About By Hand Books

By Hand Books was established by Ros Long in late 2008 as a studio/workshop to produce the beautiful books she loves to make - and you will want to have or offer as gifts, but cannot find in the shops.

Her interest in bookbinding began with Missenden Abbey Summer Schools, starting in 2001, and her skills developed through 4 years of longer-term bookbinding courses in the Visual Arts Department at CityLit in London.

Membership of the UK bookbinding craft societies has offered many (continuing) opportunities to learn more, from a wide range of experts in bookbinding and related arts and crafts, and Ros still attends when she can the workshops and short courses which provide new techniques and book structures.

Ros uses what she has learned of the traditional bookbinding skills, from study and practice, to work primarily as a creative designer/maker, offering at By Hand Books a range of contemporary handmade book Collections for purchase or to order. 
(Please note that Ros does not undertake rebinds of existing books or book repairs/restoration.)

Exhibitions include:

2011 Bucks Open Studios, Ros Long at By Hand Books (her 3rd year)
2011 No HS2 – A Green & Pleasant Land?, Obsidian Art, S. Mandeville
2010-11 Book This Space II, Bucks County Museum, Aylesbury
2009 Book This Space, an exhibition of Altered Books, Wycombe Library
2004 Bovilles Centenary Exhibition, Beldam Gallery, Brunel University
2001 Contemporary Art & Design Exhibition, Market Hall, Old Amersham

Ros Long is a member of:

Bucks Visual Images Group (the organisers of Bucks Open Studios)
Designer Bookbinders
The Society of Bookbinders

By Hand Books is a member of:
The Federation of Small Businesses

‘Superb craftsmanship’ (CC, Winslow)
‘Beautiful and very creative [bookbinding] solutions’ (TS, Steeple Claydon)