simon tozer
Bristol
Screen printing is a traditional print process that uses stencils to build up an
image. The stencil is attached to a screen - a finely woven mesh attached to a
frame. The image is printed by drawing a squeegee at pressure across the screen,
pushing ink through the mesh onto paper in those areas not covered by the
stencil. There are different ways of making stencils for screen print; the most
basic are papercuts, but a more sophisticated technique uses a photostencil: the
screen is coated with a light sensitive emulsion and the artwork is exposed onto
it. This process allows greater detail than paper stencils, and enables
photographic images and text to be used. For each colour to be printed, a
separate piece of artwork needs to be created. About the studio and equipment My
studio is part of Centrespace Co-operative, a block of 31 workshops and studios
that also manage the adjoining Centrespace Gallery. Centrespace, formerly known
as Bristol Craft Centre, took over the building, a former print works in 1977.
My own studio is a light and airy space of two rooms with an additional wet room
for washing out screens. One room houses the print equipment and one is for
design and drawing work. The print room uses a self built exposure unit, and
includes three printing stations (one tabletop setup and two vacuum beds), and
marble racks for drying prints. The drawing room includes desk space for three
people and a large lightbox. About the tutor Simon studied painting at
Portsmouth Polytechnic and printmaking at Chelsea College of Art, where he
received the British Instuition Fund for Printmaking Award. He worked in London
for over a decade as a scenic painter and muralist before moving to Bristol in
2002. He holds a PGCE in Post-compulsory Education and has been teaching screen
printing to all ages and abilities for over a decade. He exhibits his work
regularly. To see some of his prints go to simontozer.co.uk
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