A BRAND new art event celebrating all things print is coming to Brighton. JOSH WALTON previews some of the highlights.

Brighton Print Fair starts today at Phoenix Brighton and is open to all for free.  The ten-day exhibition promotes printmaking in its various forms. From classic printmaking, letterpress, posters, screen-printed gig posters to print products, the show will be a celebration of the art-form.

The events on offer will give visitors the opportunity to buy some of the artwork on display, as well as enjoy talks, a cinema, a one-day pop-up printed goods table-top fair and variety of workshops.

The main gallery at Phoenix Brighton will be hosting the fair, with the entire space being decorated with unframed prints hanging on walls around the venue, giving the exhibition a sense of unity, and allowing the customer the  chance to choose the frame they wish.  The rest of the venue will be used for printmaking classes, talks, demonstration, one-day specials, a 20th century printmakers exhibition, as well as an in-house framer and a café.

The fair will feature the work of about 60 printmakers from around the UK.

The Printer’s Cinema  This drop-in cinema features short films about printmaking and will be open throughout the whole  ten days.

The Mid Century Print Exhibition  This exhibition will showcase and sell mid-century prints from artists represented by the Emma Mason Gallery from Eastbourne.  The Printer’s Shop  The shop will sell cards, print products, printmaking and art materials, and will also offer a framing service.

Adventures in Modern Printmaking: People, Passion and Process September 16, 5pm-7pm Pressing Matters magazine will be hosting a panel discussion: Adventures in Modern Printmaking: People, Passion and Process. This will feature a Q and A session between John Coe, founder and curator of Pressing Matters magazine, and its writer Jake Kennedy. John will then chair a panel discussion with five printmaker guests delving into their art forms.

Wayzgoose Tabletop Graphics Fair September 23 This part of the fair will offer guests a chance to buy printed bags, books, posters and cards directly form the makers. Ditchling Museum Print Trolley will invite you to come and print a letterpress postcard too. The organisers have arranged a varied and interesting programme of printing workshops for adults and children. Booking is required.

ChitChat at Brighton Print Fair September 23, 6pm-9.30pm A fast format slideshow presentation. Eight printmakers will each show 20 images of their work followed by a chance for guests to meet and discuss with printmakers over a glass of wine.

Jairo Zaldua and Nicola Green are the presenters of ChitChat. They are experimental printmakers, who create imagery together through mediums of digital, silkscreen, linocut, collage and three dimensional art, sometimes incorporating found objects (old Victorian doors), performance and sound.  As well as creating site specific and interactive printmaking installations and workshops, Jairo and Nicola have recently returned to making 2D screen prints and collages.  The artists’ wide range of work (all interconnected) often forms strands and components of ongoing and evolving projects.

50 Years Anniversary – From Paper to Gold – Unstill Life with Pear     This is Lorna Brown from Blessed Unrest’s commissioned limited edition print for the forthcoming anniversary of Edinburgh Printmakers in November. Lorna’s work will be available at the Brighton Print Fair.