essence press
Essence Press publishes the work of Julie Johnstone (see here), and occasionally the work of other poets and artists, usually working in collaboration, to create handbound poem-objects or artists’ books. Julie Johnstone is the editor of Essence Press. This page details the work with poets and artists.
new in 2025
less [series 3]
A new series of Less featuring the one word poem form. The first four issues by Charlotte Jung, Greg Thomas, Harry Josephine Giles, and Julie Johnstone. read more
new in 2024
the freedom to forget | the promise of return
two bookmarks with Nancy Campbell read more
convers(at)ion: sea fog chalk | Elżbieta Wójcik-Leese
Exploring the geology and geography of Møns Klint and the Møn Unesco Biosphere. Read more
In Memory of Bob Cobbing | derek beaulieu
less [series 2]
Essence Press is happy to introduce further issues in the second series of LESS, with the launch of three issues, featuring Astra Papachristodoulou, Joe Devlin, and J R Carpenter to join those by Leonard McDermid, Imi Maufe, Chris McCabe, Lila Matsumoto, Danni Storm, Imogen Reid, Greg Thomas, Petra Schulze-Wollcast and derek beaulieu. Read more
sounding [---] out
Essence Press published sounding [---] out by nicky melville in May 2024.
to purchase and read more
new in 2023
an absence of blue
Essence Press is happy to release an absence of blue by Maria White
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what is
A further translation from the Japanese from Harry Gilonis
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on a clear day
Essence Press is happy to introduce an artists’ book collaboration combining work by the poet Jane Duran and the artist Julie Johnstone. ON A CLEAR DAY is a response to the set of screenprints of the same name made by the painter Agnes Martin in 1973. A spare, quiet, tactile and minimally beautiful book.
Grass of Parnassus, Lindisfarne
Essence Press is happy to introduce an artists’ book collaboration by Nancy Campbell and Julie Johnstone. Grass of Parnassus, Lindisfarne is a tribute to the dramatic landscape of Lindisfarne, a tidal island off the coast of Northumberland, and the delicate and sweet-smelling saxifrage which thrives there.
new in 2022-23
less [series 2]
Essence Press is happy to introduce further issues in the second series of LESS, with the launch of three issues, featuring Leonard McDermid, Imi Maufe, and Chris McCabe to join those by Lila Matsumoto, Danni Storm, Imogen Reid, Greg Thomas, Petra Schulze-Wollcast and derek beaulieu. Read more
nine
A booklet of nine translations into English from the Japanese of poems about the natural world, moving through the seasons. By Harry Gilonis read more
edwin morgan centenary publications
Essence Press is delighted to publish two new publications as part of the Edwin Morgan centenary celebrations: a poster print of 101 words for Edwin Morgan, and a facsimile reprint of nine one word poems by Edwin Morgan.
Please visit the EDWIN MORGAN page to find out more.
new publications 2021
light light light
A booklet of 21 contemplative poems by Charlie Ulyatt read more
cumulus
A concertina work by Thomas A Clark read more
recent collaborations & projects
breath
Featuring the work of Jane Hirshfield, Autumn Richardson, Jayne Wilding, & JL Williams; with drawings by Laurie Clark. read more
maria white
Essence Press has published three artists’ books by Maria White.
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richard price
Essence Press has published two artists’ books by Richard Price.
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greg thomas
Essence Press has published cloud cover by Greg Thomas.
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alan spence
Essence Press has published the pamphlet zenscotlit by Alan Spence.
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full list including earlier works
Essence Press has published works by the following poets and artists.
Stephen Bann read more
derek beaulieu read more
Tom Benson read more
Elizabeth Burns read more
Laurie Clark read more
Thomas A Clark read more
Larry Butler read more
Gerry Cambridge read more
Christine De Luca read more
Jane Duran read more
Alec Finlay read more
Harry Josephine Giles read more
Harry Gilonis read more
Eugen Gomringer read more
Jonathan Greene read more
Mandy Haggith read more
Jane Hirshfield read more
Charlotte Jung read more
Robert Lax read more
Gerry Loose read more
Chris McCabe read more
Leonard McDermid read more
Lila Matsumoto read more
Imi Maufe read more
nicky melville read more
Samuel Menashe read more
David Miller read more
Edwin Morgan read more
Richard Price read more
Imogen Reid read more
Autumn Richardson read more
Malcolm Ritchie read more
Petra Schulze-Wollcast read more
Alan Spence read more
Ian Stephen read more
Danni Storm read more
Charlie Ulyatt read more
Greg Thomas read more
Barrie Tullett read more
Gael Turnbull read more
Maria White read more
Jayne Wilding read more
JL Williams read more
Elzbieta Wojcik-Leese read more
Hamish Whyte read more
less
[series 1 | 2009-2012]
Essence Press published the journal series less.
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less
[series 2 | 2022-]
A second series of Less was started in 2022; this new series is a serial publication rather than a journal series.
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island
Essence Press began by publishing the journal island.
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