Workshops
Learn letterpress, linocut, risograph, bookbinding, and more. Visit our events page to discover our regular clubs.
Japanese Bookbinding (sold out)
During this three-hour workshop, we'll explore traditional Japanese binding techniques. We’ll provide an introduction to the tools of bookbinding, cover grain direction, and practise different types of visible stitching. You'll leave the workshop with your own unique, hand-bound book using washi-style paper and knowledge of the versatility of Japanese bookbinding.
Mini-Riso Club: Children’s Workshop
Explore the creative world of Risograph printing through collage and collaboration.
Multi-Block Linocut Printing Workshop
Learn how to create your own two-colour linocut prints using the multiple block technique. Over two sessions, you will carve two individual blocks and print them to create a layered image. This small group workshop will be hosted over two sessions.
Introduction to Risograph
Get hands on with Risograph printing! In this workshop you’ll learn your way around the analogue basics of the printer and get the chance to transform drawings and collage into two colour prints using the scanner.
Children’s Ghost Story Workshop
Presented as part of the sixth annual York Ghost Week.
Step back in time to become a printer’s devil: a young apprentice who worked in the printing house.
Two-day Heritage Printing Workshop (Sold out)
Presented as part of the sixth annual York Ghost Week.
Inspired by tales of misprints, mischief, and censorship, participants in this two-day workshop will delve into the turbulent history of print, and learn about the extraordinary figures who have practiced the craft of printing in York.
Tickets include expert tuition, all materials, and a special edition Ghost.
Exquisite Corpse: Halloween Workshop
Drop in to play a game of exquisite corpse (consequences) with us! Choose and print your own spooky linocut character to take home with you.
Mini-Riso Club: Children’s Workshop
Explore the creative world of Risograph printing through collage and collaboration.
Five-Week Festival of Print
Join us for this immersive and exciting five-week course exploring the foundations of dripping, letterpress, lino, and miso, and learning the bookbinding skills to create a unique portfolio to store and showcase your prints!
Ornamented Letterforms: Letterpress & Linocut Workshop
Join this small group workshop to design and print an ornamented letter. Explore our collection of wood type and learn the fundamentals of working with wood type. Then, create your own linocut block to overprint directly onto the letterform.
Drypoint Workshop
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to use drypoint etching tools to create and print from your own plates.
We’ll explore a range of mark-making techniques to scratch, score, and draw directly onto the surface of the plate, before inking up and running them through our etching press.
Children's Bookbinding Workshop
As we head into the festive season, join us for a hands-on workshop where children will learn the basics of bookbinding and create a unique handmade notebook.
Letterheads: a Metal Type Workshop
Design and print a custom letterhead using metal type! This is the ideal workshop for stationery addicts or for anyone looking for a unique and thoughtful Christmas gift for a friend or loved one.
Festive Wrapping Paper Workshop
Design, carve and print your own original repeat pattern to create a sheet of wrapping paper.
In this workshop, you will learn how to create a seamless pattern design and translate it into a linocut fit for printing.
Mini-Riso Club: Children’s Workshop
Explore the creative world of Risograph printing through collage and collaboration.
Linocut Christmas Cards
Join us this festive season for an opportunity to print your very own linocut Christmas cards to send to your nearest and dearest. In a small group setting you will come up with a simple design, carve your block and print a set of cards.
Linocut Christmas Cards
Join us this festive season for an opportunity to print your very own linocut Christmas cards to send to your nearest and dearest. In a small group setting you will come up with a simple design, carve your block and print a set of cards.
(Shades of) Blue Monday
It’s supposed to be the saddest day of the year. But who can be sad with this cut-price weekday workshop. We’ll be thinking sea, sky, blue eyes, cornflowers, dusk and lapis lazuli. Join us to find your bluest words, and use wood and metal type to print the blues away … in shades of blue, of course!
Love Print: a Valentine’s Workshop
For one night only, the York Centre for Print will be a resolutely cynic-free zone! Join us to celebrate the spirit of romance, and to create a small set of fun and stylish wood type cards. Love is in the air … and in the ink!
The Complete Adana Workshop
A one-day course for aspiring printers who have, or want to work with, an Adana printing press. In a small group setting you will learn the basics of letterpress printing and how to use and maintain an Adana. You can bring your own press along for servicing and leave the workshop with a restored Adana and the skills needed to establish your home studio.
The course is suitable for beginners and those with some experience who are looking to take their skills to the next level. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Introduction to Letterpress
Get to grips with the basics of letterpress printing in this introductory workshop. In this two-hour session, you will get the chance to set a line of metal type, see what it means to lock up a forme, and try your hand printing with a tabletop Adana press. You will go home with copies of your own hand-printed postcards.
Introduction to Risograph
Get hands on with Risograph printing! In this workshop you’ll learn your way around the analogue basics of the printer and get the chance to transform drawings and collage into two colour prints using the scanner.
Beginners’ Bookbinding: Pamphlets
An introduction to pamphlet binding, without using paste or glue. During this two-hour morning workshop, we’ll go from simple three-hole pamphlet sewing in paper covers, to some more advanced decorative sewing patterns in card covers.
Mini-Riso Club: Children’s Workshop
Explore the creative world of Risograph printing through collage and collaboration.
Letterpress Fundamentals: Six-week Course
If you’re looking for an in-depth introduction to letterpress printing, this course is for you. Each week, you’ll work through exercises designed to give you a thorough grounding in fundamental printing skills, a working knowledge of different presses, and an understanding of their strengths and limitations. This course will give you the necessary skills to initiate your own projects, and the confidence to troubleshoot problems when they arise.
Introduction to Letterpress (sold out)
Get to grips with the basics of letterpress printing in this introductory workshop. In this two-hour session, you will get the chance to set a line of metal type, see what it means to lock up a forme, and try your hand printing with a tabletop Adana press. You will go home with copies of your own hand-printed postcards.
Printers’ Devils: Children’s Letterpress Workshop (sold out)
Calling the next generation of printers! Printer’s devils were children who worked in the printing house. This is your chance to become one of them in a fun and engaging workshop with our Director, Professor Helen Smith.
Reduction Lino: Two-Part Workshop
Learn how to create your own two colour linocut print using the reduction method. This small group workshop will be hosted over two sessions. The workshop will be led by Izzy Williamson, a York based printmaker specialising linocut.
Type Faces: Free Children's Workshop (sold out)
Have fun with wood type in this engaging children's workshop. Participants will learn the basics of relief printing and enjoy an accessible introduction to the history of print before being let loose with our fantastic collection of wood type, turning typefaces into fun, friendly or fearsome type faces. This is a hands-on activity, and all children will go home with a small selection of prints of their own design.
Find out more and book our afternoon workshop.
Introduction to Risograph
Get hands on with Risograph printing! In this workshop you’ll learn your way around the analogue basics of the printer and get the chance to transform drawings and collage into two colour prints using the scanner.
Botanical Printing Workshop (sold out)
Join this summery workshop at Thin Ice Press to get hands on with our etching press and create a set of botanical prints.
Three Letter Postcards at York Art Gallery for Harland Miller: XXX (sold out)
A letterpress workshop delivered by Thin Ice Press for Harland Miller: XXX at York Art Gallery.
Beginners’ Bookbinding: Pamphlets
An introduction to pamphlet binding, without using paste or glue. During this two-hour morning workshop, we’ll go from simple three-hole pamphlet sewing in paper covers, to some more advanced decorative sewing patterns in card covers.
Introduction to Linocut
Learn how to carve and print your very own linocut. In this workshop you will learn how to transfer your design onto a block, see demonstrations of carving tips and techniques, and discover how to make beautiful prints.
Harland Miller Family Printing
A family-friendly children’s printing event delivered by Thin Ice Press for Harland Miller: XXX at York Art Gallery.
Yorkshire Type Specimens Workshop
Thin Ice Press is home to an impressively large collection of wood type. Join this small group workshop to explore the collection and print a collaborative type specimen poster.
Edgar Allan Poe-stcards at York Art Gallery for Harland Miller: XXX
A letterpress workshop delivered by Thin Ice Press for Harland Miller: XXX at York Art Gallery.
Children's Printing Workshop (sold out)
Have fun with type in this engaging children's workshop.
Platespeak at York Art Gallery for Harland Miller: XXX (sold out)
A letterpress workshop delivered by Thin Ice Press for Harland Miller: XXX at York Art Gallery.
Introduction to Linocut
Learn how to carve and print your very own linocut. In this workshop you will learn how to transfer your design onto a block, see demonstrations of carving tips and techniques, and discover how to make beautiful prints.
Introduction to Letterpress (Sold Out)
Get to grips with the basics of letterpress printing in this introductory workshop. In this two-hour session, you will get the chance to set a line of metal type, see what it means to lock up a forme, and try your hand printing with a tabletop Adana press. You will go home with copies of your own hand-printed postcards.
Printing Sounds (Sold Out)
Join our interactive workshop and learn to print and sing tonic solfa - a system of musical notation popular in 19th-century Britain and used by missionaries throughout the world. This event is presented in collaboration with York Festival of Ideas 2025.
TXT at York Art Gallery for Harland Miller: XXX (sold out)
A letterpress workshop delivered by Thin Ice Press for Harland Miller: XXX at York Art Gallery.
A Queen’s Book of Flowers (sold out)
In this workshop you will get a short introduction to the exhibition ‘A Queen's Book of Flowers’ on display in the garden for the month of June and learn how to print your very own botanical bookmark. These workshops are presented in collaboration with York Festival of Ideas 2025.
Letterpress Fundamentals: Six-week Course
If you’re looking for an in-depth introduction to letterpress printing, this course is for you. Each week, you’ll work through exercises designed to give you a thorough grounding in fundamental printing skills, a working knowledge of different presses, and an understanding of their strengths and limitations. This course will give you the necessary skills to initiate your own projects, and the confidence to troubleshoot problems when they arise.
Colour at York Art Gallery for Harland Miller: XXX (sold out)
A letterpress workshop delivered by Thin Ice Press for Harland Miller: XXX at York Art Gallery.
Half-day Linocut Workshop (sold Out)
Join us for a half-day linocut workshop where you’ll explore the art of relief printing and develop your personal style in a fun, supportive environment. This small group session is perfect for anyone looking to try a new medium or build their printmaking skills.
Linocut Repeat Pattern Workshop
In this workshop, you will learn how to create a seamless pattern design and translate it into a linocut fit for printing. You’ll come away with prints on paper ideal for endpapers, scrapbooking, gift wrapping and more!
Introduction to Linocut (sold out)
Learn how to carve and print your very own linocut. In this workshop you will learn how to transfer your design onto a block, see demonstrations of carving tips and techniques, and discover how to make beautiful prints.
Dust Jackets at York Art Gallery for Harland Miller: XXX (sold out)
A letterpress workshop delivered by Thin Ice Press for Harland Miller: XXX at York Art Gallery.