The Curwen Studio is a unique organisation in fine art printing for artists/photographers and has an outstanding international reputation.

We offer a special creative service for artists, photographers and publishers.

The keys to our success are the working relationship with the client, our open approach to each project, the knowledge of our technical staff and the high quality of the materials used.

We pride ourselves in offering an environment which is forward thinking and innovative at the same time as respecting our rich and distinguished history.

We are situated at Chilford Hall (a country estate with a vineyard and conference centre) in Cambridgeshire.

The location complements artistic inspiration and is ideally situated for access from all directions, either by road, rail or air. We are happy to collect artists travelling by train from the nearest railway station (Cambridge or Audley End) or from the airport at Stansted.

History

1863   The Reverend John Curwen establishes the Curwen Press in Plaistow

1908   His grandson Harold joins soon after the introduction of lithography and invites artists             participation in print

1911   Harold becomes a director and starts the fundamental reorganisation leading to the             revolution in the firms output and image

1920   Oliver Simon (later to become a renowned book designer) joins the press, shortly             followed by his brother Herbert as MD

1924   Oliver had contact with the Royal College of Art which led to commissions for young             artists, including Paul Nash, Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious

1939   In spite of problems during World War II the press remained active, producing             publications for Free France, The Belgian government in exile and the literary magazine             Horizon

1958   Due to the emergence of artists original prints, Timothy and Robert Simon (sons of Oliver             and Herbert) set up the 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 lithographs

1977   The Tate Gallery form an Archive of contemporary prints and the Curwen Press and             Studio's important contribution is duly recognised in an exhibition 'Artists at Curwen'

1989   The Curwen Studio moves to a more spacious location at Chilford Hall (a country estate             and vineyard) in Cambridgeshire

1999   Jenny Roland, the granddaughter of Herbert Simon joins Curwen to continue the family             enthusiasm in print

2000   The Royal Academy honours the Studio's involvement with Academicians with an             exhibition in the Friends Room of work by 41 Academicians

2008   The studio celebrates their 50th Anniversary with a display at Tate Britain and a Tate             Publication covering the history of the studio to date