Christmas Gift Ideas for Linocut Artists
Updated: Oct 21
This Christmas, surprise the budding linocut artist in your life with a thoughtful and practical gift that celebrates their passion for printmaking. Whether they enjoy craft-making and want to try lino printing for the first time or have more experience, the right gifts can bring joy to their creative process.
In this blog, I’ve recommended my top ten gift ideas. From affordable lino printing kits to high-quality Pfeil cutting tools, these gifts will inspire creativity.
1. High-quality linocut tools
Good quality lino tools are on every artist’s wish list. They’re the best gift you could give! They’re a dream to work with, ensuring smooth carving and precise details in their linocut prints. I use Pfeil cutting tools to carve my lino blocks. Pfeil tools can be sharpened to last a lifetime.
Choosing which tools to buy is personal. I use V-shaped gouges to carve lines and U-shaped gouges to clear away areas I don’t want to print. If you’d like to read more, see my linocut tools blog.
Pfeil cutting tool sets
I bought the LSC set, which I love, and I use all of them.
Single Pfeil cutting tools
Below are a few suggested sizes.
Small V-shape gouge: L 11/0.5 for carving fine lines and details.
Medium V-shape gouge: L 12/4 for carving lines.
Small U-shaped gouge: L 9/2 for carving lines and clearing small areas.
Large U-shaped gouge L8/7 for clearing large areas.
A single Pfeil tool costs around £21, and a set of six costs about £125. Available to buy at Handprinted and Jacksons Art.
2. Lino printing starter set
Handprinted.co.uk sells a wide selection of lino printing kits and bundles. They're very helpful if you need advice on what to buy. Prices range from £15 to £44.
The linocut beginners bundle from Handprinted - Contains a choice of Caligo Safewash Ink (oil-based but water soluble) or Schmincke water-based ink, plus Japanese cutting tools, Essdee blue handle roller, traditional grey lino, a bamboo baren and printing paper.
The make your own card bundle from Handprinted - Contains SoftCut lino, Essdee lino cutters, a Versafine ink pad and blank cards.
Block printing kit for fabric and paper available from Handprinted - Contains MasterCut blocks and Versacraft Ink Pads.
Alternatively, make your own kit with these items from Handprinted.co.uk.
Essdee lino tools (£3.75), a pack of SoftCut lino (from £3.95), a blue handle soft Essdee roller (from £7.90) and a tube of black Cranfield Safe Wash ink (from £8.50).
3. Gift an experience with a gift voucher for a linocut workshop
We live in a world of too much stuff, so why not gift an experience instead? What’s nicer than spending quality time with friends or family?
Workshops offer hands-on experience, letting participants learn the intricacies of linocut from a professional linocut artist. It's a chance to try lino printing, see if they like it, and learn new skills.
“Trying out new skills and learning something new. Confidence to try something different. Lovely relaxed atmosphere, useful links and trips, very supportive and encouraging to all abilities.”
“Great, welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Learning something completely new and coming away with a finished product! Thank you!”
“Learning how to make a linocut. I love this style of art. And creating my own design. It was a great moment seeing my first print!”
My one-day introduction to linocut print workshops is £100 per person, including materials, drinks and homemade cake. I limit each workshop to 4 students, so you get lots of one-to-one teaching. I’m always happy to do bespoke dates for groups of 4 friends or family. Find out more on my linocut workshops page.
Gift vouchers are available for linocut workshops in my York studio. Get in touch to order.
Online courses
Contact me if you would like to gift one of my online linocut courses.
4. A set of printing inks
Hawthorn Stay Open Ink Set 
Caligo Safe Wash Ink Set
A printing ink set is essential for achieving consistent ink coverage on linocut blocks and prints. Cheap block printing inks can be frustrating, and no matter how good you are at printing, they still produce patchy prints.
Hawthorn Stay Open Ink Set
Professional-quality oil-based ink for block printing on paper. These are the inks I use.
The ink set contains 5 x 115 g pots of ink from the transparent range: crimson, cobalt blue, cadmium yellow, dense black and transparent. Approx £30.50 at Hawthorn Printmaking Supplies.
Caligo Safe Wash Relief Printing Ink Set
Professional quality oil-based ink for block printing on paper. The ink set includes 6 x 75ml tubes: Process Blue, Process Red, Process Yellow, Black, Opaque White, and Extender. Approx £45.60 at Handprinted.co.uk.
5. A roller or brayer
A good quality roller or brayer makes all the difference to the quality of your finished prints. A beginner's roller costs about £5, but for the more experienced linocut artist, treat yourself to a good-quality roller. I use Hawthorn Printmaking Supplies 6” and 3” ‘student’ medium rubber rollers. The rollers are 38 Shore. A 6" roller is approx £40.
6. A glass baren
A baren transfers ink from a lino block to the paper. These beautiful glass printers' barens are handmade by glass artist Thomas Petit Glass in Derbyshire. Each baren is individually handmade and available in 12 beautiful colours and 3 sizes. I’d recommend the medium-sized baren. Price £48.
7. Inspiring linocut and printmaking books
From how-to books on linocut printing to coffee-table books about inspirational linocut artists and printmakers, see my favourite books in this blog.
Shop my book Printing Birds and Wildlife in Linocut >
8. A subscription to a printmaking magazine
Pressing Matters magazine is an inspiring magazine celebrating modern printmaking. It’s my favourite magazine. It's available quarterly for £10 each, or as a yearly subscription for £36 plus shipping. Yearly digital subscriptions are available for £20.
9. An original linocut print
I’ve always loved the style of linocut print. Even though I now make linocut prints, I still like buying other artists’ prints. These hand-printed postcard-sized linocut prints are £25 each or 3 for £70. They're available unframed, so you can gift them as-is or pop them into a standard off-the-shelf photo frame. The prints are available in my online shop and can be posted or picked up from my York studio.
10. An Apple Pencil or tablet stylus
I often use the Procreate app and my Apple Pencil to sketch and plan design ideas on my iPad. If you think they’d like to draw digitally, treat them to an Apple Pencil or tablet stylus. Check the compatibility with their device. Prices from £79.
I hope that's given you a few ideas. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Look at my blog's Linocut hints and tips section for more detailed advice on tools and materials.
Michelle
Would you like to learn how to make a linocut print?
Whether you’re completely new to linocut or ready to develop your skills, I offer online linocut courses and hands-on workshops in York to help you learn at your own pace.
Linocut Online Courses
Learn from home with step-by-step video lessons, guided projects and online support.
Beginner’s Guide to Linocut Printing: Learn the basics and make your first one-colour linocut print.
How to Make a Multi-Block Linocut Print: Build your skills and learn how to create colourful multi-block prints.
Linocut Workshops in York
Join me in my York garden studio for a relaxed, hands-on linocut workshop. Classes are kept small, with a maximum of four people, so there’s plenty of individual tuition and time to ask questions.
Level 1: Introduction to Linocut Printing
Level 2: “Jigsaw” Linocut Printing
Level 3: Multi-Block Linocut Printing
My book: Printing Birds and Wildlife in Linocut
Printing Birds and Wildlife in Linocut by Michelle Hughes is a practical, step-by-step guide to creating your own linocut prints. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced printmaker, the book covers everything from simple one-colour prints to jigsaw, reduction and multi-block techniques, with plenty of guidance to help you develop your own ideas and confidence.
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About Michelle
I’m Michelle Hughes, a North Yorkshire landscape artist and printmaker based in York. My original linocut prints are inspired by the Yorkshire Coast, Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and the wider British countryside.
I gather ideas and take photographs while walking and cycling, then bring them back to my garden studio in York. I simplify my photographs into bold, stylised designs, carve them into lino blocks and hand-print each limited edition on my etching press using oil-based inks.
Thanks for sharing