Printfest

Printfest has been bringing printmakers to Ulverston, Cumbria since 2001. Born from conversations between local artists at Ulverston’s Tinners’ Rabbit Fine Art Gallery, the festival was inspired by Chris Benefield and brought to life through the vision and determination of Judy Evans and Ronkey Bullard. Today, artists and visitors travel from across the UK and overseas to take part, but the festival remains true to its original purpose: celebrating printmaking, creating opportunities for artists, and helping people discover the art of print.

In 2026, Lil Creative Studio was invited to join the Printfest team. Rather than arriving with plans for a complete redesign, our first year has been focused on listening, learning and understanding what makes Printfest so special. The festival has been shaped by many talented people over the years, including artists, designers and volunteers, all of whom have helped build its reputation within the printmaking world. We felt it was important to respect that history before considering how it might evolve in the future.

As we became more involved, it quickly became clear that Printfest is about much more than the exhibition itself. Alongside showcasing the work of 40+ carefully selected printmakers, the festival brings together artists, collectors, students, volunteers and visitors for a weekend of talks, workshops and conversations. In 2026, Printmaker of the Year Anne Desmet RA RE and Printmakers’ Printmaker Aga Kubish helped inspire audiences through their work and presentations, demonstrating the breadth and creativity of contemporary printmaking.

What has impressed us most is the festival’s commitment to widening access to the arts. Through partnerships with schools across the area, hundreds of children have the opportunity to see their work exhibited and celebrated. Families who might never normally attend an arts event are encouraged to visit, often discovering a new appreciation for creativity and culture in the process. For many, Printfest becomes more than an exhibition; it becomes a shared experience and a memorable day out.

Throughout the year, we supported the Printfest team with a wide range of communications, including the festival catalogue, posters, flyers, advertising, event signage, website updates and materials for the Ulverston Fringe programme. Our role was not to change the visual identity, but to ensure the festival’s communications remained consistent, engaging and effective while we built a deeper understanding of the organisation and its audiences.

With our first year complete, attention is now turning to the future. Working closely with the Printfest team, we are beginning a phased programme of improvements that will enhance accessibility, usability and sustainability across the festival’s communications. This includes refreshing the website, improving the user experience, strengthening the technical foundations of the platform and exploring ways to reduce environmental impact through more sustainable digital and print production.

For us, the success of Printfest isn’t measured simply by attendance figures or the number of artworks sold. It’s found in the conversations sparked by an exhibition, the confidence gained by a young artist seeing their work displayed, and the families discovering a cultural experience they may never otherwise have encountered. We’re proud to play a small part in helping that continue.

printfest.co.uk