Simon Trewin artist resident, from England. May 2025. I arrived at Art Print Residence in Barcelona feeling jittery and unsure, hoping to focus on letterpress printing. By the time I left, I felt like I’d stretched every creative muscle I had—supported at every step by the dream team of Jordi and Ariadna. They patiently indulged my endless questions and shared techniques to help me turn my ideas into something real and meaningful.

The studio itself is a playground for any printmaker: the sheer range of inks and papers took my ideas to a completely new level. In my second week, I even tackled one of the giant presses—my biggest piece ever, with 37 different photopolymer plates. It was pure magic to see that first test print emerge, to hold something so massive and know that I’d made it.

It’s not just the work, though—it’s the whole place. It’s the ease of walking up two flights of stairs at night to crash in the cozy residence above. It’s sharing a meal or a glass of wine with fellow artists from all over, swapping stories about our projects and plotting out where to explore during the weekend. And yes, it’s the two tortoises (Mr Red Dot and Mr Two Red Dots), the occasional cat cameo, and that unstoppable robot vacuum that always made me smile.

I felt a real ache leaving it all behind—new friends, new ways of working, and that whole atmosphere of creativity and gentle encouragement. Art Print Residence isn’t just a place to make prints—it’s a place to push yourself, to feel seen and supported, and to remember why you do this work in the first place.