Illustration students bring hand-printing to Bournemouth Echo Print Room

It’s a sign of the times that the former press room of local paper the Bournemouth Echo is now a trendy brasserie, The Print Room.

Matthew Waudby
Matthew Waudby

However, a group of enterprising illustration students from Arts University Bournemouth are looking to rekindle its printing heritage with a new exhibition, showing works around the theme A Sign of the Times.

Lydia Hannah Thomas
Lydia Hannah Thomas

The student collective Fingerprint Club dedicate themselves to the skills of traditional printing techniques. Fingerprint Club member Robin MacKenzie says, ‘My printmaking practice really stems from a love of true craftsmanship.

‘The sense of time and care evident in a master wood engraving or linocut is incredible and it is the work of great printmakers such as Lynd Ward and Frans Masereel that constantly inspire me.’

Elliot Coffin
Elliot Coffin

The works in the show will use techniques including screen-printing, linocuts, mono-printing, and lithography; with inspiration drawn from popular culture, iconic objects, signs and symbols.

Luke MacMaster
Luke MacMaster

The building is a perfect space for the show, having last printed almost exactly 16 years ago, back in April 1997. Back then the ground floor of the building housed the newspaper’s hot metal printing presses. According to Arts University Bournemouth, at full tilt the whole press was capable of producing up to 45,000 papers an hour.

Robin MacKenzie
Robin MacKenzie

While the papers are no longer printed on site, the newspaper’ offices are still located on the top floor of the building.

Adam Wilson
Adam Wilson

The show runs from 24 April until the autumn at The Print Room,  Echo Building  Richmond Hill, Bournemouth BH2

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