Watercolour, Sketchbooks and Landscapes - 3 day course

Join artist Amy McGurk for a playful, expressive, and experimental three-day workshop at Sunnybank Mills, where we will explore greenery and nature, mark-making and texture, and zine-making.

Taking inspiration from the beautiful surroundings, we’ll experiment with watercolour and mixed media to capture landscapes in fresh and creative ways. Through sketchbook-based exploration, you’ll develop expressive mark-making techniques and create your own unique responses to the environment.

Course Level: This workshop is open to anyone aged 13+ and welcomes all levels of experience. It’s a chance to experiment, explore, and have fun while connecting with the landscape through art. We recognise the amazing talent of young people, but ask that anyone under the age of 18 is accompanied by a caregiver, as this is a session for all.

Materials and What to Bring

• Watercolour and some materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your own favourites (graphite, coloured pencils, ink, pastels, etc.).
• If you have a favourite sketchbook, bring it along! Otherwise, paper will be provided, and sketchbooks are available for purchase at the gallery store.
• Weather permitting, we’ll spend time sketching outdoors—so dress accordingly!

This course will run Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd August. Starting at 10am - 12pm.

Artist bio:

Amy McGurk is a Leeds based travel and nature illustrator documenting her travels throughout her detailed and colourful sketchbooks. Painting while travelling, using watercolour and mixed media, she creates lasting impressions of the places she visits. With a particular focus on the nuances of local wildlife and nature, she uses reference photographs from her hikes through unfamiliar landscapes. As well as being inspired by nature, she also aims to capture and illustrate an array of cultural experiences and landscapes.

Whilst travelling (or in Leeds!), she often has limited time at each stop and only a small amount of art supplies. By limiting the amount of time, the materials, and stepping out of her comfort zone, she can create some interesting textures, marks, and composition ideas that reflect the uniqueness of each place. These scribbly, messy, imperfect pages become beautiful memories or can be developed into finished paintings when she returns home.

Amy has taught workshops and classes across Leeds and online and is an exhibiting artist.

When attending a workshop you can receive 10% off within the Gallery Shop on the day of your session.

About the venue

Sunny Bank Mills is an inspirational cultural destination in the heart of the local community of Farsley, Leeds. Founded in 1829, these glorious Mills are being regenerated by the sixth generation of the family owners, creating a wonderful blend of work, leisure and culture.

Course terms and booking conditions

Workshop and course bookings can be cancelled and refunded up until 7 days before the scheduled start date. As materials and equipment are ordered in advance, we regret that refunds cannot be offered less than 7 days before the workshop date. Please note that Eventbrite’s booking fee is non-refundable.

If we need to cancel the course for any reason your ticket will be fully refunded.