Kate Holland
Artist Bookbinder
Kate is a multi award-winning artist bookbinder, specialising in contemporary fine bindings to commission or for exhibition. She uses traditional materials and techniques to produce a unique, modern binding that reflects the text, illustrations and typeface of the book.
She is a Fellow of Designer Bookbinders, one of the foremost societies dedicated to the craft of fine bookbinding, as well as being designated a Master Artisan by the Europe-wide Homo Faber guide.
She has books in the collections of the V&A, British, Bodleian and Yale University Libraries, the Walker Library of the Human Imagination as well as public and private collections internationally.
Modern bindings that reflect the text
Commissions
Commissions come in a variety of guises. There are the fine bindings, the ‘bells and whistles’ - the ultimate copy of a book - and represented in collections around the world. But there are a myriad other options. Maybe you’d like a unique present for that special someone. If so, we can source a first edition of their favourite novel and rebind it in a simple leather binding with some contemporary decorative elements. Or maybe your granny’s recipe book has finally fallen apart and you’d like to make multiple copies to hand out to friends and family whilst getting the original repaired. Anything is possible and only limited by your imagination.
Publishing
We work with individuals and private presses to produce the whole book, whether one offs or limited editions. You provide the material, whether it’s the written word or a collection of images, your autobiography or a family photo album, and we take care of the whole process; from proofreading to typesetting, through printing, binding and box-making. We specialise in one-offs and limited editions, with runs up to 500, and work closely with some of the country’s finest letterpress and digital printers, using the best paper and materials, all to conservation standards.
Workshops
Kate has a wealth of experience teaching bookbinding to all ages and abilities, from the very basics to the most advanced leather work and gold tooling. She is especially passionate about initiating new converts to the joys of bookbinding and promoting this wonderful, but sadly currently endangered, craft. She teaches either from her fully equipped bindery, on the outskirts of the bustling market town of Frome, or on location, be it university campus, festival field or village hall. As well as delivering City and Guilds at Shepherds Bookbinders, she also regularly teaches at West Dean College, Soho House, Bath Spa University, University of the West of England, Spike Island Print Studio, Port Eliot Festival amongst others.