Ref: D1D41579
This course is part of our Books and Conservation (Book Con) Summer School, a themed series of short courses exploring the making, meaning and preservation of books, print, ceramics and archival materials. The week brings together bookbinding, decorative techniques, letterpress, illumination and conservation practice, offering an opportunity to experience both traditional craft skills and contemporary approaches to working with books and related cultural objects.
The Fun With Foil workshop aims to introduce you to decorative work with traditional and not so traditional hand tools and various foils. Ideal for the beginner book binder or those wishing to refresh their skills. You will be introduced to foil tooling on paper, book cloth/buckram and leather both on flat practice boards and on rounded practice spines.
The workshop is group demonstration led with your tutor offering individual ongoing advice when required. Initially, you will be led through the fundamentals of tooling concentrating on temperature control, pressure and the amount of time the tools are in contact with the foil (dwell time). You will be guided in straight line work, centre tools, decorative wheel tooling, decorative gouge tooling and contemporary practises. Along with basic material technology your tutor will help you identify suitable materials for foil tooling and develop an understanding of both their applications, limitations and further development.
In addition to your tutor guiding you through the various processes required in foil tooling, you will be shown how to prepare practice boards and spines.
On completion of the Fun With Foil workshop, it is anticipated that you will have gained or refreshed hand skills and materials appreciation, enabling you to further explore foil tooling both in traditional and contemporary foil tooling with confidence and creativity.
All courses taught during Book Con Summer School are taught by practising makers and conservators, offering insight into the processes, materials and decisions involved in both the creation and care of books, ceramics and archival objects. Through practical workshops and guided instruction, students are encouraged to develop confidence in handling materials, understanding structure, and exploring the relationship between making and meaning. The programme is suitable for beginners as well as those wishing to build on existing skills or explore routes into further study.
Across the week, participants will work with a wide range of techniques and materials, including sewn and non-adhesive structures, decorative paper processes, traditional gilding and finishing, letterpress printing, and conservation methods for books, archives and ceramics. Alongside these practical skills, the courses encourage experimentation, material understanding, and reflection on the role of the handmade object in both historical and contemporary contexts.
A central theme of the week is the dialogue between construction and conservation: understanding how books are made informs how they are cared for, while conservation practice reveals the histories embedded within objects through use, repair and time. The programme also considers sustainability, personal archives, and the continuing relevance of material practices in a digital age.
Students who book onto a Book Con Summer School short course are invited to attend a very special evening talk and Q&A on Wednesday, 19 August (6pm-8.30pm) which centres around Making Design Work: Bookbinding and Book Conservation Perspectives. A conversational evening event exploring the relationship between book design, making and conservation practice (entry is completely complimentary for students booked onto any of the courses during the Book Con Summer School). Hosted by Victoria Stevens and Mark Cockram, the session invites reflection on how different disciplines interpret original intent in books and bindings, and how design decisions are negotiated across making and preservation. Includes informal discussion with a glass of wine, Pimms & Lemonade and canapes.
Bookbinding and Book Arts
Decorative Papers and Long Stitch Bookbinding
A hands-on introduction to decorative paper techniques including Sunago papers, paste papers and flottage processes, combined with the construction of a long stitch binding. Participants will explore the relationship between surface, structure and material experimentation, producing decorated papers and a finished bound book.
Reloved and Recycled - Bookbinding from Reused Materials
An introduction to sustainable bookbinding using reclaimed materials, offcuts and recycled papers. Participants will create a personalised book that combines sewing, surface design and experimental material use, developing an understanding of adaptive design and creative reuse in book structures.
Make Your Own Journal or Sketchbook
A beginner-friendly introduction to basic book structures, combining decorative paper techniques such as marbling, paste papers and dendritic printing with the construction of a simple flat back case binding. Participants will create a finished journal or sketchbook while developing foundational binding and design skills.
Conservation
Introducing Conservation of Books and Archives
An introduction to the care and preservation of written heritage, this course explores the materials, structures and environmental factors affecting books, archives and photographic collections. Participants will gain insight into preventive conservation, basic handling, and simple repair and housing techniques.
Introducing Ceramic Conservation
This introductory course explores the principles and practice of ceramic conservation through discussion and practical handling exercises. Participants will learn about treatment considerations, material sensitivity and manual techniques involved in stabilising and reassembling ceramic objects, alongside insight into professional conservation practice.
Traditional Kintsugi - A Five-Day Intensive Course (The Complete Process)
An immersive introduction to Hon-Kintsugi, the traditional Japanese art of repairing ceramics using natural urushi lacquer and gold. Participants will follow the full repair process across multiple stages, developing an understanding of structural repair, material behaviour and the philosophy of visible restoration.
Looking After Your Memories -Caring for your Books, Personal Archives and Photographs
This course introduces the care and preservation of personal and domestic collections, including books, photographs, film and audio-visual materials. Participants will learn how to identify material types, understand environmental risks, and apply simple storage and housing solutions to support long-term preservation.
Print, Lettering and Surface
Fun with Foil (Hot Tool Foiling)
An introduction to foil tooling on paper, cloth and leather using traditional and contemporary tools. Participants will explore temperature, pressure and control in decorative finishing, developing an understanding of materials and processes used in book decoration and surface enhancement.
An Introduction to Illumination
This course explores historical illuminated lettering through the use of gouache, gilding and fine brushwork. Participants will study traditional techniques and produce a decorated letter inspired by historical sources, gaining insight into medieval methods of image and text production.
An Introduction to Letterpress
An exploration of the fundamentals of letterpress printing, including setting type, working with wooden and metal type, and combining text with image. Participants will experiment with composition and printmaking processes, producing a series of prints that explore the expressive possibilities of type.
Find out more and View all Courses
On this course the tutor will supply most of the materials including practice boards in paper, buckram and leather, leather practice spine, various foils and hand tools.
The College will supply other necessary equipment including craft knives, cutting mats, masking tape and rulers.
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).
Student registration: 10.30am - 11am
Course teaching: 11am – 5.15pm
Morning session: 11am - 1pm
Lunch break: 1pm - 2pm (lunch is not included)
Afternoon session: 2pm - 5.15pm (15 minute break, 3.30pm–3.45pm)
Teaching finishes: 5.15pm
Short courses are open to anyone aged 18 and over. The course fee covers tuition and materials where stated. You will need to bring all other items listed under the Materials to bring section.
Coffee and tea are included in the course fee, but you will need to bring lunch with you to eat in the refreshments room. There are also plenty of other local venues to purchase food.
If you have any specific access needs, we will need to know about your access requirements in advance. Please tell us about your needs in confidence by emailing: [email protected] This venue has steps to the front reception, with limited access via a side gate to the ground floor. There is a small lift to higher floors or stairs.
Short course students are required to sign a safety compliance form as part of West Dean Health and Safety regulations.
Please refer to our terms & conditions below.
The information given is accurate at the time of publication. However, West Dean College reserves the right to cancel or amend courses if circumstances require.
Subject Tutor, FdA Books and Bindings
Mark opened his first bindery-studio in 1992 and Studio 5 Book Arts in 2003 where he continues to work and teach. His diverse work is represented in public and private collections around the world and since being elected Fellow of Designer Bookbinders he has been a regular Man Booker Binder.
Take the next step in your creative practice, with foundation level to Masters in Fine Art study.
Depending on your experience, start with an Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (one year, part-time), a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design made up of 10 short courses taken over two years (part-time) or advance your learning with our BA (Hons) Art and Contemporary Craft: Materials, Making, and Place (six years part-time). All will help you develop core skills, find direction in your practice and build an impressive portfolio in preparation for artist opportunities or higher-level study. See all degree and diploma courses.
