Set within the forests and mountains of the Serra de Sintra, Atelier Citrina is an artist-run print-making studio and publishing house, blending the beauty of analogue processes with sustainable practice.

The studio

As a studio, we specialise in non-toxic intaglio and photopolymer etching techniques. We welcome experienced artists proficient in printmaking to participate in open-access sessions and artist residencies.

Limited edition Artist books and zines are at the heart of our publishing production. Explore our intimate shop featuring unique print-based publications and original limited-edition prints.

Join us at Atelier Citrina, where art, nature and community converge in a space dedicated to fostering creativity and healthy practices.

The heart of our workshop is the robust and reliable Tórculos Ribes Cameron etching press, straight from Barcelona. Its handwheel operation and 1:25 reduction drive make etching here a true pleasure.

Atelier Citrina is well-equipped with a wide range of high-quality materials, including cotton-based Fabriano printmaking papers, aqua wash intaglio etching inks, non-toxic BIG Baldwin ink grounds, plus copper, zinc, and aluminium plates.

Our studio provides you the opportunity to explore a comprehensive range of intaglio and relief printmaking techniques, including photopolymer, wood and linocut, aquatint etching, and collagraph.

Please refer to the list below for more detailed information about our studio's offerings.

  • A Tórculos Ribes Cameron etching press, the bed size allows prints up to 100 × 200 cm

    Its handwheel operation and a 1:25 reduction drive makes etching here a true pleasure.

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    Paper soaking bath, max size 85 × 60 cm

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    Non-toxic acrylic aquatint spray booth, 70 × 63 cm

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    Ferric chloride vertical tank for copper plate etching, 87 × 55 cm

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    Copper sulphate horizontal bath for zinc plate etching, 75 × 55 cm

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    Exposure unit for photopolymer printmaking, bed size 50 × 60 cm

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    A comprehensive set of etching tools

    Copper and zinc plates

    Guillotine for cutting down plates

    Baldwins BIG non-toxic ink ground (red & black)

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    Non-toxic inks

    Cranfield Caligo safe wash relief inks

    Carbonnel Aqua Wash intaglio etching ink 

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    A wide range of cotton-based Fabriano printmaking papers

    Magnesium carbonate

    French chalk

    A3 printer for colour printing

Available printmaking techniques

  • Etching

    Utilising copper sulphate and ferric chloride, this intaglio (incised) technique is employed to etch fine lines and intricate details onto the plates surface.

  • Aquatint

    Favoured by renowned artists like Paula Rego, aquatint is an intaglio printmaking technique distinguished for its ability to produce a diverse spectrum of tonal effects.

  • Photopolymer etching

    Also referred to as photo etching or photo intaglio printing, this process involves transforming original photographs, collages, paintings, or drawings into intaglio prints.

  • Collagraph printing

    A versatile process where a textured plate is made up from a range of different materials, producing a range of tones and effects.

  • Wood & linocut

    In contrast to intaglio techniques, relief printing methods such as woodcut and linocut involve carving the image's surface away, leaving behind the printed areas, resulting in bold and graphic prints.

  • Mono printing

    A spontaneous and immediate process of drawing or painting onto a smooth surface and then pulling one-off prints, monotyping is a favourite among artists seeking unpredictable outcomes.

Meet the Team

  • Artistic Director

    Narrative whispers have always permeated the imaginary worlds Mirry created. Her fascination with the interplay between darkness and light, combined with a love of narrative, is at the heart of all the work she undertakes.

    Whilst studying Fine Art Sculpture at Brighton University, her work evolved in various forms comprising soft sculpture; printmaking; drawing; Animated Theatre and large-scale light, sound and time-based installations.

    Mirry has worked as an Artist in Residence at The Arts Depot Gallery, London and produced and directed animated films for Les Marionettes Festival, Paris and The Royal Academy of Arts alongside Marvin Gaye Chetwynd. She’s had her works published by Knust Press, Nijmegen and Tate Publishing, London. In 2014 she went on to complete her Masters at The Royal College of Art, London where she was awarded The Gordon Peter Pickard Travel Bursary which culminated in an interminable journey by train from the UK to Poland and the Ukraine. Undoubtedly all these endeavors have worked their influence on the artist and printmaker she is today.

  • Founder and manager

    Philippe Mateus is a versatile interdisciplinary artist whose creative endeavors span painting, drawing, and printmaking. His style is characterised by its fluidity, spontaneity, and whimsical humor, often guided by a mysterious narrative that threads through the imagery he creates.

    Engaged in both commissioned projects and personal endeavors, Philippe partners with a diverse range of clients, serving entities such as Oxfam, Little Butterfly Foundation, Sonia Taouhid and Time and Space Psychology. His work has been featured in publications such as Knust Press, Nijmegen.

    In 2016, Philippe received the Quentin Blake Narrative Drawing Prize while pursuing his Masters Degree in Visual Communication at the Royal College of Art, London.

    Currently based in Sintra, Portugal, Philippe co-manages Atelier Citrina, where he continues to explore his artistic passions within a lush and inspiring environment.