http://www.uwe.ac.uk Book Arts

ABC – artist’s book club

ABC is a cross-disciplinary forum for makers of artists’ books and ephemera, founded by MA alumna Lilla Duignan in 2009 for students and interested parties based here at Bower Ashton (and online). It provides an opportunity to get together for critical and constructive dialogue, to contextualise work, explore ideas and to develop creative practice and theory. ABC meets and works as a group towards exhibitions, projects and participation in regional and national artist’s book fairs and events.

“The perfect space in which mystery meets matter and conjoins, is for me the book”

Allil Enna Nangi-Ud



Artist’s Book Club at UWE is open to any of our students, alumni and staff.

A £5 membership fee helps us cover the cost of events.

ABC meetings are a mix of physical and online meetings. Details for how to join in are sent out before each meeting.

For questions / membership, please contact Sarah at: Sarah.Bodman@uwe.ac.uk


Our ABC coordinator for 2023-2024 is Ben Jenner


Ben is a Bristol-based artist whose practice includes printmaking, book arts, visual poetry and performance. ‘My work stems from an interest in the handwritten mark, and is inspired by asemic writing, rooted in abstract expressionism. These organic compositions allude to a tension of conscious and subconscious mark-making, and allow for understanding to happen across all linguistic meaning.’


Timetable for 2023-2024

Thursday 19th October 2023, Welcome Meeting – An open discussion about upcoming events, and an introduction to this year’s collaborative project.

Wednesday 1st November 2023, ABC/MAMDP and friends: Erasure Workshop with visiting artist Daniel Lehan, 11.00 – 2.00 in the library study area.

Thursday 23rd November 2023, Emily Lucas will host a workshop referencing text as image, inspired by her work with Both Laughing.

Thursday 7th December 2023, Festively Surreal Party – Making poetry and lo-fi artists’ books using the methods and games enjoyed by artists and poets of the Surrealist school.

Saturday 13th January 2024, Alphabets Alive! – Optional field trip to the Bodlein Library in Oxford to see the ‘Alphabets Alive’ exhibition – inspiration for the Abecedarium!

Thursday 15th February 2024, Asemic Storybook – A visual poetry workshop with a focus on asemic writing. Bind your asemic works in to simple pamphlet stitched story books. Will anyone other than yourself be able to read your book?

Thursday 21st March 2024, One Page Zine – A visit to St. Annes House Print Room in Bristol, where book artist Csilla Bíro will teach us how to print one page zines on the risograph printer.

Thursday 18th April 2024, This place will not exist… – Sarah Bodman talks about her text and image collaboration with artist Roelof Bakker using mail art, collage, Paul Thek’s teaching notes and a series of questions devised by the two artists.

Thursday 23rd May, Abecedarium Launch Party! – Meet in the collections area at Bower Ashton Library for the big reveal of this year’s ABC collaborative project.
Talk about your contribution and anything else you’ve made this year.

Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June 2024, BABE – Come and marvel at the Bristol Artists’ Book Event, there is something for everyone! We will have a table, should you wish to sell and / or show your work.


ABC coordinators by academic year

2022 – 2023 Sarah Bodman
2021 – 2022 Jo Barnfield and Rae Holden
2020 – 2021 Sarah Bradicich and Jo Barnfield
2019 – 2020 Sarah Bradicich, Csilla Bíro, Gin Saunders and Susannah Sendall
2018 – 2019 Csilla Bíro and Alyn Smith
2017 – 2018 Gen Harrison and Cathey Webb
2016 – 2017 Leonie Bradley and Catherine Cartwright
2015 – 2016 Kate Bernstein and Kate Williamson
2014 – 2015 Stephanie Turnbull
2013 – 2014 Helen Thomas and Bernard Fairhurst
2012 – 2013 Christiane Gruenewald and Sarah Rhys
2011 – 2012 Alice Drake
2010 – 2011 Angie Butler and Lilla Duignan
2009 – 2010 Founder: Lilla Duignan

ABC archive of events from 2009 to present