Book Binding & The Book Arts

Welcome to the Eden Workshops. 

For nearly 20 years my wife and I ran a system of craft workshops dedicated to bookbinding and the Book Arts at Downside Abbey in Somerset England.

As well as Craft Book Binding we marbled paper and ran a private press. In 1997 the workshops were voted a National Living Treasure for their contribution to  the Book Arts.

Here you will find articles of interest to anyone who works within the Book Binding world, I have tried to cover some of the lesser known areas, as I feel much is already being said on other websites concerning the more frequented subjects, for example there are articles about the use of sheepskin as a book binding material as well as an article specifically about book clasps.

For those just starting out in bookbinding there are simple to follow tutorials on gilding onto leather using a simple step by step process.

The world of book binding consists of a close knit international community, over the many years as a book binder I have made friends with dozens of people all over the world and I have drawn upon my experiences with these bookbinders to produce a website that will be of genuine interest to experienced book binders or those who are just starting out in book binding related work and activities.

In particular there are a series of book binding related tutorials, these came to be written as a result of my time spent teaching book binding, paper marbling and gilding, these tutorials came into being as a result of my students continually asking the same questions, so I do feel confident that they will answer the same questions you will feel like asking when confronted with the same problems we were.

Craft book binding is an exceptionally rewarding activity, I hope to be able to pass on something of these rewards I have had as a craftsman to those following on.

I hope that whether you are just starting out or you are an experienced craftsman, there will be something in these pages for you.

The comprehensive links pages will be of very real value as they cover not only Europe but also the USA as well, these pages are being constantly updated to ensure links are working correctly.

In 2004 I took early retirement and moved out here to our new home in Southern France.

I now help others into the crafts and offer mentoring in bookbinding. It does not take a lot of expensive equipment or extensive knowledge to bind or restore antique cloth covered books,  If you need unbiased help just call me.