the artists book making workshop

Join Shirley Steel and Len Metcalf in this week long artist book making course. It is for making photography and artist books. Run in the Blue Mountains in the township of Katoomba / Leura. A stunning location full of inspiration.

Shirley and Len have been making their own books for many years and have been teaching photographers the art of book making since 2020. With a broad range of work and practice behind them, and their gentle and encouraging teaching style you will be making your own beautiful books straight away.

photobooks, artist books & zines

Making your own photography book full of your own work is incredibly rewarding. There are so many ways to do so. Most photo books are prepared in desktop publishing software on your computer, or through lightroom, or even printers propriety software. Then once it is ready you order your copy, and it arrives all finished and complete.

Artist books are hand made by you. Each page is printed and hand bound into your book. You can add drawings and words or even leave bits blank ready to add more later. There are so many ways to bind your own artists books. Some involve sewing, others gluing, or folding.

Zines are mini magazines. They are often made with one sheet of paper and folded. They are essentially cheap and easy to make. You can make a zine in under an hour, once you have your contents sorted.

curriculum

The course will be taught through presentations, demonstrations, practical exercises and hands on projects

• by the end of the course you will have made your own reference samples of each of the various books demonstrated, plus you will be well on your way to completing a major book project. We can’t guarantee you will finish it on the workshop as everyone goes at a different pace with these things. We will definitely help you with the decision making.

• choosing your images and laying them out, with particular emphasis on diptychs and the two page spread

• adding text (where and how)

• designing the look and layout of the book

• choosing fonts, and colour schemes

• choosing papers, determining the grain, and learning how to cut, fold and glue paper

• making covers, boxes and slip cases

• zines, printing and folding and enhancing

• binding and sewing techniques

• Japanese stab stitched books, flutter books, concertina books, folded books, hard cover and soft cover

• using Lightroom and desktop publishing software

• printing your pages

requirements

You will be given a detailed list before the course. You need photographs to work with for your books.

• you will need to bring images to work with

• prints as per requirements for your major book project

• laptop, power cables and usb stick

• basic book making equipment (scalpel, glue brush, rags, pencil, straight edge, cutting board - can be supplied)

inclusions

• book binding supplies

• paper supplies

• specialist book binding equipment

• inkjet printing

• lunch, refreshments and snacks

  retreat option inclusions

• single room accommodation Sunday pm to Saturday am

• all meals and continental breakfast

• transport if required (ex Sydney or Katoomba railway station)

exclusions

• transport

• travel insurance

• printing fees for professionally printed and bound books

• barrista coffees

• alcoholic beverages

  workshop option exclusions

• accommodation

• dinners

  retreat option exclusions

• cooked breakfasts and barista coffees (quality local cafes abound)

location

Katoomba / Leura local

dates

23rd - 27th March 2026

session times to be announced

best to arrive Sunday 22nd and plan to stay until Saturday 28th as both the Monday and Friday are full days

retreat or workshop

Choose the retreat option if you would like to stay with us, and enjoy being spoiled for a full immersive experience.

Choose the workshop option, and choose your own accommodation, meals and transport. This gives you the flexibility to come and go as you please. This option makes it easy for locals to attend.

by booking you are agreeing to the terms and conditions as outlined here.

investment

AUD$3950 workshop - day attendance only

AUD$6900 retreat - live in, meals, Sunday evening to Saturday morning