The resurgence of Letterpress over the last few decades has triggered a passionate respect for the craft of Typography & has reinforced its position in the visual arts. Letterpress has evolved as a natural ally to the graphic arts & identified itself as an exciting process to express ideas & an extraordinarily thorough process to examine language & typography.
As an antidote to the immediate — often dispensable nature of modern technology — the slow articulation of the technical side of Letterpress allows the designer to immerse themselves in the focus of the craft & revel in the simple joys of making.
Conceived & directed by leading typographic practitioner Mr Smith: Smith’s Rules is running a series of typographic & letterpress classes at the Bruton workshop. From April to October we offer one & two-day classes each month as well as two intense four-day Summer Schools.
The courses offer art directors, artists, designers, printmakers & students the opportunity to study typography & work closely with wood letter & metal type, letterpress materials & printing equipment.
Some documentation of the London Classes can be seen here.
Smith’s Rules
Unit 5 / Riverside
Station Road Industrial Estate
Bruton / Somerset BA10 0EH
Kelvyn Laurence Smith / 07866258171
mrsmith@smithsrules.com
We at right at the end of the Station Road Industrial Estate — (over the bumps) & down to the left — follow the signs to ‘Riverside’. You can park outside the unit.
Getting to Smith’s Rules by Car
Google Maps / Smith’s Rules
Plus code / 4H73+23 Bruton
from London take the M3 west & ease onto the A303 at junction 8. Take the very sharp turning on to the B3081 to Bruton (being carful not to end up in Gillingham). Take the sharp right just passed ‘The Hunters Lodge Inn’ — the 3081 splits at this point — & wiggle your way to Bruton.
As you come down the Hill to Bruton — past Hauser & Wirth & Kings Bruton Playings on your right & head under the railway bridge & take the second right into Station Road Industrial Estate.
Getting to Smith’s Rules by Train
The workshop is very near the Bruton Train Station. Mainline trains from Paddington & Waterloo & Bath & Bristol will deliver you to Bruton (with some chopping & changing at Salisbury or Castle Carey).
Hotels
Airbnb
Camping
Batcombe Vale
It’s a 5—10 minute drive from Bruton. Perfect for those mild Summer evenings if you like sleeping under the stars.