HISTORY-LOVERS can get arty this spring, harnessing the power of County Durham’s historic Prince Bishops to put their spin on a personalised coin.

Running over six Saturdays, from 2 March to 13 April, Auckland Tower, Bishop Auckland is hosting a series of Tower Arts: Mint Print sessions, where visitors can have a go at printmaking and design their own medieval coin with artist Suzie Devey.

The workshops are inspired by the Prince Bishops of Durham, who held exceptional political and military powers, including the ability to command armies and mint their own coins. They are being run by The Auckland Project, a visitor destination in Bishop Auckland.

Everyone taking part can learn more about the medieval men, creating a coin design with emblems of either a Prince Bishop or a King.

To decorate the flip side of their coin, each printmaker can try their hand at linocut printmaking, creating a unique printing plate using animal templates, which were inspired by the Medieval Book of Beasts and can be found in Bishop Auckland.

To add the finishing touch, the coin can also be embellished with dates that are significant or important to its designer as well as a choice of decorative borders, each inspired by different elements of the mitre of the Bishop of Durham.

The sessions have been supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and will run on a drop-in basis between 11am and 3pm.

All ages are welcome though children are required to be supervised by an adult at all times and may not be able to use the lino-cut tools. For more information visit aucklandcastle.org/yourvisit