08.2 / The New Typography Workshop

In 1991, I went to work for Alan Kitching as an apprentice. I had not long graduated from Norwich School of Art, with a portfolio full of letterpress work. AK never like the Apprentice tag, he always referred to me as his assistant; but an apprenticeship it was. I worked for him for nearly 5 years . . .

In 2016, we decided to join forces again and we established The New Typography Workshop, teaching and mentoring students about letterpress. After a few fruitful years including an ‘artist in residence’ & lecture series, the workshop closed in Early 2022.

Conceived & directed by leading typographic practitioner Kelvyn Smith & letterpress maestro Alan Kitching: The New Typography Workshop was a new – hands-on – school of design & typography with letterpress at its core. It offered art directors, artists, designers, printmakers & students the opportunity to study typography & work closely with wood letter & metal type, letterpress materials & printing equipment. The school offered a series of one & two-day classes each month as well as two intense five-day Summer Schools.