Joshua James is a bookbinder whose practice brings together edition binding, fine binding and conservation. He began training in October 2021 at Ludlow Bookbinders, where he gained a grounding in edition binding and the production of small runs of high-quality case bindings for small and private presses. Alongside this work he became increasingly interested in the wider landscape of bookbinding and began to develop his skills through workshops and his involvement with the Society of Bookbinders. He currently works as a forwarder on the fine bindings of George Bayntun in Bath.
With his QEST Emerging Maker Grant, Joshua is expanding his knowledge across three core areas. He is studying gold finishing with Tracey Rowledge, conservation techniques with Arthur Green at Green’s Books, and fine binding with Dominic Riley. Each element strengthens his aim to build a universal skill set with a particular focus on conservation-led fine binding.
Looking ahead, Joshua hopes to play a meaningful role in the bookbinding community. He plans to continue his work with professional organisations, develop his practice in the North East, and ultimately establish a bindery that can train apprentices and lay the foundations for a northern centre for bookbinding.
