Directions: The Crail Press is located at the end of my garden, which is accessed via a shared vennel. Standing with your back to Barnett’s bakery and looking across the High Street you will see a pair of doors, one red (marked number 25) and one green (marked number 23). Go through the red door and straight down the vennel, and then through the garden door directly in front of you. You will see a long garden path with steps immediately ahead of you and the back door of the house to your right. Go up the steps and up the path to the workshop at the end of the garden.
At the Crail Press, Dawn Hollis creates art posters, stationery and books using traditional letterpress techniques, painstakingly setting metal type by hand. The written word is at the heart of the press, but so too are illustrations and abstract designs created using countless pieces of metal type.
Dawn creates blocks for printing from her own designs as well as drawing on vintage blocks and ‘printers ornaments’. Seagulls, lighthouses, and texts inspired by the East Neuk abound in her work. Every single item – whether a large print to adorn your wall or a postcard to send to a friend – is hand printed either on Dawn’s small tabletop Adana press or on her 200 year-old iron Stanhope.
Visitors to the workshop are always welcome. Dawn also runs ‘letterpress experiences’ for groups of up to 4 people, and is always happy to take on commissions, from wedding invitations to unique gifts.
