Saturday Etching Workshops January - June 2026
Explore the art of Etching with artist and printmaker Alistair Tucker
Whether you're an adult and a complete beginner eager to learn new artistic skills, or a student looking to enrich your portfolio for Degree, Foundation, A Level, or GCSE, these Saturday workshops offer a fantastic opportunity to delve into a diverse range of etching techniques. Join Alistair in one or more of these monthly sessions from January to July, each running from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.
These workshops will cover a variety of etching processes tailored to the interests and needs of the students attending the course. This could include hard ground, soft ground, aquatint, spit bite, sugar lift, open bite, drypoint, chine colle, viscosity printing, colour printing, multi-plate printing.
This course is perfect for:
• Individuals with a passion for art and a desire to learn new skills.
• Students seeking to strengthen their portfolios for further education.
• Anyone looking for a creative and engaging way to spend their Saturdays.
Fees
• Individual Sessions: £100 per session (Subject to availability)
Everything you need to create your etched prints is included in the price.
About the tutor: Alistair Tucker has a BA Hons degree in Fine Art from UWE and a postgraduate certificate in education from Middlesex University. He has 30 years’ teaching experience in fine art practices with a particular expertise in printmaking.
About the studio: The Queen’s School art studio is spacious with excellent printmaking facilities and natural north light in the top-floor studio.
The courses will take place on Saturdays from 9-3.30pm at The Queen’s School, Chester on the following dates:
January 10/1/26
February 14/2/26
March 14/3/26
April 11/4/26
May 9/5/26
June 13/6/26
To book your place or for further information, please contact: Alistair Tucker alistair@alistairtucker.com Limited spaces available - book early to avoid disappointment!
Previous students comments:
GCSE Art Student: "I absolutely loved Alistair’s printmaking workshop! I’d never tried printmaking before, but he explained everything so clearly and made it really fun. I felt like I could ask questions at any time, and he was always super patient and encouraging. I came away with prints I was really proud of, and I’ve even started using some of the techniques in my school projects. It’s definitely made me more confident in trying new things with my art.”
A-Level Art Student: "Alistair’s workshop was a game-changer for my A-Level coursework. His passion for printmaking is infectious, and the way he guided us through each stage of the process made even the more technical parts feel accessible. I really appreciated how he encouraged us to experiment and develop our own ideas. The prints I created during the workshop became a key part of my portfolio, and I’ve continued to explore printmaking in my personal work ever since. It was such a valuable experience.”
Adults: “I think that the way in which you taught and organised the course was excellent, but most of all it was your enthusiasm and endless patience with us that meant that I managed to learn a tremendous amount in a short time. It was all very inspiring and I have since tried developing ideas in my own studio (I even have a small press of my own now) but I do feel that regular outside help from an expert is still very much needed.”
“I am a practicing artist and a tutor in practical art subjects in the field of adult education. My own work consisted of drawings and paintings until a couple of years ago when Alistair Tucker started to run etching workshops. Since then my practice has broadened to include a variety of prints and etchings, my confidence in this area of work has increased enormously, and shows I've participated in have regularly included prints made under Alistair's excellent tuition. I would have no hesitation in recommending him to fellow artists, and would dearly love to continue my exploration of printing under his guidance, as would several other artists in this area who regularly attended his workshops.”
To book your place on the course please email me to reserve your place, I will then confirm your place. Full payment must be made 6 weeks prior to the course. Please make a BACS bank transfer to: Alistair R Tucker, sort code: 089300, Co-op Bank, Account Number: 09364064
For more information and to reserve your place email: alistair@alistairtucker.com
Location
The course will take place in the Queen’s School Art department on City Walls Road, Chester. CH1 2NN (see attached map). Free Parking is possible in the school Quad or on Bedwood Row. Alternatively the Racecourse car park or the Linehall car park charge £5/6 for a days parking.
The studio is very spacious with wonderful north light and views over Chester.
It is advisable to wear old clothes and to bring an apron. You should bring a sketchbook or some sort of reference to work from as resources you may wish to use as a starting point. Tea & coffee will be provided but you will need to bring a packed lunch.