Caught by the River

Press On

14th May 2024

Friend of the site and letterpress whizz Nick Hand has just announced plans for another trip around the UK on his printing bike. Following 2017’s Journeyman project, which saw Nick cycle from Land’s End to John o’Groats — seeking out makers in towns known for making one particular thing, and printing a card in celebration of each — Press On turns its attentions to libraries.

Nick writes:

Press On is an adventure that will take the printing bike from library to library across Britain printing bookmarks along the way. Each bookmark design will be inspired by the words and images of writers and artists in support of public libraries.

Our libraries have been under enormous pressure and have mostly survived by local support. I want to contribute to the work these communities do by visiting as many libraries as I can (as far as Orkney) and working with artists and writers to produce a limited run of unique bookmarks for each library, all printed in situ at the library itself.’

Nick is currently Crowdfunding the project, with money raised to go towards texts, illustrations, printing materials, and overnight stays. Any money left at the end will stay in the letterpress to keep the presses turning and to allow people to continue to see and learn this amazing craft in action. Hear from Nick below, and donate to the project here. Available perks include hand-printed bookmarks, letterpress workshops, and copies of Nick’s Conversations from Land’s End to John o’Groats book.