On Saturday, just 6 of us took part in a Linocut workshop. Aylsa was providing everything would need so all we need to do was turn up with an apron and our sandwiches.

We arrived at the gallery to find everything laid out ready for us and quickly set too on deciding our designs. Aylsa talked us through the process of transferring them to lino and how to cut while keeping our fingers safe. Around mid day, the room fell quite as we were all busy carving into lino. It is really very satisfying. Trying to get the carving cuts lined up in case we get chatter once the ink was applied was absorbing.

Shortly before 2pm we were ready to start the very messy business of printing. Sticky ink is daubed onto an acrylic sheet, worked and mixed with a palette knife, applied to the roller and then to the lino itself. Then, with clean hands, the lino is placed into the press, a clean piece of paper laid carefully on top and the press closed. Then the best bit, opening the press and peeling back the paper to reveal the print. There was quickly a queue at the press as we all tried different colour ways, cleaned off the lino for additional cuts and tweaks and tried out different sorts of paper.

Everyone had a marvellous day with such different but all successful designs. Linocut is a fabulous art form and I, for one, will certainly be trying it again.