CURWEN PRESS

The Curwen Press

The importance of the Curwen Press in England should not be overlooked. Harold Curwen took over the business in 1914 and began to specialise in well-designed work. After 1920, Oliver Simon extended Curwen’s reputation for good typography and design to book-work. The Press employed many important artists and designers, most notable among whom were Claud Lovat Fraser, Barnett Freedman, Edward Bawden, Albert Rutherston, and Edward Ardizzone. The School Print Series which were issued during & after the Second World War were posters designed by British artists particularly aimed for the school market. Throughout the 1930’s and the 1940’s the Curwen press was synonymous with lithographic printing, producing high quality prints & books. However,in 1958 due to the emergence of artists original prints, Timothy and Robert Simon (sons of Oliver and Herbert) set up the Curwen Studio for artists under the management of Stanley Jones, where they developed prints with exciting new qualities. There followed a period when artists including Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Graham Sutherland, Elisabeth Frink, Alan Davie, Josef Herman and John Piper produced many important limited edition, hand signed lithographs. The Curwen Press is now a Print Study Centre offering printing courses.

The Curwen 50th Anniversary boxed set comprised of 31 original prints which were contained in a glazed and lime-washed oak presentation frame. Published between 2008-2009 by the Curwen Press. The details of the publication and a list of artists with the titles of the lithographs are printed in black on the verso of the hardboard. The hardboard was held in place or removed, the concept is that the image can be changed when desired and hang using the frame provided. The 31 original prints are all signed and numbered by each artist and printed printed on Somerset Velvet 300gsm 100% cotton paper at the Curwen Press.

Contributors include Mark Hearld, Stanley Jones, Colin Wilkin, Carry Akroyd, Robert Scott Simon, Tim Wood, Mary Dalton, Thomas Martin, Bernard Dunstan, Noel Myles, Jenny Roland, Sargy Mann, Luke Elwes, Stephen Walter, Mary Fedden, Rosie Corcoran, Michael Papworth, Virginia Powell, Darryl Nantais, Wilf Roberts, Claudia Williams, Glynis Mills, Angie Lewin, Bernard Cheese, Hen Coleman, Sheila Ingham, Mike Hawkins, Roger Phillippo, Kate Dicker, Diana Armfield and Dale Devereux Barker.

The prints are now being sold individually.

Each print size: 25.5cm x 31cm.

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