Over the years, we have received fantastic recommendations and testimonials from creative organisations and artists who have supported our vision enabling us to attract funding to continue to develop as an important part of the creative and community landscape of Swansea and further afield.
And we are grateful to everyone who takes the time to comment on what we do – from visiting artists, project participants, school students and visitors to our exhibitions and events.
It helps us understand what works (and sometimes what doesn’t); it encourages us to continue to create and offer a variety of opportunities to artists and to the wider community.
We have shared a selection of some of our favourite comments below.
Crystal: Blaen-y-maes Primary School
Supporting our vision
The Workshop has done a great deal to encourage people from all walks of life and has totally transformed some people’s lives.
Gillian Morgan, Co-ordinating Tutor Visual Arts
The relationship between our faculty and Swansea Print Workshop has benefited from fruitful collaboration …
Professor Andrea Liggins, Dean of Faculty of Art & Design
… you contribute a significant piece of the jigsaw of the future cultural shape of Swansea and the region.
Robin Hall, Arts Development Officer, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea
Swansea Print Workshop has demonstrated that there is a real demand for professional artists print facilities and that as an established and credible organisation they have the capacity to deliver a range of high quality services and initiatives.
Sybil Crouch, Head of Cultural Services, Taliesin Arts Centre
The Workshop has always provided our students with excellent specialist facilities, expertise and support over a number of years and has encouraged learners of all abilities to engage in printmaking activities.
Sarah Hopkins, Course Co-ordinator Art & Design, Gorseinon College, Swansea
The Workshop is an invaluable resource for artists … the development of specialist artistic support services, such as Swansea Print Workshop, would give an enormous boost to the visual arts throughout this region.
Robert Macdonald, Artist
I have been very impressed by the Print Workshop’s initiatives to train and nurture young printmakers and its record on access for all. My own daughter, who has learning difficulties has worked as a volunteer at the Print Workshop and this has given her confidence and purpose as well as enabling her to create work of her own of sufficient quality that she has exhibited alongside professional artists in Wales and Pakistan.
Lynne Bebb, Artist
This is how I felt about working as a volunteer at the Print Workshop; the people here are very friendly and smart and very good listeners and advise when I need it.
Leila Bebb, Volunteer
I first came to the Workshop as a work placement through ‘New Deal’ referred by the Job Centre and Swansea Council for Voluntary Services …although I have a degree in Fine Art, I have learnt new techniques, how to teach, how to prepare and run workshops … and work on large scale projects as part of a team.
Kara Seaman, Volunteer/Artist
As an artist and Printmaker simply knowing Swansea Print Workshop exists inspires and encourages me to work, it also gives me vital access to events and equipment/facilities that I am unable to work with at home.
Elissa V Evans, Artist and Printmaker
We know that artistic colonies in other places have raised the quality of life in other places and have reversed the running down of poor areas. Swansea needs something like this.
Donald Leech, Member of Swansea Print Workshop
The welcoming atmosphere and sense of camaraderie, coupled with a
deep understanding of the way artists work, and solid technical support,
must make it a unique resource for this part of Wales, if not the whole
of it.
Sally Greiner, Artist
The ethos is invigorating, exploratory and in pursuit of the highest standards.
Veronica Gibson, Artist
I live some distance from Swansea … why am I willing to travel? The answer is that, in my experience, Swansea Print Workshop offers by far the best context for open-access printmaking in South Wales.
Bernard van Lierop, Artist
The ‘group’ interests are excellent at the Workshop offering companionship in working practical printmaking. Information and interests combine and the whole learning environment is conducive to enhanced levels of achievement in art.
Pat Briggs, Artist
I will always remember the first time I set foot in 19A Clarence Street … as an elderly person who has a rather vague knowledge of printmaking it opened up a wonderful world.
I have long known of, enjoyed, and admired the work of Swansea Print Workshop. This well founded opinion went to another level when I visited their recent exhibition Dialogues – new works inspired by the words of both Dylan Thomas but also responding to two contemporary writers both winners of The Dylan Thomas Prize Maggie Shipstead and Rachel Trezise at Taliesin Gallery a week or so back … the body of work on display was of such a uniform high standard and the whole exhibition was a delight – presented so well and with a very fine catalogue.
Jeff Towns, Chairman of Dylan Thomas Society of Great Britain
Congratulations on a superb exhibition. Powerfully emotional work, beautifully displayed. I loved it.
Such varied responses to Dylan’s writing – so much creativity and talent. His written work in visual form – an extension of his legacy. Inspirational.
Wonderful to see the creativity burgeoning in Swansea. Very inspiring.
I was privileged and thoroughly enjoyed being artist in residence at Swansea Print Workshop. My lasting memory will be of meeting and working alongside such a dedicated and enthusiastic group of staff, volunteers and artists at the workshop and the generosity and friendliness of Swansea.
New experiences are so valuable to the artist, giving an opportunity for re-evaluation, experimentation and the opportunity to explore methods afresh. This opportunity marks the start of a new dialogue and exchange to develop for years to come.
[The residency] gave me the opportunity [for] … learning … unexplored softground techniques which opened up new pathways for me as a printmaker.
Robert Macdonald, Artist in Residency (in Edinburgh)
… working at Swansea Print Workshop … enabled me to explore the joys of monoprinting which has expanded my vocabulary of mark-making. As a result I will continue to work with monoprinting in my work in future
This exhibition made me smile especially the birds, the bat, and the dinosaur.
Susie Wild, Going, Going, Not Quite Gone, Exhibition
It’s so cool to see our pictures on the wall, it was magnificent!
Mahida Khan, school student participant
The pupils have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working with Swansea Print Workshop. The end products are fantastic! Thank you very much.
Kevin Hodder, Acting Headteacher, St. Helen’s Primary School
I knew the outcome would be as good as it is having witnessed the enthusiasm and drive of the “team” who took the project out into the community. Well done to all concerned. Excellent work.
Alan Figg, Director at Swansea Print Workshop
I’ve come to appreciate how positive an impact community work can have, by simply bringing people together to learn about differences and similarities within society.
Rosie Hughes, Community Artist role
It’s been a wonderful and inspirational experience working with the team of amazing people and sharing our ideas and enthusiasm with the local community … not only have I gained valuable insight into the workings of a professional art organisation, I have had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of putting together a community art project.
Joyce Li, Project Assistant role
I have gained such valuable experiences at SPW, many of which I owe to the warmth, kindness, integrity and creativity of the other volunteers and staff members. I would recommend volunteer work to everybody – there is nothing quite like it!
Carly Llewellyn, Marketing and Events Assistant role
Working with the public has meant that I have been privileged enough to have engaged with a spectrum of interesting and diverse people. Continually practicing the required processes at the workshop has meant my skills as a printmaker have steadily improved, resulting in myself becoming a more confident artist and in turn aiding with my university studies and developing my portfolio.
Matthew Otten, Community Artist role
I feel very fortunate to have been involved in the Young Volunteers programme. It has been fantastic to work with and observe skilled printmakers in a workshop environment and I am confident that the techniques I have acquired will become part of my Illustration practice.
During my time here, I’ve enjoyed working with members of the workshop to produce a range of beautiful colours which express the natural spaces of Swansea. Everyone responded creatively and imaginatively to the project and the book reflects the talents and enthusiasm of printmakers at Swansea Print Workshop.
It has been really helpful in terms of the information and advice given for getting a job in the arts … Seeing how the business is run, what considerations have to be made, what tasks to be done and then having the opportunity to carry certain tasks out has been a great insight.
Lianne Trendell
I have gained practical experience of 3 different print techniques (for the first time) … I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of printmaking. Thank you so much for the opportunity.
We were delighted that our children benefited from being involved in such a culturally diverse project and that they were able to exhibit their prints in a professional context at the end of the programme. The project helped to increase an understanding and raise awareness of Muslim cultures and Islamic art and initiated positive dialogues amongst the children.
Carolyn Davies, Teacher Adviser and Co-ordinator for the Arts
I did not know what to expect as I had never done any printmaking before, however, I absolutely loved every second of it and subsequently decided to become a full member of Swansea Print Workshop.
Farhana Tegwyn Malik
I am getting printmaking skills, professional training, guidance and development, excellent cultural experience and lots of friends. This is my treasure, which I get from Swansea Print Workshop; I’ll take with me to give back to my community in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. This cultural and professional experience gave me the courage and confidence to develop a cultural exchange …I’ll transfer these experiences, printmaking skills and the love, which I get from this community … to my motherland.
Aleem Dad Khan, Artist in Residence at Swansea Print Workshop
I did a three month internship with responsibility for the publicising of the Contemporary Welsh Printmakers exhibition. I was amazed by the broad reach of the Festival of Muslim Cultures Print Project run by this tiny organisation … this exhibition was the crowning event.
