| Workshops Programme 2024

David has taught Art and Design for over 30 years, the last 23 at Arran High School. During his Fine Art Degree David studied across mediums including sculpture, photography, printmaking and drawing.

In this workshop participants will use a range of drawing based techniques to make a series of studies based on a variety of starting points. There will be several demonstrations of techniques followed by time for participants to try them out. There will be something to inspire everyone!

Necessary Experience | The workshop is suitable for all abilities from the absolute beginner to the more accomplished.

Materials to Bring | All materials will be provided

Food & Drink | Please bring a packed lunch and any drinks.

This workshop will focus on appliqué and surface texture.

Maverick textile guru, fashion and interiors expert Laura Lees has designed an exclusive short course where participants will be able to customise a unique piece of clothing/fabric using freehand machine embroidery, hand embroidery and surface textiles to create a totally bespoke, individual design in a relaxed, friendly and creative environment.

Don't let your skills inhibit your imagination, complete beginners are welcome, just bring an open mind and your scissors! There will be an abundance of fabric and templates for you to choose from to create your embroidered applique, as well as threads, trims and tricks of the trade. Sewing machines will be provided. Bring your ideas and I’ll help you realise them.

As well as running her own label and interiors house, Laura has designed and crafted limited edition one-off pieces for fashion collections with Sibling, Luella and Giles as well as making guitar straps for The Strokes and working with clients as varied as Courtney Love to the Rolling Stones.

Necessary Experience | No experience is necessary.

Materials to Bring | No set theme. Beside scissors bring an open mind and your ideas and Laura will help you realise them. She will also supply sewing machines. Any reference material such as photographs, sketches etc.

Food & Drink | Please bring a packed lunch. Tea & coffee provided.

Panna is a visual artist and calligrapher, using words and languages to express herself (whether legible or not!). Ever since being taught calligraphy, all of her art work has incorporated lettering in some form... whether abstract or traditional. She currently works in her studio combining calligraphy with paper sculptures.... words expressed in a new way. Sharing her knowledge of calligraphy is very important to her as it is a form of expression. Calligraphy is calming, relaxing and never without a sense of accomplishment.

In this one day workshop, she will be looking at basics of calligraphy, starting with the holding of the pen, and learning the traditional Foundational script. You will practice each letter and the shapes and forms of the letters. You will be using calligraphy felt pens but you will also have the opportunity to try out the traditional ink and nibs. Then, progressing onto creative ways to use the letters you have just learnt and playing around with creating a beautiful ‘abstract’ calligraphy piece.

Everyone will have a calligraphy worksheet pack to take away so you will hopefully continue to practice at home!

Necessary Experience | No prior experience is necessary.

Materials to Bring | All equipment will be provided.

Food & Drink | Please bring a packed lunch. Tea & coffee provided.

Jacky has been immersed in mosaic making for over 15 years. From intricate designs to bold abstract patterns, she loves to work with a wide range of natural, recycled, found and man made materials. She is a big fan of beach combing and incorporates many of her finds into her mosaic creations.

In this chilled and fun workshop you will learn how to safely use wheeled nippers (the essential mosaic cutting tool!). Using a method of embedding the materials into a mortar mix, you will create your own bespoke mosaic mandala on a recycled slate tile, using materials of your choosing. Jacky will provide the slate substrates plus a lovely selection of reclaimed china, sea washed glass & pottery, vitreous glass tiles and beads. You might also want to incorporate your own embellishments such as old buttons, beads or pieces of jewellery. Depending on the materials you use, your mandala will be suitable for display inside or outside.

What is mandala art? Mandala art is a symbolic picture of the universe, the circle that represents wholeness, totality, infinity, timelessness, and unity. Mandala is drawn from the central point and is surrounded by beautiful patterns and decorations that are connected and interrelated.

Necessary Experience | No previous experience required.

Materials to Bring | Please bring an old apron. All other materials are provided. There is an additional cost for materials of £5pp.

Food & Drink | Please bring a packed lunch. Tea & coffee provided.

Tim Pomeroy is a professional sculptor, painter, printmaker and ex-lecturer at Grey's School of Art, Aberdeen. He exhibits regularly in London, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

In so many ways sketchbooks are essential to an artist’s life.

How does one navigate a sketchbook? Why and how does a sketchbook inhabit an artist’s life ? What is the place of the sketchbook in the artist’s armoury? What is its purpose? Does it have only one? Is it a beginning or can it be an end in itself? In so many ways sketchbooks are essential to an artist’s life.

This one-day workshop explores the phenomenon that is the artist’s sketchbook. It’s a place of action and reaction, of mistake and reconciliation, a place of play. After an illustrated introduction it is hoped, in the morning session, that participants will (if they so choose) get outside into the landscape around the Ranger centre to do three or four quite rapid-fire exploratory sketches. The afternoon session will concentrate on a fuller more developed sketch based on the experiences of the morning.

Materials to Bring | Sketchbooks, pencils (hb-6b), pen, inks, oil and powder pastels, rags, sponges, aprons, paper, oil and/or watercolour paint.

Participants should bring pencils/rubbers as standard. The tutor will supply a range of compressed charcoal or conte, graphite stick, pastels and oil-pastels. Participants should bring their own, pen and ink, watercolour and acrylic or oil paint. All of these can be employed in sketching

• If you choose to use watercolours bring either watercolour paper or a watercolour sketch block.
• I have successfully used oil paints as part of the sketching process. If you’d like to experience the freedom of oil-painting onto paper please bring oil paints/white spirit.
• I use Seawhite’s of Brighton sketchbooks 250 x 250mm. I prefer the versatility of the square format and the size. The paper quality is also good, reasonably thick paper which can take a lot of working. But there are many other makes and formats. I favour a hard spine sketchbook but everyone differs, it’s simply a matter of taste and purpose; if you are making landscapes or portraits then an oblong format will suit you better. Spiral bound books are also good and allow for easier sketch removal for framing.
• Cass Art in Queen Street, Glasgow is a great source of sketchbooks. I recommend a personal visit so that you can feel the paper and feel the book. But all can be bought online

Food & Drink | Please bring a packed lunch. Tea & coffee provided.

A kickstart into creating abstract art!

Having graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 1993, and worked for over 20 years as a graphic designer, Gillian is now a full time artist, teaching workshops, classes & painting from her home & stable studio surrounded by gorgeous Ayrshire countryside.

Gillian paints mainly semi-abstract work in mixed media… and has a major love of colour!

In this workshop you will create a collection of mini abstract paintings. This will be a really fun experimental workshop where you will explore colour palettes and composition using exercises to start the creative process.

Necessary Experience | No prior experience in painting is needed. Just come along and enjoy yourself.

Materials to Bring | This is an experimental style of workshop - any materials you have around can be used e.g.

• Any brushes and any tools you enjoy using (or have never tried)
• palette knife if you have one
• drawing tools: pens, pencils, oil pastels (soft pastels are not suitable for this workshop) any inks you have
• Waterbased paint…gouache and acrylics are perfect but watercolour can be used
• 2 x large sheets of thick watercolour paper or acrylic painting paper (no smaller than A3)
• Masking tape and a ruler

A suggested list will be sent out prior to the workshop. An apron would be helpful.

Food & Drink | Please bring a packed lunch. Tea & coffee provided.

Martin is a full time exhibiting artist living and working in Glasgow. He paints mainly in the wonderful medium of watercolour. It is quite an unpredictable medium but very rewarding when it all comes together.

In the workshop he will explain his methods and discuss his "go to" palette. He has a particular system developed over many years that works for him. Hopefully the participants of the course will pick up some useful tips to use in their future works.

Day 1 - An introduction to materials, techniques and the process of painting. Martin will break the painting process into stages and assist participants to complete a Scottish watercolour landscape.

Day 2 - A seascape painting using a very limited palette. The subject will be Lochranza including the old castle.

Necessary Experience | The workshop should be suitable for all levels. It will be an easy going tutorial with hopefully many "happy accidents."

Materials to Bring | I buy mostly from Ken Bromley art supplies whom I find consistently the best over the years. PAPER..  Saunders  Waterford High White 200lb NOT(or similar) I like a heavier paper as it reduces buckling although 140lb is also ok. I buy full imperial and then cut to size. This paper or similar may be available from other art supply sites individually as I think Ken Bromley may only sell in packs of 5.

PAINT  .. I have recently discovered "Rosa" watercolours. These are very good with a high pigment and also very economical compared to more expensive brands. 10 ML TUBES. (one of each)

• ROSA RANGE
• AUREOLIN
• BURNT SIENNA
• CADMIUM LEMON
• CADMIUM YELLOW DEEP 
• CADMIUM RED LIGHT
• COBALT BLUE
• MAGENTA ROSE
• ULTRAMARINE
• VIOLET
• TITANIUM WHITE

• VAN GOGH RANGE 10ML TUBES
• 2 x tubes PRUSSIAN BLUE

• ECOLINE 30ML WATERCOLOUR INK
• 1X LEMON YELLOW
• 1X LIGHT ORANGE.

A selection of watercolour brushes  and some old oil or acrylic bristle brushes are used in my process. Water containers and a small atomiser spray bottle. A link to the brushes I am currently using. Very cheap and very good.

10PCS Chinese Calligraphy Kanji Brushes Set, Wolf Hair Japanese Art Burshes Pens Mixed Sizes Kanji Sumi Writing Painting Drawing Brushes, Watercolor Brush with Brush Bag for Beginners Students: Amazon.co.uk: Stationery & Office Supplies

As I pre mix my watercolours then some small dishes or bowls are used. These are the ones I use.

MALACASA Ramekins for Creme Brulee 12 Piece 60ML Ramekins and Souffle Dishes, Porcelain Ramekin Baking Bowls, Dipping Sauce Dish, Oven Safe, Ivory White: Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

All of these materials are not absolutely essential but for good results they will help.

Please note AVA have a limited supply of watercolour paint & inks at the Ranger Centre that can be used if required.

Food & Drink | Please bring a packed lunch. Tea & coffee provided.

Biography

Time and space underpin my practice: working in situ, I document the passing of time in a location and the people who inhabit and move through the space. My repeated visual experience of place and people over time is layered and distilled further into surfaces; an accumulated knowledge laid down.

The process I engage in is fundamentally driven by location drawing and painting. These physically enduring experiences allow me to record the passing of time. Back in the studio, I use locational work to start. I immerse myself in the physicality of paint, making pieces that reflect these places. Often, paintings end up looking far removed from the research as the experience has become personalised, allowing the paint to take its own path.

Course Outline

This course will focus on oil painting and working with the figure in context with the interior and exterior landscape. Observational work will be explored through (weather permitting) landscape studies or studio interiors in short and longer studies. Atmosphere, perspective, colour, tone, placement, mark making will be used to create personalised as well as completed oil paintings. These approaches will help to create a unique style and shall be for all levels of experience. Artists who work with figure and oils shall be discussed throughout.

Day 1

• Warm up – a few quick gesture poses. I will pose in centre of room and they will put me into the environment
• Figure in the landscape - Line, composition, tone, placement
• By end of the day… little compositions and one monochrome restrictive palette study as well as a turpsy underpainting for the next day
• Discussing artists references who use figure in the landscape and oils

Day 2

• Warm up – a few quick gesture poses. I will pose in centre of room and they will put me into the environment
• Working on colour and mark making
• Gong over the underpainting as well as quick studies to get to grips with colour theory and mark making
• Discussing artists references who use figure in the landscape and oils

Materials you need to bring

• Charcoal or pencils… rubber sharpener… and a small sketchbook
• Oil cards for oils studies (any size although A3 minimum is good)
• Small selection of primed wooden boards or canvas (if not primed bring gesso primer, and a big primer brush (household brush could do))
• Bulldog clips
• Oil tubes - a warm and a cool of each primary colour, a handful of earths and a white (my preference– ultramarine, pthalo blue/ winsor blue cool shade, winsor lemon, cadmium yellow, quinacrodome red, cadmium red, yellow ochre, titanium white, raw sienna, burnt sienna).
• Palette – as big as possible (tear offs or plastic/ wooden board)
• A range of brushes including large brushes (household are good and cheap for larger ones)
• Turpentine
• Liquin original
• A small holder for turps and liquin
• Palette knife(s of varying sizes)
• rags
• latex gloves
• (optional locational painting pochard)

Necessary Experience | This course shall be for beginners as well as advanced artists.

Materials to Bring | Materials to bring- please see list above in the workshop description. I shall bring on a small amount of extras such as large paint tubes, for each of these things just in case. Prices will be according to the amount used by student.

Food & Drink | Please bring a packed lunch. Tea & coffee provided.

Mhairi is a professional paper pulp artist. She studied at Glasgow School of Art and has exhibited her figurative work throughout the UK.

Developing the medium of paper pulp was due to the intervention of a downstairs neighbour. Sounds of sawing and hammering wood in a tenement flat led to justifiable complaints. Necessity being the mother of invention, figures started to evolve silently out of pulped paper.

Day 1 will involve cutting and shaping wire mesh to form an armature. A strong basic structure will be made to support the pulp that will be made and applied on Day 2.

There will not be enough time for the first layer to dry before applying subsequent layers. However, completing these 2 days will result in the knowledge of how to continue, rather than leaving the workshop with a finished product.

Necessary Experience | No previous experience required.

Materials to Bring | A materials list will be sent out nearer the time. There will be an additional cost to cover wire and glue.

Food & Drink | Please bring a packed lunch. Tea & coffee provided.

"Get Knotting" – Walter has been fascinated by Knots and their uses for as long as he can remember – as a cub scout, a keen sailor and RYA dinghy instructor. He was fortunate to study under Gladys Findlay in Surrey. She was one of the UK’s leading macramé authorities. Walter’s work has ranged from large wall hangings to small items of every-day use and decorations. He likes to experiment, using different varieties and colour of cords, beads and other macramé accessories.

Have fun tying yourself up in knots, whilst at the same time produce two or more colourful and useful items. Perhaps a piece of jewellery, a Christmas decoration or light pull.

This workshop aims to provide a beginners’ introduction to the world of macramé, though, should you be more experienced, it may help you develop your own ideas. You will learn to tie a few, really easy, basic knots and then apply them both singularly and in configurations to make the desired item, perhaps with the use of a ring, beads or bells.

Necessary Experience | This workshop aims to provide a beginners’ introduction to the world of macramé, though, should you be more experienced, it may help you develop your own ideas. No previous experience is necessary.

Materials to Bring | None required though it would be useful to bring your own scissors (sharp), tape measure and pen/pencil for making notes. Project boards and all basic materials will be provided. Further cords and accessories will also be available to purchase.

Food & Drink | Please bring a packed lunch. Tea & coffee provided.

Senja has over 25 years teaching experience, with the majority of it running an art room in a lager Edinburgh school. Senja has her own gallery, here on Arran, and exhibits in various galleries on the mainland. Although very busy with shows and commissions, Senja still finds time to support many of Arran's community events.

In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to explore a variety of mediums to paint and draw the sea.

Materials to Bring | Basic materials will be provided and there will also be an opportunity to purchase various mediums and surfaces on the day.

Food & Drink | Please bring a packed lunch. Tea & coffee provided.