Bircher Common Press is a start-up business situated in rural Herefordshire. It’s early days but the press aims to make bespoke books, stationery, posters and invitations as well as to provide tuition in letterpress and bookbinding to individuals and small groups of up to five people. Driving this little press is a love of language, paper, the intimacy of the book format and craftsmanship. There’s also me – Anne.

I studied fine art printmaking at Glasgow School of Art and attained a masters in the same subject in Montreal, where I specialised in artists’ books and taught a course on the same topic at Concordia University, as well as various workshops around the city. Subsequently, I worked in other fields for many years but am now trying to get the press up and running.

Workshop participants can learn how to set and print lead and wood type on a Vandercook SP 20 proofing press in order to make cards, posters, personalised stationery and invitations.  Alternatively, you may choose to print your favourite lyrics, poetry or prose for inclusion within a book or for framing and display.  

You can also make or commission bespoke books.  The press offers a variety of  bookbinding and case making workshops. You can personalise your books with dedication pages printed in letterpress and/or with text printed on the covers, using a hot foil stamping machine.