Join experienced artist Fiona McIntyre and discover the beautiful colours hidden in the natural world in this inspiring two-day workshop, combining the craft of natural ink making with expressive drawing in nature.

On the first day, based in the New Brewery Arts studios, you'll forage, prepare and transform fresh and dried plant materials into your own collection of richly coloured natural inks. Through a series of simple processes including soaking, simmering, straining and experimenting with mordants, you'll discover how acidity and alkalinity can dramatically alter colour, creating a surprisingly vibrant palette of yellows, reds, blues, greens, purples, browns, greys and blacks. Along the way, you'll learn which flowers, leaves and trees produce the most rewarding inks and gain an understanding of the fascinating science behind these natural pigments.

On the second day, you'll take your handmade inks into the beautiful Abbey Grounds to explore drawing and painting trees directly from observation. Fiona will demonstrate techniques specifically suited to natural inks, whose unique qualities encourage a looser, more responsive approach than commercial inks. You'll discover how their naturally harmonious colours beautifully capture the subtle tones, textures and character of the landscape.

By the end of the workshop, you'll have created your own collection of seasonal plant inks, developed an understanding of the principles of natural ink making, and gained the confidence to continue experimenting with botanical pigments and expressive drawing in your own creative practice.

Tutor: Fiona McIntyre
Date & Time: Friday 16th and Friday 23rd October, 10am - 4pm
Venue: Brush Studio, New Brewery Arts
Price: £130 (£0.00 VAT)

You are welcome to bring a lidded bottle of water with you but we kindly ask that you do not bring food into the studio.

Refreshments are available at our on-site café Blend until 4pm.

For more information:
Visit our FAQ page

Who is this workshop for?
All abilities welcome.

Please note that this workshop is for those aged 18 and over.

What you will need:
Students to bring their favourite brushes and a sketchbook to make color notes

Please bring an apron or wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Gloves will be provided.

All materials and equipment are included. The materials are seasonal and this will be reflected in the workshop. None of the materials are toxic and Fiona has chosen the most lightfast plants to work with.

Meet Your Tutor - fiona mcintyre

Fiona McIntyre was born in Kenya and brought up in Ireland and England. She is an experienced artist, tutor and speaker focusing on art/ecology/landscape and trees. As a tutor she believes passionately in the importance of drawing and understanding principles of colour and intuitive expression.

After graduating from Edinburgh College of Art with a BA Hons in Drawing and Painting she moved to Sweden for seven years to learn the language and practice at studios in Malmo, and studied printmaking at Grafiskskolan Forum under the influential Surrealist artist Bertil Lundberg. Her education culminated in an MA at Winchester School of Art studios in Barcelona.

Fiona has been in over 40 exhibitions in UK, Scandinavia, Spain, Gibraltar and France, and she is represented in public collections including Ashmolean Oxford and Bohuslän Konstmuseum. Fiona is an elected member of the Royal Society Painter-Printmakers (ARE); and a founding member of The Arborealists who are a contemporary group of artists collaborating on ecological issues.

Fiona has conducted residencies at the Hosking Houses Trust and the Sidney Nolan Trust leading to a solo exhibition 'Dreaming The Land' at the former home of Sir Sidney Nolan .