The Studio is now being managed by East Quay as East Quay Print Studio. Please contact printstudio@eastquaywatchet.co.uk or phone 01984 263103 with any enquiries.
The workshop space was established as Albatross Print Studio 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.
The studio’s purpose continues, offering membership, open access and workshops for all levels as well as a programme of short exhibitions. You can find more information about current activities here.
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.
From 1st April 2026, a new chapter has begun in the studio’s story, with the transfer of management to Onion Collective CIC, the social enterprise that runs East Quay. Lily Maddocks has been appointed as Studio Manager, 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 change gives the studio a fresh injection of energy and a solid foundation for long-term sustainability. Meanwhile, Sue and Sarah look forward to greater freedom to develop their own work.
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 