Book Review - Beginners Guide to Cyanotype by Kim Tillyer

Dannells Admin
11 hours ago
6 min read

We’ve got a brilliant new creative book in stock for 2026 — Beginner’s Guide to Cyanotype — and we think you’re going to love it. Whether you’re completely new to cyanotype or just keen to explore it more, this book gently guides you from first experiments to confidently creating your own beautiful cyanotype projects, including our very own Needcraft Lanterns.

Today we're reviewing the techniques and projects in Beginners Guide to Cyanotype, plus we've a bonus Q&A with author Kim Tillyer, whose love for this nature-inspired printing process shines through on every page.

The Techniques

From the outset, it’s clear Kim is very knowledgeable, as she clearly explains what Cyanotype printing is – ‘using light, usually from the sun to oxidise a light sensitive emulsion, by mixing two chemicals with water’. The reassuring health and safety section, clear list of the basic tools you will need and advice on fabric and papers, with extensive detailed photographs, mean you quickly grasp what’s needed - and also what’s possible.

Not being familiar with the chemicals or the process of Cyanotype, I liked how Kim figuratively held my hand thorough the process of Cyanotype supporting me with clear, detailed instructions, and step by step images to so I could visualise the process. Just reading through the stages gave me the confidence to think that I could ‘do’ cyanotype printing, leaving me to turn to the ‘design elements’ and how to use the technique creatively. Kim also notes how the imperfections that occur when creating cyanotype are integral to the creative journey (again,very reassuring) and the useful trouble shooting section at the back of the book, means you never feel out of your depth!

I addition to the cyanotype process, the book offers lots of alternative ‘experiments’, playing with creating sepia effects with tea and print variations with washing up liquid bubbles, painting with washing soda – all of which add to the effects and make each print truly unique!

The Projects

The first project in the book is the Atkins Style Greetings Card, named after Anna Atkins, who features in the History section as a pioneer of the Cyanotype methods, after using the technique to record images of algae, in the first photographical illustrated book.

To me, this is the perfect introductory project for a cyanotype beginner, as it suggested plenty of ideas for types of foliage or items to use, meaning you can start to play! I loved the use of the lettered tracing paper to create personalised messages, such as ‘Happy Birthday’. This project is ideal for getting a handle on the technique with something beautiful and purposeful to show for it.

The projects in the book increase in technicality, but use the same cyanotype principles, ranging from multi sectional cards – Topiary Garden Pop Up Card – to using fabric with an easy starter project using cotton purse blanks in the Trompe L’Oeil Fabric Purse.

Kim introduces using ‘opaque media’ (drawing onto acetate) as a ‘design element’ in the ‘Patchwork’ Tote Bag project, which leads nicely into using negatives in the Fabric Night Lights.

Obviously, the Fabric Night Light project is close to our hearts as it uses our Needcraft Lantern Making Kits, and the clever use of printing an image of hare amongst the foliage, really bring this project to life, allowing you work with a different artistic technique. We also liked the addition of a criss-crossed sewn seam to our regular Lantern Making Instructions!

Appealing to a wider audience, and offering a different medium and creative printing, the 'Hag Stone' jewellery, stuck me as a unique and interesting project - one I could see paired with Anne Atkins' algae cyanotype prints, to create striking pieces reminiscent of the seashore.

The Summary

Overall, this book is well thought out, being both instructional and inspirational all at the same time and offering plenty of creative opportunities for you to advance your skills and creative ideas, as you work through the nine projects. The cyanotype techniques result in nothing short of stunning results, that feel simple to achieve with the right know how.

Buy the Beginner Guide to Cyanotype

Whatever your level of crafting experience, we’d love you give cyanotype printing a try, so we're offering the Beginners Guide to Cyanotype at cost price to Dannells customers - just £9.95 !

Better still in every book, we'll include a discount code for 10% off your first order of lampshade making materials.

Why not try making the Fabric Night Lights project, using our Needcraft Lantern Making Kits or even try your hand a cyanotype lampshade.

The Author

Kim Tillyer discovered cyanotype printing, by playing with a pack of sun print paper as a child and revisiting this as part of her degree in Textiles and Surface Design. Since graduating Kim has returned to the techniques which have become a mainstay of her artwork, printing extensively on paper and fabrics and using the naturalistic effects as part of her illustrative work too.

We had the pleasure of chatting to Kim, and asking her more about writing Beginners Guide to Cyanotype, her business Witch Mountain and how Cyanotype has influenced her work:

From completing your degree in Textile and Surface Design how did you land on cyanotype as your chosen medium for your artwork?

During my degree I started using some small bits of pre-prepared “Sunprint” paper in my sketchbook; I’d found some in my children’s art drawer and we’d been told to use as many different mark making techniques as possible.

Later, after I graduated, I wanted to find a way of printing my drawings onto fabric for embroidery but no longer had access to the college print equipment. I found Ruth Brown of Stone Creek Textiles in East Yorkshire who sold cyanotype chemicals and had written a great book about printing on fabric; the easy and accessible process meant I could experiment at home and start to get the results I wanted.

How did writing Beginners Guide to Cyanotype come about?

During lockdown my partner and I had to move house unexpectedly and as an added complication our previous landlord had cut off our phone and internet so I couldn’t run my business. It was all a bit of a rotten time, so I decided to take a risk and rented a proper studio on an industrial estate for a year. I was sitting looking out of the window one day, wondering what on earth I’d done, when I got an email from a lovely commissioning editor at Search Press, Emily Adam, asking me if I wanted to write a book! It was so out of the blue that I thought it was a scam and I still can’t quite believe it.

What is your favourite project in the book?

I enjoyed making the “Hag Stones” because I was really learning at the same time – printing on paper clay is not something I do in my own work - and it was fun to play and imagine the potential if I chose to take it further. Obviously, the lanterns are a favourite too and something that I’ve been making and selling for quite a few years.

When and why did you start using Dannells kits and products?

In 2015 and 2016 I took my work to the British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate. I made a collection of lampshades and lanterns using my hand printed cyanotype fabric, Dannells kits, wooden ball feet from Germany and Italian fabric cables (which weren’t available at Dannells back then). I got quite a few orders and exhibition offers and the lanterns have become a mainstay of my online business, as well as a great teaching project.

Alongside creating beautiful Cyanotype items, you are also an illustrator. How do you combine the two?

Drawing is really the starting point for my cyanotypes because although anyone can make gorgeous cyanotype prints with zero artistic experience (it really is a magical process that anyone can do) my interest has always been in the storytelling and the imagery. I’ve had a few lovely commissions for coffee packaging, greetings cards and illustrations for poetry books and fairy tales which combine water colour, pen and ink and digital collage. Sometimes a drawing becomes a cyanotype print so it’s all a bit of a melting pot!

Any future plans for Witchmountain you’d like to share?

In 2026 I’m going to be teaching a lot more workshops at some really beautiful venues; one of these is a two day retreat at Rydal Hall which will be a first for me. We’ll be making lanterns inspired by the wonderful landscape and gardens, using Dannells kits of course.