DRAWING NEOLITHIC ROCK ART

DRAWING NEOLITHIC ROCK ART

RECORDING ONLY: AVAILABLE TO WATCH IMMEDIATELY AFTER BOOKING

RECORDING EXPIRES MIDNIGHT 28th January 2026

This is a London Drawing Group class from 2024 ❤️

Taught by Luisa Maria MacCormack

About the Class

For this session, Luisa Maria MacCormack will be guiding us through the enigmatic world of Neolithic Rock Art Carvings in Ancient Britain!

When you think of Prehistoric Art, most people think of the fabulous painted caves of Southern Europe. However, many people are unaware that we have our very own millennia long tradition of incredible prehistoric art right here in Britain. All over the UK, on rocky outcrops on windswept Northern moors, or carved into gargantuan stones at the entrance to irish tombs, mysterious carvings of spirals, cups, rings and a beautiful array of complex patterns sit quietly, exposed to the elements, defying all explanations and theories about their origins and purpose.

This session led by Luisa will explore the incredible creativity and beauty of these megalithic rock art carvings, a source of inspiration Luisa has regularly drawn from in her own work. Together, we’ll journey around the ancient landscape of the British Isles, exploring the often mesmerizing beauty of these megalithic symbols through a series of drawing exercises designed to allow us to let loose and draw without preconceived notions of what a drawing is ‘supposed’ to look like. Together we will explore what little is known about the creators of this rich, lost language of symbols, and what in turn we can borrow creatively from them.

About the Carvings

With roots in the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age periods, (spanning from around 4000 BCE to 1500 BCE), The megalithic rock art in Britain exhibits a rich variety of forms and motifs. Common elements include concentric circles, spirals, cup-and-ring marks, and intricate geometric patterns. These carvings are found on standing stones, burial chambers, and rock outcrops. To date, around 4000 carved rocks with cup-and-ring motifs, spirals and other less easily categorised carvings have been recorded in England, Wales, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The exact purpose and meaning of megalithic rock art remain a subject of scholarly debate. Some theories propose that these carvings held ritualistic or ceremonial significance, serving as markers for sacred spaces, while others suggest they may have been linked to astronomical observations, aligning with celestial events.

Megalithic rock art in prehistoric Britain can serve as an enduring wellspring of inspiration for us contemporary artists; the intricate patterns, symbolic motifs, provide a visual language that invites our own reinterpretation and reimagination. Expect a beautiful and contemplative session, with plenty of context about these incredible carvings from our tutor Luisa.

About our Tutor

Luisa is a Fine Artist and Feminist Educator working across a variety of mediums, with a focus on sculpture and drawing. A founding member of the London Drawing Group, Luisa teaches drawing, and Feminist Art History of classes across London, as well as exhibiting regularly in solo and group shows across the country.

Suggested materials:

• Any mediums you feel comfortable drawing with will be great for this class, Luisa will be using charcoal pencils, graphite pencils and some inks and brushes, but this is a very exploratory session so you're welcome to use mixed media around that

• Paper - A3 is good for this as it gives you room to play

How much is the class?

Everyone is welcome to join this Pay-What-You-Can class. We suggest a donation of £20, all of which will go to our tutors. However, we understand that may not be possible for everybody. Please be honest and pay what you can afford so that we may continue to offer our sessions on a donation basis.

How do I join?

Once you have booked your place, you will receive a confirmation email and be able to access information on how to join the event via your eventbrite "Online Event Page" You can access this by signing into eventbrite or creating an account using the email address that you booked with.

Recording Access

W e will email the recording link to everyone who has booked approx 2 hours after the live class finishes. This will be available to watch anytime within 14 days

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hello@londondrawinggroup.com

And that's it!

We're really looking forward to you joining us.

Love,

LDG