Internationally acclaimed graphic artist creates new letterpress print inspired by the Museum’s historic collection
The National Print Museum has announced a major collaboration with globally renowned graphic artist Anthony Burrill, launching during Irish Design Week from 17–21 November 2025. Known for his bold, optimistic typographic works, Burrill’s practice centres on the power of simple language combined with the craft of analogue printmaking—making him a natural partner for the Museum’s mission to preserve and celebrate printing heritage.
A Collaboration Ten Years in the Making
The relationship between Burrill and the National Print Museum traces back to 2015, when the Museum hosted the V&A touring exhibition A World to Win, which featured Burrill’s striking piece Oil and Water Do Not Mix. A decade later, Museum CEO Carla Marrinan Funder extended an invitation for a new collaboration during Irish Design Week. Burrill’s enthusiastic response—“How soon can I get there?!”—set the project in motion.
During his visit, Burrill explored the Museum’s working collection, collaborating closely with graphic artist Mary Plunkett and printers Freddie Snowe and John King. Using large wooden letter type and printing on the Museum’s historic Wharfedale Stop Cylinder Press—the same model used to print the 1916 Proclamation—the team produced a new artwork titled HOPE.
“Collaborations with creatives offer fresh perspectives on the Museum’s historic collection and reveal the power it has to connect with people in meaningful ways today,” says Marrinan Funder. “Working with Anthony Burrill has been on our wish list for quite some time, and this project demonstrates the enduring power of the printed word.”
HOPE: A New Letterpress Print
The artwork HOPE was inspired directly by the Museum’s collection. During initial research, Plunkett discovered an 80-line wooden type that immediately captured Burrill’s imagination.
“As soon as I saw the letters, I knew we had to use them,” Burrill explains. “When we began setting the type, the H, O, P, and E came together so naturally that the design almost formed itself. We need to be reminded of the positive power of hope during difficult times, and this print aims to capture that enduring spirit.”
The print is produced on 200gsm recycled Shiro Echo paper (20 x 30 inches) in a limited edition of 100, each signed, numbered, and hand-embellished by the artist. An unsigned open edition will follow on 120gsm Shiro Echo paper.
Plunkett reflected on the scale of the piece: “Seeing a new print come off the press is always a thrill, but the 80-line type on the Wharfedale was something else!”
Irish Design Week Launch Event
To celebrate the launch, Burrill will return to the Museum for a public event during Irish Design Week. The already fully booked evening will feature a Q&A with the artist, followed by live printing demonstrations and refreshments. Attendees will have the rare opportunity to hear directly from one of contemporary design’s most influential voices, while engaging with themes of creativity, heritage, and the future of print.
This project is supported by Irish Design Week | Design & Crafts Council Ireland. The National Print Museum also acknowledges ongoing support from the Department of Culture, Communication and Sport.
About Anthony Burrill
Anthony Burrill is best known for his impactful typographic works rooted in clarity, humour, and emotional resonance. His pieces are held in the permanent collections of major institutions including the V&A and the Design Museum in London, the Cooper Hewitt in New York, and have been exhibited internationally.
He has spoken at leading global design conferences and conducted creative workshops across Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. Born in Lancashire, Burrill studied Graphic Design at Leeds Polytechnic before completing an MA at the Royal College of Art. He currently lives and works in Rye, East Sussex.
