Things to do · Arts and crafts
Try screen printing
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Screen printing uses a stencil on a screen to print your own design, one colour layer at a time, and to run off a numbered edition of the same image. A day workshop can take a drawing of yours to finished prints.
GentleUnder £100 / $130An afternoonIndoorsWith othersUK and US
Someone who has done it
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What it's really like
City Lit's course sets out the steps: make a stencil from paper, drawing or a digital file; coat the screen with light-sensitive emulsion; expose and wash out your artwork; mix the ink; then line up and print each colour on paper.
A day workshop moves quicker. Print Club London asks you to bring your own A4 black-and-white design, and supplies the inks and paper. City Lit's one-day course has used ready-made photographic screens so beginners can print a two-colour image in a day.
{'Unlike a linocut, there is no block to carve': "the image is carried by a stencil on the screen. PAFA's course teaches printing editions on registered paper, and notes the method also works on fabric and other surfaces."}
Ways in and what they cost
| Where | Course/format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Print Club London, Dalston | Beginners' workshop, one day; inks and paper included; no experience needed | £75 |
| City Lit, London | Screen printing workshop, two Saturdays, two weekends or five three-hour sessions; all levels | £229 to £349, or £183 to £279 senior and £149 to £227 concession |
| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia | Screenprinting and Beyond: 12 weekly three-hour sessions for beginners | $570, including a $30 lab fee |
City Lit says basic Photoshop skills help but are not essential, and it does not allow open-toed shoes in the studio.
How to start
- Book a beginners' day at a screen printing studio or a short course at an adult education college or art school.
- Prepare a simple black-and-white design; Print Club London asks for one A4 copyright-free design on a USB stick, plus a backup.
- Wear closed shoes and clothes you do not mind getting ink on.
Where to go
- Print Club London: Beginners Screen Print Workshop UK
- City Lit: Screen printing workshop (London) UK
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts: Screenprinting and Beyond (Philadelphia) US
We opened these links on 7 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Do I need experience to do a screen printing workshop?
No. Print Club London says no experience is needed, and City Lit's workshop welcomes complete beginners.
What do I need to bring to a screen printing class?
Print Club London asks for an A4 black-and-white design saved as a JPEG, PDF or PSD file on a USB stick. City Lit asks for closed footwear and provides protective equipment.
How is the stencil made in screen printing?
City Lit teaches paper stencils, hand-drawn artwork and digital stencils, and how to coat a screen with light-sensitive emulsion and expose your artwork onto it.
Can you screen print on fabric?
Yes. PAFA's course notes that screen printing works on paper, fabric and other surfaces.
Where this comes from: City Lit, Screen printing workshop; City Lit, Screenprinting for beginners; Print Club London, Beginners Workshop; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Continuing Education, Screenprinting and Beyond (In-Person). Opened 7 November 2026.
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