Héléna Frere

Héléna Frere is an artisan bookbinder and contemporary artist based in Champigneulles, France. Working professionally since 2014, she creates mainly one-of-a-kind pieces, combining traditional bookbinding expertise with a thoughtful, contemporary approach to the book as both object and structure. Her services include everyday and fine binding, luxury and bespoke artistic bindings, limited-edition projects, editorial design, and protective boxes, cases and folders. She also repairs and strengthens books, with services such as paper repair, flattening and cleaning for graphic documents.

The atelier provides practical instruction through introductory sessions, workshops, and individual or group classes for beginners and experienced learners. Frere has taught since 2018 and emphasizes understanding how emotions influence the work of the hands. Her practice places strong importance on responsible production: she uses upcycled covering materials, natural and neutral materials where books make direct contact, and reversible, neutral adhesives, while seeking to reduce waste and energy use. A graduate of École Estienne and Lycée Tolbiac, she has received awards for her bookbinding and contributes to the Bind Bend Bond collective, which promotes contemporary artistic bookbinding.