Albatross Print Studio is a workshop space established by Watchet-based artists Sue Lowe and Sarah Ward in 2021.
Our intention in establishing Albatross was twofold: to operate a community resource that supports professional and emerging artists in our area to work in print media and to introduce printmaking to the community at large, whilst at the same time developing our own professional practices.
Our Story…
A print studio was part of the plan for East Quay from an early stage. From the start of 2021, we sourced the major equipment for the studio, acquiring a new etching press, a UV exposure unit and an 1836 Albion relief press, whilst we watched the building take shape.
We were delighted when our application to Arts Council England for project funding was given the green light. The grant helped us with the remaining costs of equipment items, furniture and fittings, tools and materials, and contributed towards our administrative costs in starting up the business and promoting the studio.
For the last four years, we have run an extensive programme of print workshops. We have built up an active membership of printmakers who use our open-access scheme. These bookable sessions are available on Tuesdays and Fridays for those who have some printmaking experience. We encourage public engagement with printmaking through a programme of exhibitions and open days, which also offer a promotion and sales platform for our members. Please visit our Membership page or email us if you would like to learn more about membership benefits.
In 2026, a new chapter is opening in the studio’s story, as management is being handed on to Onion Collective CIC, the social enterprise that runs East Quay. This has allowed the creation of a salaried post of Studio Manager/Technician, with a brief to develop the Studio as an important part of the East Quay offer, supporting the existing users and helping to grow the provision and use of the studio. This will give the studio a fresh injection of energy and a solid foundation for long-term sustainability. Membership benefits will continue largely unchanged, at least initially. Meanwhile, Sue and Sarah look forward to greater freedom to develop their own work.
You can sign up (see below) for our mailing list for updates on new developments, news of upcoming workshops and membership opportunities.
Why “Albatross”?
Watchet lays claim to being the location where Samuel Taylor Coleridge conceived ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’. The story is commemorated by the town in a statue, by sculptor Alan Herriot, imagining the Mariner and his albatross nemesis, and continues to inspire many local artists.
Albatross Print Studio 