatint box
• Hotplate
• Exposure unit for photogravure/photo-etching (60 × 70cm)
• Guillotine for cutting metal plate (max width 77cm)
• Large and small rollers
• Spatulas and ink knives

Relief

• Rochat Albion Press – platen size 40 x 55cm Maximum Paper Size 56cm wide
• Columbian Press – platen size 40 x 55cm Maximum Paper Size 56cm wide
• Book Press – 25 x 30cm
• Large and small rollers
• Spatulas and ink knives

General

• Electric Guillotine – max cutting width 65cm
• Lightbox (100 × 150cm)
• Cutting mats and rulers
• Goggles, masks, gloves and ear protectors