At home in my spare time I am currently working on the ‘special’ bindings of Gwasg Gregynog’s Of a Feather. The volumes have been sewn, have had their boards attached and I am now finalising the design, a stage at which as with other bindings, I have been reminded of my association with Kyffin Williams.
I was introduced to Kyffin in 1983 when I was asked to show him around the Library’s conservation workshop. As well as taking an interest in examples of conservation work, Kyffin took a keen interest in a fine binding I showed him and I thereafter began making fine bindings for him in my spare time. This was also a period when I was working towards becoming a Fellow of Designer Bookbinders and worked in conjunction with Kyffin on a number of fine bindings that he had designed. Working with him and discussing the possibilities for transferring his designs onto book covers helped me not only to develop a personal approach but also I have no doubt helped me reach the standard necessary to become a Fellow of Designer Bookbinders.
I find that designing a binding is the most difficult part of making a fine binding and I often find, as I have recently when working on Of a Feather, that I still look for inspiration and guidance in Kyffin’s work and admire his ability to simplify what he saw in front of him to achieve the greatest impact.
Julian Thomas