Workshops

Make paper from natural materials. Learn to identify whales. Go down to the shore and plant brushes, and paint with shore-sourced pigments. Forage along the coastline and feast on your finds. Turn waste plastic and discarded fabric into something of beauty. Come and join in!

WORKSHOP: PAPERMAKING FROM NATURAL MATERIALS

September 5, 2020 → 10:00 am ─ 12:00 pm

An opportunity to learn the basic elements of the art, as artist Lin Chau leads you through the process of mould and deckle making, preparing plant pulp fibre, pulling a sheet and couching it, then pressing the paper. All age groups are welcome, with no prior experience required, but numbers are limited, so booking is essential. The booking fee of £15 includes a starter pack (UK delivery only) with a simple meshed frame, 4 different kinds of plant fibre, a packet of Orkney native wild flower seeds, some pressed flowers, and 4 pieces of J-cloths. You will need some home items as well.

WORKSHOP: RICHES OF THE SHORE

September 6, 2020 → 2:00 pm ─ 2:45 pm

We’re off to the shore, to Warebeth and Birsay, for a creative and informative family-friendly session of shore-inspired fun. It’s hosted by artists and foragers Katherine Diaper, Rebecca Marr and Fiona Sanderson, and marine ecologist Dr Andrew Want, and they say that all ages are welcome. They want you to make plant brushes, and paint with shore-sourced pigments. Forage along the coastline and feast on your finds. Get up close to shore creatures. Photograph the beauty of seaweed. And they’re going to round off with foraged food around a beach fire.

WORKSHOP: IDENTIFYING MARINE MAMMALS

September 6, 2020 → 3:30 pm ─ 4:15 pm

Emma Neave-Webb joins us from Sanday to show how to identify the various types of cetaceans – whales, dolphins and porpoises – found in Orkney waters.

WORKSHOP: MAKE A SELKIE’S GHOST NET BRACELET

September 7, 2020 → 2:00 pm ─ 2:15 pm

Join Selena S Kuzman and Anthony Harley on their day adventure to the Moray coast, hunting for beach treasures, with images of the sea. Learn how to make a selkie’s ghost net bracelet from washed-ashore pieces of fishing nets, amongst other examples of finding creative uses for reclaimed coastal waste.

FORAGING AND FISH TANNING WITH ZEKI BASAN

September 12, 2020 → 2:00 pm ─ 2:15 pm

Turning a waste product into something beautiful and usable is one of the skills practiced by wilderness instructor Zeki Basan at his home in a remote part of the Cairngorms. He shows a short film about the process and provides an outline of what to do. He also show scenes of the landscape around him, and some of the plants that he forages.

WORKSHOP: ORIGAMI FOR NORTHERN OCEANS

September 6, 2022 → 2:00 pm ─ 3:30 pm

Join a group of artists and oceanographers who are applying the ancient art of paper-folding to better visualise the rich and complex food web of northern oceans. The team say the workshop is suitable for paper-folders of all experience levels, although smaller children may want to team up with an adult.