Think Print

Level(s) of Study: Short course
Course Fee:
£595
Start Date(s): 10 October 2026, 20 February 2027
Duration: Saturdays 10 am - 4 pm, five weeks
Study Mode(s): Part-time
Campus: City Campus
Entry Requirements: More information

Introduction:

Course dates:

10 October - 7 November 2026, Saturdays 10 am - 4 pm, five weeks

20 February - 20 March 2027, Saturdays 10 am - 4 pm, five weeks

Discover the art of printmaking: Think Print is a step-by-step introduction to a variety of printmaking techniques including monoprinting, blind embossing, collagraph, letterpress, and lino printing, all designed to encourage experimentation, exploration, and play.

Guided by experienced printmakers and tutors, you’ll explore different processes, materials, and ideas to create bold, multi-layered and expressive prints.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to refresh your creative practice, this course offers the perfect opportunity to think differently about print.

You’ll be part of a design community in our creative studio culture; one that promotes discussion and collaboration, and encourages experimentation and the constant swapping of ideas.
With a limited class size you'll have the one-to-one attention you need to ensure you leave with the skills to continue developing your designs at home or work.
Benefit from learning with an experienced tutor who has established links to the profession and significant experience working in varied practices.
On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance.

What you’ll study

Through demonstrations and guided studio practice, you’ll be encouraged to explore and experiment with a range of printmaking processes to produce multi-layered, textural, and colourful works. You’ll gain confidence in using presses and specialist tools while learning about inks, paper types, and colour mixing.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a series of high-quality prints that reflect your own creative journey through different printmaking techniques.

During this course, you will:

explore a range of printmaking processes including monoprinting, blind embossing, collagraph, letterpress, and lino printing
learn how to prepare and use specialist printmaking tools, presses, and materials
experiment with colour mixing, texture, and layering to produce dynamic compositions
understand the properties of different inks, papers, and printing surfaces
discover how to combine processes to create multi-layered and expressive artworks
develop confidence in studio practice, including safe and sustainable printmaking methods
build a personal collection of finished prints and experimental studies that showcase your creative development.

You’ll finish the course with a portfolio full of experimental and completed prints, along with a deeper understanding of printmaking as both a technical and expressive art form. You’ll leave ready to continue developing your work at home, in a studio, or on future courses.

Session 1: Monoprinting

An introduction to transfer and reduction monoprinting.

An opportunity to play with mark-making, line, texture and colour with and without a press.

Session 2: Relief processes — letterpress and lino

Working with heritage wooden type to create unexpected poetry and images.

Expand your skills or learn how to experiment with mark-making and composition working with lino.

Overlay your images and prints from session one with words and images.

Session 3: Blind embossing

An opportunity to play with the process blind embossing, creating low-relief textural prints.

Learn or expand your knowledge about printmaking papers and how to add colour with Chine collé and other collage methods.

Session 4: Collagraph

Following on from session three, utilising, mark-making and texture to create multicoloured, linear and tonal collagraph prints. This session will look at inks, commercially created and hand-made natural inks.

Session 5: Play and experiment

A chance to experiment further with any of the process’s you enjoyed or combine and overlay existing prints.

How you’re taught

Through a combination of demonstrations and direct teaching, you’ll explore both relief and intaglio methods, gaining hands-on experience in each process.

This course will be delivered in person on Nottingham Trent University city campus.

Contact hours

You will receive 25 contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.

Tutor profile:

Bernie Rutter is a specialist printmaking tutor with over 30 years of experience teaching printmaking to all age groups, including students at NTU studying Fine Art and Costume and Construction. She studied printmaking and sculpture as part of her Fine Art degree at NTU and started her career as print tutor at Leicester Print Workshop and has been teaching and demonstrating ever since. Bernie loves the unexpected marks, colour and textures that appear when you experiment with printmaking, as it never fails to deliver something new.

You can view Bernie’s work here.

Clare Godden is a specialist printmaker, tutor and technician at NTU and specialises in letterpress printing. She found her passion for typesetting while studying Graphic Arts & Design at Leeds Metropolitan University and went on to pursue a career in publishing for print with over 20 years' experience in the magazine industry, as an Art Editor. She created a printing business with letterpress workshops for adults before joining the print team at NTU. Clare is so passionate about print, she loves to touch the paper, so you can feel the impression and the simple things.

You can view Clare’s work here.

Careers and employability

This course will give you a solid creative and technical foundation in a range of printmaking processes, with a strong understanding of both relief and intaglio methods. You’ll also gain an awareness of health and safety, sustainable printmaking practices, and studio management.

Certificate of attendance and digital badge

Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a digital certificate of attendance and a digital badge powered by Accredible.

Your digital credential is more than just a certificate – it’s secure, verifiable, and protected against fraud through encryption and blockchain technology.

They also come with detailed metadata, including an overview of the skills you have achieved on the course, evidence of completion, and assessment criteria if appropriate.

Share your achievements seamlessly with friends, customers, and potential employers online, and proudly add your badge or certificate to social media platforms such as LinkedIn, so all the right people can see it.

Campus and facilities

You will be based in the School of Art and Design on the City Campus.

You’ll work in our newly equipped printmaking room which has both Intaglio and relief presses and specially designed work spaces for each participant.

You will receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.

You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.

Entry requirements

You should have an enthusiasm for making and exploring through print.

You must be over the age of 18 in order to attend this course.

Fees and funding

The fee for this course is £595

Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.

You will also need to bring with: