Making Colourful Inks from Plants

Making Colourful Inks from Plants

Join Edward and Lucy from Old Mill Arts to learn how to make a range of colourful inks, all from plants and natural sources.

By Calder Art Studio

Date and time

Sat, 1 Nov 2025 10:00 - 16:00 GMT

Location

Calder Art Supplies

Westgate Road Huddersfield HD1 1ND United Kingdom

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 30 days before event

About this event

  • Event lasts 6 hours

Workshop Details

Join Edward and Lucy from Old Mill Arts to learn how to make a range of colourful inks, all from plants and natural sources.

Over the course of this workshop, you will be introduced to making inks from plants both grown and foraged. The day will begin with a talk on the basics of how to make ink. You will then be shown examples of plants that can be used and the inks or paints that have been made using them. We will also look at the different ways inks can be modified to increase the range of colours available.

During the day, you will also learn how to make a pen from foraged reeds and bamboo.

By the end of the day, you will have had the chance to experiment with a wide range of homemade plant inks andhave been a part of making plant inks from scratch. Participants will take home several inks, a reed pen, a colour chart and comprehensive notes on how to make inks at home.

Suitable for complete beginners or those with some experience, wanting to develop skills in working with plants.


About the Artists

Edward and Lucy have been practising artists for the last twenty years working in a range of mediums. During the last ten years, they have founded the Old Mill Gallery in a village located in southwest Scotland. This is a gallery, bookshop and plant dye garden as well as being a place where they have hosted a range of events over the years This has evolved into a workshop hosting space specialising in handmade and foraged art materials alongside the history and philosophy of approaching creative work in this way. They run workshops in this subject both in the Mill and increasingly in other locations around the North of the country.

www.theoldmillpalnackie.com

www.ofalderandoak.co.uk


Materials to Bring

Lunch, a sketchbook, pen to make any extra notes, some watercolour brushes and a pen knife if you have one.


Course Details

Payment:

Minimum numbers apply for courses to run. Payment is due in full at the time of booking, either through the shop, phone or online. All sales are final unless transferring to another class in which a price difference will be paid. Full refunds will be given if the courses cannot take place. If you cannot make the classes for any reason no refunds will be given, however, there may be the option to transfer your booking to an alternative event, please give us a call at Calder Art Supplies at 01484 422991.

How to Book:

Phone: You can book by calling us on our telephone number 01484 422991 or visit in-store.

Facebook: We also have an online booking option through our Facebook site:

https://www.facebook.com/CalderGraphic/

This will also give you a breakdown of details of the class and times to attend.

If you have any issues booking online please give the shop a call and we will endeavour to sort this out over the phone.

Refreshments:

Refreshments are available all day (tea, coffee, biscuits etc.) and there will be a lunch break of approximately one hour.

There are plenty of local shops and cafes in the area within close walking distance from the arcade.

Alternatively, you may bring your own lunch.

Disability access:

There is lift access to the studio on the second floor for those with mobility issues. Toilets are located close by on the studio level, however there is a small flight of stairs to access these. Alternatively there are also toilets located on one level on the ground floor.

Parking:

The nearest car park available to the venue is the multi-storey next to Huddersfield bus station. Levels 4, 5 & 6 - Monday to Saturday (8am to 6 pm)

£4.10 for up to 5 hours

£6.50 up to 6 pm.

After 6pm £1.60 per visit

Further parking information can be found here.

Alternative car parks can also be seen within similar distances on the same link above.

Public Transport:

Our venue is also a 2 minute walk from both the main bus and train stations.

PLEASE ARRIVE AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE START TIME OF THE WORKSHOP AND “CHECK IN” AT CALDER GRAPHICS ON THE GROUND FLOOR.price difference

Organised by

Branching from Calder Graphics Art Shop, Calder Art is a dedicated creative space hosting classes, exhibitions and artist demonstrations all year round. All aspects of creativity are covered from painting to print making, book binding to card designs. There is a class to suit anyone who has an interest in art, design or crafting at a range of levels, from beginner to professional.

We offer a friendly and comfortable environment to learn new skills and improve your methods and techniques wherever necessary. Don’t hesitate to contact us with ideas and suggestions as we are always looking to provide useful and enriching classes for budding artists in the surrounding area and beyond.  

You can call us for bookings on our events on 01484 422991 or contact us via email at contactus@calderartsupplies.co.uk

Studio Space:

Calder Art Studio

34 Byram Arcade

Huddersfield

HD1 1ND

 

Retail Shop:

Calder Graphics

5 Byram Arcade

Huddersfield

HD1 1ND