Rachel Hazell, who is based between Edinburgh and the Hebridean Isle of Iona, and known as The Travelling Bookbinder, will be sharing all she has learnt about the power of creativity at her talk The Benefit of Booksat this year’s Artists’ Bookmarket at the Fruitmarket Gallery.
Rachel has explored and taught this ancient craft of bookbinding all over the world, and her talk will explore the physical, mental, practical and emotional impact practising the artform can have. Whether as a meditative process or a means of self-expression she will share how bookbinding nurtures well-being and personal growth and can be a key tool in pursuit of mindfulness.
Rachel said “I’m excited to attend the Artists’ Bookmarket – it’s the social highlight of my year – a fantastic event to see inspiring work, familiar faces and new innovations is the artist’ book world – reconnecting with my tribe!
After twenty-seven years of using the book as a creative medium, this talk distils what, why and how books are so great.
I’m passionate about sharing the art of bookbinding with others and hope to inspire them to create something, in whatever form, that brings relaxation and mindfulness.”
Rachel’s approach to bookbinding puts a modern spin on the artform, and at the workshops she hosts – from Shetland to Venice – she encourages participants to take inspiration and materials from their unique surroundings and incorporate them in their work. Whether that’s driftwood for the cover, or maps for the pages, nothing is off the table when it comes to making it a part of your bound story.
Shortly after finishing her English degree at Edinburgh University, Rachel’s life changed forever when she attended her first bookbinding workshop. Rachel quickly began training in traditional bookbinding at the London College of Printing and discovered her true passion in using the book form as a creative medium. Bookbinding has taken Rachel around the world, from teaching on the Isles of Scilly to being artist in residence in Antarctica and Assistant Post Mistress and Penguin Monitor at Britain’s southernmost post office, Port Lockroy.
Her fine craftmanship has made her a sought-after figure in the world of bookbinding, artistry, and wellness and she has featured in publications including Condé Nast Traveller, the Financial Times, Selvedge and The Simple Things. In 2024 she published a book of photos of her daily swims, taken on Iona during lockdown. Today’s Changing Roomfeatured in The Scotsman among others with all proceeds going to the mental health charity BlueTonic.
Rachel has a blog and website at thetravellingbookbinder.com. Her book Bound: 15 Beautiful Bookbinding Projects was published by Kyle Books in 2018 and has been reprinted three times.
Date and times: Saturday 15th February, 1:45pm – 2:15pm
Venue: Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street, Edinburgh, EH11DF
Tickets: Free to attend, book here
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 