During my MA I researched the possible health benefits from being creative with nature. It is widely known that spending time in a natural environment can benefit health and well-being. Not only that, research shows that even just handling natural items such as rocks, flowers, wood, for example, can have positive benefits. Recently, there is a great deal more study into the benefits of being creative, helping with focus, relaxation and stimulating the feel-good chemicals in the brain. So how beneficial could being creative  with nature be?

My little workshops with big benefits aim to be a multisensory experience, spending a little time in nature, and using what is found to create a series of creative implements such as paper, paint and brushes and using them to create intuitive art, that is, not masterpieces, but to spend time playing and experimenting.

To enquire about any of the workshops below, please contact me via my contact form, thank you.

Creating watercolour paints from stones. The stones are ground by hand using a mortor and pestle and gum arabic added. Participants can take the paints they have created home with them.

Gelli plate leaf printing with acrylic paint. Participants are welcome to frame the images the create or make them into greetings cards.

This is a group exersize in colour, self and making friends. The participants swap images so everyone takes part in creating a portrait in collage.

Handmade paper using eggboxes or other scrap paper and leaves. Participants learn the process of making their own paper with a mould and deckle and take anything they have made home with them.

Watercolour techniques. Playing with watercolour, learning about the various paint and utensil techniques, not to create a masterpiece, but to play with the medium.

Mark making techniques. Exploring a variety of mediums from pencil to oil pastels, exploring colour and mark making.