Meet whose behind LABPRINT
Hey 👋 I’m Jill! Printer and creative behind labprint!
I'm originally a graphic designer, having studied Graphic design at NUA.
I've always been a lover of all things typography and paper stock but my love for letter pressing grew whilst I was planning my wedding and researching into my own invites. Since then, I've acquired four letter pressing machines.
Letter pressing is a process that involves a lot of time, labour and love. I primary use traditional hand fed lead letters and continue to collect typefaces, as well as creating bespoke designs for polymer plates.
What I love most about letter pressing is that each print is individual. Each print will have its own character, no print is the same as the last, just like they have their own personalities. That being said, the lasting sharp impression with letter pressing is one that cannot be achieved in any other form.
Meet the press
Since falling in love with letter pressing, I've acquired four letter pressing machines. But my main press is a 1920’s TC Thompson & Son Gem Nº. Originally from Manchester, this press is a hand-fed platen press, meaning it requires manual feeding of the paper and is treadle-operated, using a foot pedal for power. This press now resides in my small home studio, surrounded by lead type, ink and an endless stack of projects.
Why ‘LABPRINT’
Meet Barney, a Labrador retriever, hence the ‘lab’ element of our name. Who is always by my side and in the studio. He’s been with me every step of the way, not only in terms of my journey as a printer but in every step of life. This good boy has been with me throughout all my twenties, seen me fail and succeed and has been a part of every major event in my life, including walking me down the isle.