Two-day Workshop: Dendritic Printing and Shaving Foam Marbling – Alan Fitch

Date: Friday 13 and Saturday 14 September from 10:00-16:00 both days

Venue: Upper Hall

Instructor: Alan Fitch

Workshop description:
Part 1. Dendritic Printing. Using this unusual, but relatively simple, method of printing it is possible to
produce stunning and unusual designs on both endpapers and covering material, including paper, cloth,
suede and calf. You will have, throughout the day, the opportunity to try a variety of techniques.

Part 2 – Shaving Foam Marbling. Create stunning book edge decoration using very basic materials.

Cost: Free for Society members. Due to funding for this course it is not possible to accommodate
non-members on this workshop.

Materials fee: £35

Attendees are asked to bring: disposable gloves, a couple of ice cream containers, a wet rag, apron, 4/5
paperbacks for the shaving foam marbling.

Max number of students: 15

This is a two-day workshop. Please ensure you can attend both dates.

Biography: Alan served a six year apprenticeship as a letterpress printer, studying at Southampton
College of Art and obtaining City & Guilds Printing and Full Technological Certificates.
In 1977 he started The Farthing Press which concentrated on letterpress printing and small offset
lithography. In the early 80’s, with a desire to print and bind limited editions, he attended a Bookbinding
and Archive Repair Course at Norwich City College. In 1984 The Farthing Press became The Farthing
Press & Bindery. In the mid 90’s, he started teaching a 5-day basic bookbinding course from his workshop
in Norfolk. The courses slowly extended to include refresher, repair and full-leather binding courses.
With the closure of the printing side of the business in the mid 2000’s teaching bookbinding became a
full time occupation.

He has, over the years, demonstrated and taught at various regional meetings, workshops and seminars.
He served as Managing Editor of the SoB Journal for 5 years, SoB/DB Joint Workshop Organizer for 3
years, and was validated as a SoB Tutor in 2017, along with being a member of the SoB Outreach and
Education and Training Committee (formally E&T) and an Associate Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University.

Alan has been a member of The Society of Bookbinders since 1984. Over 180 students have attended the
Bookbinding Courses, many returning numerous times to continue learning and improving their
bookbinding skills.