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Art Outside
My favourite place to be is outside in nature; it inspires many of my paintings. I want to encourage more people to explore their creativity without the constraints of four walls by running outside workshops and art walks.
I will soon be a qualified Hill and Moorland Leader with Mountain Training and I am also a qualified Outdoor First Aider.
Future workshops
21 March 2025, 10:30 - 13:00
Micro mini tapestry weaving
Enjoy a morning working small scale, after discussing what your design might be, and then get weaving. I will show you a couple of different weaving techniques to add texture and interest and you can make something completely abstract or create a tapestry based on a landscape or seascape, or other photos or pictures you bring. I will help you work out a plan and then for you to create it for real!
We are going to work really tiny so you have a chance to get the weaving finished! All the basic materials will be provided which will be fine for creating your work, but if you have some yarn, string, items (e.g. dried flowers and grasses, feathers etc) to weave in please do bring them! They will make your work totally individual and unique!
This workshop is suitable for everyone including those who have never done this kind of craft technique, and is also suitable for young people, but age 10 and above and under 14s must be accompanied by a participating and supervising adult.
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
23 March 2025, 10:30 - 12:30
Introduction to lino printing
This session is ideal for those of you who either haven't done lino printing before or not for a very long time and need to be reminded what to do!
In a really supportive and encouraging environment, with people round you who really want to progress, you'll be in the perfect place to design and then cut out and make your first prints. They will be perfect for mounting on cards making into gift tags or framing to remind yourself what an amazing job youve done!
So bring an apron and a packet of wet wipes as it's important to keep both you and your work area clean. Printing ink can be a little sticky and good at staining!
And bring some ideas for a design. A photograph, a picture or a design, bring a few so we can decide which is the best to start with! Your first lino cut won't be too complicated but it's a good opportunity to try out different cutting blades and have a go at straight and curved lines etc. If you find you're getting on well you might have time to produce a simple first print, and then work at something a little more complex for your second!
But this isn't a race. Take your time, be relaxed and chilled, enjoy meeting some new friends and enjoy tapping into your creativity.
Please note lino cutting tools are sharp so this class is not suitable for young children or those who don't have a reasonably steady hand. Teenagers (age 12 and 13 must be accompanied by a paying adult) can attend.
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
25 March 2025, 10:30 - 12:30
Tetrapak printing: the basics and with colour
This workshop is for beginners and improvers. If you've already done some tetrapak printing then come along and learn about adding ink and chine colle colour. If youre a beginner let me show you through the whole concept! Its fun, easy and doesn't have the danger of metal plates! We print small on a 3D printed microprinter so you can make images for gift tags, card and cards or mount the images as they are! It's quite messy so wear old clothes and bring a pack of wet wipes and an apron!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
29 March 2025, 10:00 - 12:30
Paint seascapes
We'll first look at famous artists' versions of seascapes and then look at the photos and pictures you've brought of your favourite sea view... whether it's calm or stormy you will then be supported to create your own version of a seascape in whichever media you'd like to use - perhaps you'll try something new, or use media you already have used in the past! It's up to you how much you challenge yourself and how much you just have fun!
Hot drinks and cake included, this workshop is suitable for young people who love art as well, under 14s must have a paying adult there to supervise and obviously join in!
All materials provided but bring an apron and wet wipes to keep you and your work area clean, and your photos etc to inspire you!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
11 April 2025, 10:00 - 12:30
Paint sunsets
We'll first look at famous artists' versions of sunsets and then look at the photos and pictures you've bought of your favourite whether local or from holidays etc or perhaps from a magazine or you've found on the internet! You will then be supported to create your own version of a sunset in whichever media you'd like to use - perhaps you'll try something new, or use media you already have used in the past! It's up to you how much you challenge yourself and how much you just have fun!
Hot drinks and cake included, this workshop is suitable for young people who love art as well, under 14s must have a paying adult there to supervise and obviously join in!
All materials provided but bring an apron and wet wipes to keep you and your work area clean, and your photos etc to inspire you!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
2 May - 14 May 2025
Various workshops
I will be running various workshops throughout the week - more details to follow.
31 May 2025, 10:00 - 12:30
Tetrapak printing: the basics and with colour
Learn how to make really interesting and fun tetrapak prints and if you've had a go before at the basics why not try adding colour?
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
19 June 2025, 10:00 - 15:00
Create a fabric covered notebook
Bring a note book that you'd like to make a cover for (this could be for yourself or create a beautiful gift). We will make a fabric cover and strengthen it with card, and you'll use patchwork, applique, embroidery, beads, ribbon, sequins etc and anything you've got at home you'd like to use. Buttons from a favourite piece of clothing, some vintage lace, whatever you think would be fun to use. You could even incorporate small photos! We'll spend a little time looking at our collections of things to use, and think about design, and then you get stitching! We finish by fixing the cover to the book and stitching it to fix it! Ta-Dah! A lovely unique and very personally decorated book for you or a friend to write shopping lists or poetry in!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
17 July 2025, 10:00 - 15:00
Make memory sticks and be part of a potential exhibition!
Today's session can be used to create special memories - perhaps for a party, an anniversary or wedding, or to remind yourself of a walk or a place you have visited. It's essential you bring objects, collections of leaves, flowers, perhaps seedheads, or pages (or photocopies) of poetry, letters, little keys, pieces of crockery, broken jewellery, invitations, tiny packets etc. Some will be bound so you can't see what they are - hidden under the yarn and thread bound round twigs or sticks, some you can fix on the top to peek out, some could be on threads or even crocheted mini chains of yarn (or perhaps fine wire?).
Really there is so much opportunity to create some really special individual pieces. Only your imagination will limit what you produce!
It would be good if you could bring some sticks as well - do you want to make something really large, or use little twigs? What scale do you want your memory sticks to be?
I am thinking of exhibiting our memory sticks at some point - if you'd like to participate that would be fantastic! We will need to make a good collection of them and we will need to introduce our work to our audience as everyone's sticks will have different stories to tell!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
2 August 2025, 10:00-12:30
Magic with limited palette and carbon paper drawing
Using some of your own photos or perhaps magazine pictures we'll warm up and then draw using carbon paper to make a permanent mark that you can't see till you lift it up for that "ta dah" moment! Then you choose a very limited palette (see above just a blue grey, an orange a turquoise and some gold!) you colour and embellish to create something quite unique and personal! Its the best fun you can have and anyone can do it!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
13 September 2025, 10:00-12:30
Have a go at drawing with pen and ink
This workshop is for everyone - beginners and improvers as we all need to start somewhere and we can all improve! We're going to take inspiration from artists such as Morandi and Van Gogh who both did amazing pen and ink drawing. We'll look at some artists work using pen and ink first then do some exercises and then I'll set up a still life and you can bring some photos and magazine photos and well spend part of the time on one and part on the other so you're going to learn SOOOOO much! Of course lots of coffee tea and cake to sustain your fabulous work!
Do bring your own black drawing pens and sepia ones if you have them but I will provide pens as well!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
25 October 2025, 10:00-12:30
Have a go at drawing with oil pastels
Oil pastels are fabulous to use to create intense colour and atmosphere but did you know there are quite a few ways of using them?
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
15 November 2025, 10:00-13:00
Create lino print cards, gift tags and tea towels
Have fun carving a couple of little designs you can then use on gift tags and cards - they could be for Christmas or just for general use. It might be an idea to have a little think about your design you'd like to create beforehand and perhaps bring some drawings, photos, magazine pages etc with you to help inspire you.
Now for those of your feeling a little more ambitious we will have special fabric extender to mix with your inks so you can print on fabric. You will need to bring your own tea towels and table napkins - they need to be linen or cotton - and you can print as many as you want. Please get used to printing on paper and card first though if you're not an experienced printer!
I'll let you know places you might like to get your fabric from a little nearer the time.
Solve all your Christmas presents in one session - presents, tags and cards!
All materials for the tags and cards and tools are provided in the cost of this workshop - you just need to purchase the fabric items for printing on. just turn up and have fun!
We use sharp lino cutting tools so this isn't suitable for children and you need a bit of dexterity to use the blades. You use the kit at your own risk. I give you clear safety instructions that it's essential you follow!
Don't wear good clothes and please bring an apron and wet wipes for keeping you and your work area clean. And bring a mug so I can keep you replenished with coffee or tea!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
22 March 2025, 10:30 - 12:30
Tetrapak printing: the basics and with colour
This workshop is for beginners and improvers. If you've already done some tetrapak printing then come along and learn about adding ink and chine colle colour. If youre a beginner let me show you through the whole concept! Its fun, easy and doesn't have the danger of metal plates! We print small on a 3D printed microprinter so you can make images for gift tags, card and cards or mount the images as they are! It's quite messy so wear old clothes and bring a pack of wet wipes and an apron!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
24 March 2025, 10:30 - 12:30
Have a go at drawing zentangles
A really relaxing and meditative workshop whether or not you think you can draw! We create patterns with a black pen & add a bit of colour!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
26 March 2025, 10:30 - 13:00
Abstract watercolour workshop
We'll learn to create interesting washes and then add detail to build up an abstract watercolour for you to be proud of!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
5 April 2025, 10:00 - 12:30
A whistle stop guide to gelli printing!
Have fun learning to do gelli printing and making materials for next week's collage workshop.
Suitable for children over the age of 7 who enjoy art making but under 14s need to be accompanied by a participating supervisory adult.
This is a messy morning so bring aprons and wear old clothes. Hot drinks and cake provided to sustain your creativity!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
12 April 2025, 10:00 - 12:30
A whistle stop guide to collage!
Have fun creating beautiful abstract collages with Wioletta and Catherine! We will use the gelli prints you created last week and learn more about creating more materials, about colour harmony, texture, pattern etc and then you will make some fabulous pieces of collage to take home. Suitable for children over the age of 7 who enjoy art making but under 14s need to be accompanied by a participating supervisory adult.
This is a messy morning so bring aprons and wear old clothes. Hot drinks and cake provided to sustain your creativity!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
29 May 2025, 10:00 - 15:00
Kantha embroidery inspiration
You can either spend the morning or bring a packed lunch and spend longer stitching a really relaxing piece inspired by a picture or photo you bring. We won't be copying the picture in any way, but just using colours, and if you wish shapes to inspire our running stitch (which has got to be the most relaxing stitch on the planet!). Parallel rows of stitches create texture and repetition creates a slow rhythm. You can work just on one piece of fabric or even nicer is to use three thin layers to make a more padded effect.
Kantha stitching is used in Asian textiles to create a slightly padded texture - often used for blankets and jackets but we'll just be making a piece you can frame afterwards, or use as perhaps the front of a bag or another small object.
I will bring a mix of felt and plain fabrics but if you want to bring specific fabric (you can create kantha stitching on patterned fabric as well!) to use or you have embroidery or other threads you want to use, please bring them. You can do kantha stitching with cotton, fine yarn and even reels of sewing machine thread! Every type of thread creates a slightly different effect!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
15 June 2025, 10:00-12:30
Watercolours - the basics
This session is to help those of you who haven't used watercolours before or don't feel confident, to practise laying down washes, experience wet in wet and wet on dry and so on, to work out how to keep colours clean, how to create rich shades and how to layer colours. We'll use some images for you to use as inspiration for a simple landscape, after we've practised the basics and you feel more confident.
If you have your own watercolours and watercolour brushes do bring them along so you can learn to use them. The same goes for watercolour paper - if you have some you want to use, please bring it. Please let me know if you are planning on bringing your own materials so I know how much to provide!
I will provide boards and tape for everyone whether or not you want to use your own materials.
This is a relaxing and fun workshop and all about having a go and experimenting and not worrying too much about the final piece: you've got the rest of your life to play with watercolours. We think of them as starter paints but in reality they can be very challenging and very exciting! So come along and start on your watercolour journey!
As usual hot drinks and cake is included to keep up your energy levels!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
Hyssington
21 June 2025, 10:00 - 12:30
Colour mixing Part 2 - primary light colours and other stories
This is the follow up session to the colour mixing basics in March. Now we'll look at using the primary colours of light to do colour mixing - primary yellow, cyan and primary magenta. You'll get subtly different colours which can really pop, you'll mix beautiful purples and vibrant orange, and lime greens that sing!
To compare with this we'll also have a little look at Zorn colour palette, used by the Swedish portrait artist Anders Zorn in the late 19th and early 20th century.
You'llcome away with some colour wheels and strips and lots more ideas about how to manipulate colour in your own art!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
19 July 2025, 10:00-12:30
Have a go at drawing with chalk pastels
Chalk pastels are fabulous to use to create a romantic atmosphere, so let's learn how to use them!
For more details and to book a place click here (takes you to Eventbrite)
8 August - 13 August 2025
Various workshops
I will be running various workshops throughout the week - more details to follow.
19 September - 25 September 2025
Various workshops
I will be running various workshops throughout the week - more details to follow.
31 October - 13 November 2025
Various workshops
I will be running various workshops throughout the week - more details to follow.
2023 - photos from Claymills and Bog Centre workshops; Bishop's Castle Charter Celebrations
Summer Bushmoot 2022:
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"Meditative botanical drawing"
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"Creating 'Green Man'/Found Natural Art"
Summer Nature Escapes 2022
Testiminials
"My review would be: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved my workshops with Catherine! She is wonderfully engaging, enthusiastic and welcoming. I enjoyed every minute and will definitely be returning for future workshops!"
Lauren (Monoprinting workshop)
"Thank you for all your hard work over the weekend running the art workshops. A lot of people had a really great time. We’d be really pleased to welcome you back to Claymills for further similar events. Great to meet you and see the work that you do, you really helped our steaming go well"
Andrew (Claymills)
"I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and would love to get stuck into another one! Catherine is so lovely and really encouraging but also dished out help whenever I needed it and a push in the right direction when I didn’t. I felt comfortable enough to just go wild and see where I ended up as well as focusing on making my art look as technical as I could. Being outdoors was a lovely change of pace, we never were stretched for something to sketch and the location was beautiful"
Maya
"Thank you for the workshop at Bushmoot. I enjoyed it all so much"
Sofia (age 7)
"A wonderful workshop! Such a great way to spend an hour, allowing the kids to explore different methods. Highly recommended. Thank you"
Participant at children's art workshop
"I would like to say a big thank you for holding your workshops at Claymills - they were certainly a huge success. I trust you enjoyed them as much as the participants did"
Jan (Claymills)
"The variety of media we were able to experience was great and your attitude to let us relax into trying new things.We honed down some actual pencil shading technique that I had never known. More importantly we reinforced how it's not important for the art we make to be perfect, since to improve my art, I need to be prepared to make more art, good or bad".
Ewein
"Your workshop was a very good experience, that I would find much pleasure in repeating"
Henri (age 11)
"Catherine came to the Bushcraft UK Summer BushMoot to share her amazing art skills with everyone there, and once again she knocked it out the park, everyone loved it.
She facilitated a variety of workshops on different aspects of art, doodles, printing, nature, painting and so much more, this allowed anyone no matter their experience or confidence to jump in and feel welcome, she’s an absolute legend"
Tony (Bushmoot)
"Excellent workshops"
"Stayed in the workshop and missed the tour of Clay Mills"
"Catherine was lovely, very helpful and encouraging"
"I am so proud of myself"
"Thoroughly enjoyed picking up a paint brush again, Catherine was very supportive"
Participants at Claymills Workshop
"A beautiful creative and inspired nature themed workshop that our participants thoroughly enjoyed. Catherine’s greatest skill is encouraging the hidden artist in everyone no matter what your experience.
Thank you Catherine, what an absolute joy!"
Fleur (Nature Escapes)
"I've never considered myself an artist but Catherine convinced me that everyone has the ability to make art. I let myself go wild with colours in a beautiful, pine-smelling woodland along with a varied group from toddlers to teens and adults. I loved the encouraging, accepting atmosphere!"
Saara (Bushmoot)
"The energy you give off is inspiring"
"We all got to paint a canvas today!"
"Great to have permission to go outside the box"
"Great to by inspired by art outside. And to now have a notebook and to have tried out notebook techniques"
Participants at the Bog Centre Workshop
"Catherine joined us for the second time on our recent retreat to deliver a beautiful bespoke art workshop! She curated an amazing session allowing our guests to find both their confidence and creative flow. I’d highly recommend booking her for your day or weekend retreat to add in some art magic! Her passion is infectious!"
Fleur (Nature Escapes)
"It was great having Catherine at the Summer BushMoot running a mix of Art workshops, the feedback has been amazing and she's welcome back any time!"
Tony (Bushmoot)
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