The Gilded Press

With Heavy Iron & a Heavy Soul

The Gilded Press is based in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
I don't do bish bash bosh; there are plenty of those, but British Craft with an attitude problem, that I can do.

The Gilded Press Logo - GG

British Craft with Attitude

I still use the same type that built Britain’s printing trade: Gill Sans, Caslon, Plantin.

These aren't just digital styles; they are physical tools made of lead and brass.
While digital type can imitate, it cannot replicate the deep impression these tools make on paper under pressure.

This is the essence of true letterpress printing.

Beyond the Surface: The Deep Impression

Most hot foil is 'kiss-printed'—a digital layer resting on the surface, or a sticker cut to mimic foil blocking.
This often feels flat and temporary.

I take a different approach.

Everything I strike is designed to last. I don't just 'print' your mark; I drive it into the material so deep you can trace it with your finger.

This deep impression ensures a lasting, tactile result.

The Art of Hot Foil Stamping

Hot foil stamping is a deliberate language of choice, combining metal, heat, and pressure.
Each decision shapes the outcome, a direct conversation between the heavy iron and the hand that guides it.

To me, foil and board are more than materials; they are the final proof of a maker's calibre.
If your work is worth selling, the handover is worth pressing.

Our pieces are truly pressed and kept.

About the Printer: Simon’s Journey

 I'm Simon. My 39 years in the printing industry began without screens.

It started with a scalpel blade, Letraset, and darkroom chemistry.
I learned on a single-colour Rotaprint before moving to the Heidelberg GTO 52, understanding page architecture with a pica ruler rather than a mouse.

Paper now feeds into presses without human touch, and in this race for speed, the craft has been lost.
I never enjoyed the high-speed factory mindset.

So, The Gilded Press was born in Eastbourne as a private press, dedicated entirely to the craft of the "Deep Impression."

Today, I combine my roots in analogue layout and vector precision with real, hands-on press experience.

I commission flawless, solid metal dies and hand-feed every single board myself, creating tactile craters that high-speed machines cannot replicate.

I'm not interested in the high-speed race; I'm interested in the one-off, the short run, and the mark that stays struck.