The UK’s leading artist-led festival, the wonderful ‘Printfest’, returns to Ulverston in Cumbria in early May, and once again they will be showcasing the very best in print.

I love this festival with a passion and am always amazed at the depth and breadth of the stunning pieces on show – all contributions from some of the finest artists you’ll find anywhere. And each year I always make a beeline for the work of whoever has been crowned Printfest’s Printmaker of the Year, and in 2024 that honour goes to Bronwen Sleigh (work pictured). She takes her inspiration from the Russian constructivists – along with the architecture and made-made structures of both Glasgow and Africa – and her pieces look absolutely stunning. Sleigh will be ably complimented by a second headliner, Sally Adkins, an artist who was voted Printmakers’ Printmaker by her fellow artists in 2023. But this pair will just be two of the forty plus artists who will be exhibiting this year in a show that celebrates all types of printmaking across a whole range of subject matter.

Sally Bamber, Printfest Chair, comments: “Printfest has become woven into the fabric of Ulverston, Cumbria, so we are absolutely delighted that it will be returning for its 21st year. The Ulverston community has always welcomed Printfest with open arms and the support and energy from visitors has been fantastic every single year. We hope Printfest 2024 will attract the same levels of support and, in return, benefit the whole community – while shining a light on this wonderful, accessible artform.”

Printfest’s Opening Talk this year is scheduled for 2 May, with the Preview on 3 May, and then the Main Exhibition will run from 4-5 May. And, organised in collaboration with the Cumbria Printmakers group, will be a new series of workshops that will also be available to visitors. Open to all abilities, these sessions will see tutors walk participants through printmaking methods and techniques such as screenprint, relief collagraph, tetrakpak, linoprint, drypoint, cline collé and monoprint. Details of these workshops, as well as everything else that is going on, can be gleaned from the website, below.

Printfest, 1-5 May, The Coro, County Square, Ulverston, Cumbria, printfest.uk