Images magazine Digital Edition April 2018

www.images-magazine.com APRIL 2018 images 33 DECORATOR PROFILE design by graphic artist Supermundane, and to look round the new facility. It’s a large, bright space. On the left are four medium-size studios with one larger one at the end that is currently being used as a gallery; the studios range in size from 130 sq ft to 400 sq ft. A six-colour/four-station M&R Kruzer manual screen carousel is housed at the far end of the main room along with a 3m tunnel dryer and an 80cm by 100cm heat press. There are fabric printing tables and paper printing tables on the right-hand side, with light pouring over them from the huge windows. Open access Long work tables are provided for those who choose to rent one of the 150cm by 90cm desk spaces – a cheaper alternative to renting a studio and an option which includes either 10 or 50 hours of open studio access each month – and there is also an office where manager Holly Clarke works. The room housing the two washout units, exposure unit and screen drying cupboard is particularly noteworthy: it contains what was originally a ramp to the lower level of the car park and so users are required to step down to the units – a regular reminder of the building’s origins. 3rd Rail Print Space is, explains Holly, the only open access studio in London that offers garment, fabric and paper printing and also provides professional- level equipment so that freelancers can come in and carry out print projects from beginning to end in one place. It is also unusual in that garment decorators will be able to use plastisol inks, as well as water-based (the latter tends to be the default choice in open access studios). Studio memberships start at £100 a month for 50 hours’ access, and workshops are offered to members and non-members alike. It’s the workshops that Holly, who had previously worked for seven years at another open access studio that focused on textiles, is particularly excited about. “Courses are something that I really wanted to specialise in; I thought, ‘This is something I definitely want to be a part of’,” she explains. “We’ve got one-day introductory ones and intermediate level ones, and in the future we’re going to do Meet The Maker ones where someone from the industry will come in and run a course.” The workshops are competitively priced, starting at £45 for children, and £70 a day for adults. Those people using the studio will be given a full induction on how to use all the equipment – someone may have The printer’s perspective “I’ve just recently started printing at 3rd Rail Print Space and so far I am really enjoying being back in screen printing. Holly, the studio manager, is super helpful and always on hand to answer questions and offer helpful hints and tips. The 3rd Rail monthly memberships are very well priced in comparison to most other studios in London. They’re also super flexible with printing hours and have a great range of space available, including printing tables, T-shirt carousel and a heat press.” Krystyna Scullion, owner of new T-shirt brand, Scully come in for paper printing, for example, but the studio’s set-up gives them the opportunity to delve into fabric and garment printing if they fancy it too. Holly will be on hand to answer any questions during office hours, and she’ll also soon be helped by technicians thanks to an internship scheme she’s in the process of setting up. She already has a list of people wanting to apply despite not having even advertised the position. A one-stop shop for consumables is available plus a limited stock of larger items, such as T-shirts. A black book containing supplier contact details and any discount deals will also be available to members who want to order additional products. It’s anticipated the studio will host a constantly changing mix of people, including design graduates, own-brand label and online store owners, people who print for a hobby and those looking to learn a new skill. “That’s what’s nice about it: we’ll have range of different levels in here, and they’ll all use it in their own way,” says Holly. www.3rdrailprintspace.co.uk [Above] Technicians will be on hand at the studio to help members. [Above right] Studios and desk spaces are available to rent Memberships start at £100 a month