Here at the Mostly Flat studio in the lovely rural village of Brampton Bryan on the Herefordshire & Shropshire borders, I run letterpress workshops teaching the fundamentals of traditional letterpress printing to individuals or small groups of up to 4 people. 

You can book a 1-1 letterpress workshop, or arrange a private day for you and a partner/friend or a small group.

Each course is tailored to suit your needs, whether you're a complete letterpress beginner, just got your first press or already have some printing experience. Some people have a specific project they'd like to do, and others just love typography and want a taster of this very special heritage craft. Please feel free to get in touch for a chat about what you might like to make or learn.

Before you read further, there's one thing I must mention. Mr Flat is an immunosuppressed kidney transplant patient, and we can't take any risks with airborne viruses. I've restarted letterpress workshops in 2025 after a long pause, with some caveats:

• I cannot teach you if you have any kind of lurgy (don't worry, you can cancel at the last minute if you need to)
• I will be wearing a well-fitting FFP3 mask
• Both doors will be wide open for ventilation
• Letterpress workshops will only run in the warmer months

Please do let me know if you have any questions. Mr Flat and I are still pretty much shielding, so if you're Covid-cautious, still coviding or immunocompromised, my letterpress workshops could be an option for you. I don't yet have a hepa filter, but I'm happy for you to bring one. I do have an Aranet4 Pro to keep an eye on air quality.

What you'll learn on a letterpress workshop

After a basic grounding in typography and general principles, I'll show you how to hand-set metal and wood type in a composing stick and lock it up into a chase (a metal frame) ready for printing. You'll learn lots of anecdotal stuff along the way, like how to mind your p's and q's!

Delving into my extensive collection of wood and metal type, decorative ornaments and picture blocks, you'll create your own letterpress prints, greetings cards, postcards, coasters, business cards, bookmarks or any small printed thing that takes your fancy. You'll go home with a little pile of letterpress printed goodies (if you want to print heaps & heaps there may be a charge for extra materials).

I have a range of presses you can use, including Adana 8x5 tabletop platen presses, flatbed proofing presses, a Vandercook cylinder proofing press, and a floor-standing treadle platen press. The tabletop machines are best at printing small things like business cards, bookmarks, greetings cards and postcards. The proof presses are great for printing wood type posters or larger pieces. The treadle can do either, within limits, and is also perfect for coasters. You'll be able to get a good idea of the differences between these machines, and what their strengths and capabilities are.

Letterpress workshops can be focussed on a project, a process, technique or theme, or on acquiring a specific set of skills. 

I've taught a lot of people how to use and maintain their first Adana 8x5 — you can bring your machine with you, and we'll get it set up nicely. I can show you how to ink up, operate, clean up and maintain your Adana, and best practice for typesetting and design.

Planning your day

To get the most out of your day, come prepared with an idea of what you'd like to print.

On a 2, 3 or 4 person workshop, it's helpful if you all choose to do a similar type of project so that I'm not spread too thin with teaching. You might all choose to print postcards or greetings cards, or perhaps make some posters with wood type. I'd suggest thinking of a word, a few words or a short phrase of up to 20 words (stick with just a few words if you want to use wood type).

On a 1-1 letterpress workshop you can do more ambitious projects because you'll have my undivided attention. You could print up to 40 or 50 words in metal type, make a composition with ornaments, or make a poster with wood type. Whatever you'd like.

Typesetting is more time consuming than you might imagine. If you've never printed before, you'll have more fun working with a few words than if you try to typeset lots of words; you'll have time to be able to combine your words with ornaments or picture blocks, and you'll get to use larger and fancier typefaces.

If you want to print lots of words, your typeface choices will be more limited; you need a nice full typecase of fairly small type that has enough letters for your chosen text (it's surprising how quickly you can run out of e's). It's a bit more fiddly, but a lovely mindful process.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch for a chat; I can let you know whether or not your idea is achievable in a day (and I’m happy to do longer courses if your project is a bit more ambitious). If you're not sure what to print, don’t worry, I can help inspire you!

If you use Instagram, here's a filtered feed showing pictures from past letterpress workshops.

How much is a letterpress workshop?

Letterpress workshops for up to 4 people cost £125 per person including materials.

Private workshops for you and a partner or friend cost £250 including materials. Work on your own individual projects, or collaborate. Perfect for an anniversary, Valentines or 'just because' present. You could also come as a couple to print your own wedding save the dates or invitations (additional materials costs may apply).

One-to-one letterpress workshops (where more ambitious projects are possible because you have my undivided attention) cost £200 including materials.

All workshops run from 10.30am to 5.30pm, with an hour for lunch about 1.30. We try to finish on time, but if you find you need or want to stay on for longer, each extra hour is £40. Custom timings are also possible — let me know what works for you.

Please email hello@mostlyflat.co.uk with any questions.

What does the day involve?

When you arrive we'll discuss your project idea, if you have one, and make a plan for how to go about it. I'll talk through the basics of typesetting and composition, then you'll spend the morning typesetting and preparing your design ready for print under my guidance.

After lunch you'll get ink on the presses, learn how to get your design printing nicely, and will then print a short edition. The last 30 minutes or so will be spent cleaning the type and presses, and putting your type, tools and materials away.

Book a letterpress workshop

Please get in touch to arrange a date: email hello@mostlyflat.co.uk.

Weekdays and weekends are fine, and you can book as far in advance as you'd like. Some people book for when they'll be on holiday in the area.

Practicalities

Letterpress workshops are not suitable for people who cannot stand for long periods of time.

If you have any accessibility requirements, please let me know and I'll see what I can do.

What to wear

Even in the height of summer, the studio is cool. It's a north facing stone barn with a concrete floor, so doesn't really warm up. You'll want to bring plenty of layers in case you get chilly. Wear sensible clothing, thick socks and closed toe shoes with flat/low heels. I provide aprons, but please wear clothing that you don't mind getting inky. Tie back long hair.

Children

I'm DBS checked and can work with children from the age of 8 upwards (and younger children by arrangement), but anyone under 18 will need an accompanying adult. If you’ve got any questions, please get in touch.

Lunch

Lunch is not included. You can bring your own, or go to Aardvark Books a short walk down the lane, who have a café serving soup, toasties, coffee and cake.

I provide tea, coffee and biscuits. Let me know of any dietary requirements.

Cancellations

If you need to cancel your letterpress workshop booking due to illness, you'll be given a credit note (valid for eighteen months) which can be used as payment for another workshop. Cancellations for any other reason with less than 10 days notice incur a £20 administration fee. There's no charge if you substitute someone else to take your place. If Mostly Flat has to cancel a workshop, an alternate date or a full refund will be offered.

Testimonials:

"Thank you so much for our workshop yesterday. It was amazing!! You are so patient and your selection of beautiful old wooden type is wonderful. I'm so pleased with my print and DEFINITELY want to come back for another session. I feel there is are whole trays of goodies I didn't even get to look at!!! Thank you Dulcie!"
—Holly, Welshpool

"The one-to-one letterpress workshop was an extremely valuable day in ways both large and small with numerous essential tips gleaned along the way, enabling me to move forward with a lot more confidence with letterpress printing. Good to have the press properly set up too. All in all, Dulcie’s knowledge and enthusiasm were invaluable in clearing the path to a more fulfilling engagement with letterpress."
—Graeme, Hay-on-Wye

"A letterpress course bought for me as a present was certainly not just for Christmas. An excellent day putting my typographic thoughts into practice under Dulcie Fulton’s expert, firm, yet friendly guidance. A great opportunity to enjoy the magic of seeing letterpress printing gently express words on paper."
—David, Worcester

"I absolutely loved being in the workshop surrounded by all the materials and equipment which has been lovingly collected and put to use. Dulcie is a fantastic tutor, full of passion for her art, knowledge, technical advice and importantly she has lots of patience! She really helped me to evolve my initial idea into something that would work technically and visually. A great day and I recommend having a go!"
—Kim, Culmington

"An amazing day from start to finish. Dulcie's studio is an inspiring place to be creative with many beautiful letterpress machines and lots of type to choose from. With her knowledge and expert guidance I got a huge amount out of the day. Like a good book or piece of music, the experience has stayed with me and the more I think back on the day the more inspired I feel, thank you!"
—Hamish, Ludlow

"I was really pleased with what I was able to achieve on my 1 to 1 workshop with Dulcie.  She gave me lots of guidance in advance so I could prepare my projects for the day and I was able to try both metal type on 2 different presses and hand inking wooden type. Dulcie is very skilled and gave me lots of expert help! I really enjoyed my workshop, exploring the array of lovely typefaces in her studio and trying different printing techniques."
—Rosie, West Midlands

"I was looking to enrich a developing knowledge and practice of letterpress. My day with Dulcie was a perfect opportunity to see the workings and intricacies of a small and independent studio. A welcoming studio full of working antiquities and a printmaker bursting with knowledge was more than enough to keep me busy for the day!"
—Theo, Leicester

"Dulcie's letterpress course opened the door to a treasure trove of beautiful objects. I felt the hand of printers from a bygone age and a connection to an ancient art. Dulcie will guide you through the process and inspire you with her own beautiful work. The course gave me the impetus to develop my own skills with letterpress and to do my small part to keep this art alive."
—Keri, Knighton

"I had SUCH a fun day with you. Thank you SO much for all your guidance, advice and patience..."
—Rebecca, Ledbury

"Just wanted to say thanks for a great day today. Your enthusiasm and patience was outstanding - a long day but I learnt so much. I don’t think it will be my last letterpressing (is that a word?)."
—Jeanette, Herefordshire

"I approached Dulcie out of the blue looking for a 1:1 workshop at very short notice (24-28 hours). She bent over backwards to make it happen (well in fact she worked late two nights running to clear her schedule). The whole experience was brilliant. She’s a very knowledgeable and passionate teacher, and happily adapted the workshop to my requirements on the fly. We managed to set a short poem, with decoration, and print it on three different presses in a day. I learned everything I wanted and more, and left wanting to continue working with letterpress. Subsequently, she’s proved to be an amazing fount of information on everything from tutors to finding equipment. And all this for £160 – incredible. Go spend a day with Dulcie – you won’t regret it!"
—Chris, Devon

"Thanks for a very informative day.... We covered everything I needed on the day."
—Alun, Swansea

"I thought the whole day was very well planned - you packed in a great deal of information about the printing processes, typefaces, presses etc. in addition to the practical work. For adult learners I think you got it just right - letting us work at our own pace and waiting until we asked for help rather than hovering over us all the time."
—Liz, Ludlow

"I really enjoyed the letterpress workshop. It was a lot of fun to spend the day creatively and leave with such a beautifully finished product. I never appreciated how much went into producing letterpress print, but Dulcie made it interesting and productive. Thanks for such a great day!"
—Julliet, Ludlow