Arts and craft courses

We have an exciting programme of arts and craft courses and workshops in the gallery during 2020. We also hold talks, and other events at various times of the year, and in 2020, with trees now on the frontline of the fight against the climate crisis, we’re putting woodlands, and the many ways you can enjoy them, at the heart of our programme, culminating in our summer ‘Wood Life’ Festival and an accompanying exhibition in the gallery

For more information and bookings, please call the Inspired by… gallery on 01439 772737 or go to our EventBrite page where online booking is available.

A 10% discount is offered on up to four workshops in a calendar year for our Inspired by... gallery Supporters (excluding Art History Day Schools with the WEA).

Young Artist Workshops

Our children’s art workshops are suitable for ages 7 to 12 – all materials supplied, just bring your imagination! Children to be dropped off and collected from the Inspired by... gallery (consent form required) except drop in sessions where all children are to be accompanied by an adult. Note, there are two separate sessions. Drop in sessions are suitable for all the family.

• “The Starry Night” (Thursday 20 February): Part of Dark Skies Festival 2020. Have a go at art activities based on the famous painting by Vincent Van Gogh and find out what to look out for in our beautiful winter skies. No booking required, just drop in anytime between 11am and 3pm. Cost: Adult: Free Child: £4.50
• “The Great Wave” (Thursday 16 April): Taking inspiration from Hokusai’s “Great Wave”  experiment with line, tone and texture to produce our very own seascape whilst talking about the need to keep our beautiful coastline free from pollution and how we can help. Cost: £7.50. Booking essential (online booking details to follow)
• All about printing (Wednesday 27 May): Drop in session with printmaker Suzie Devey. Have a go at printing with pre-prepared linocuts before creating your own polystyrene block to print a design on an eco-friendly shopping bag. No booking required, just drop in anytime between 10:30am and 3:30pm. Cost: Adult: Free Child: £5
• Sky High (Thursday 6 August): Taking inspiration from the sky and things that fly, we will experiment with a variety of mark making techniques and materials including wax resist, cyanotype (weather permitting) and writing with quills. Cost: £7.50. Booking essential (online booking details to follow)
• Looking at Trees (Thursday 20 August): On a walk through the grounds, we will observe and sketch trees from different perspectives, learning their names and how to recognise them. We will also take bark rubbings and make observational drawings using charcoal. Cost: £7.50. Booking essential (online booking details to follow)
• Autumn Treasures (Thursday 29 October): Walk around the grounds searching for autumn colours and gathering ‘treasures’ to print with. After time to explore and experiment with colour and technique, we will choose our favourite prints to create a book to take home. Cost: £7.50. Booking essential (online booking details to follow)

All workshops 10:30am – 12:30pm or 1:30pm – 3:30pm except drop in sessions

Art History Day Schools with the WEA

With guest lecturers from the renowned Workers’ Educational Association, we present a series of art history day schools.

• The Staithes Group: Artist's Colony, Fisher-folk and Inspiration (Saturday 4 April): Study the remarkable body of work by artists such as Laura Knight, Mark Senior and the Staithes art group and examine why these ’Northern Impressionists’ were drawn to the Yorkshire coast, depicting en plein air the coastal and moorland scenery and working lives of the fishing community.
• Atkinson Grimshaw: Moonlight, Yorkshire & More (Saturday 11 July): Although best known for his moonlit scenes, we will explore the wider range of material produced by this Yorkshire artist comparing the less familiar, daylight landscapes & figure paintings with his more commercial though evocative urban scenes reflecting moonlight on the damp cobbled streets.
• The Railway in Art: Paintings of the 19th and 20th Centuries (Saturday 12 September): Explore a wide range of examples which illustrate how numerous artists, especially in Britain & France, were inspired by the railway - technology which transformed the landscape and the lives of those who observed & travelled on it. Including Turner, Monet and many others.

Minimum age 18. Wheelchair accessible. Please bring a packed lunch or refreshments are available at our Centre. All sessions 10:30am - 3:30pm with one hour lunch break.
Cost: £25 FREE to those in receipt of means-tested benefits. Booking essential with WEA directly or call 0300 3033464 for more information.

Woodland Watercolours Workshop (Saturday 18 April, Saturday 18 July 10:30am – 4pm)

Part of our Wood Life Festival. Join artist Peter Reynolds to explore and develop your watercolour and acrylic painting techniques, using woodland landscape and wildlife as your inspiration. Minimum age 18. Not accessible by wheelchair. Please bring a packed lunch.
Cost: £45 Booking essential (online booking details to follow)

Willow Weaving Workshops

Join expert willow weaver Anthea Firth on one of her relaxing and informative workshops where you will learn the techniques required to produce your own sculptures or seasonal decorations. The workshops are aimed at beginners as well as those with some experience of the craft. You'll learn the core techniques required for willow working as well as the specific skills needed to create your willow creation. Please wear comfortable casual clothes. Materials and tools provided. Learn how to make:

• Heron (Saturday 2 May): Online booking details to follow
• Rabbit (Saturday 20 June): Online booking details to follow
• Hedgehog (Saturday 1 August): Online booking details to follow
• Owl (Saturday 15 August): Online booking details to follow
• Pheasant (Saturday 19 September): Online booking details to follow
• Deer (Saturday 10 October): Online booking details to follow
• Robin (Saturday 7 November): Online booking details to follow
• Angel (Saturday 5 December): Online booking details to follow

All workshops 10:30am-3:30pm. Please bring a packed lunch. Minimum age 18. Not wheelchair accessible.
Cost: £50 including all materials. Advance booking essential for all workshops (details to follow).

Painting with Acrylics (17 May, 7 June, 12 July, 16 August, 20 September 10.30am – 4.30pm)

Small-group workshops focusing on acrylic paint, a forgiving medium for beginners and more experienced artist alike. James will demonstrate his methods and you’ll leave at the end of the day with your own painting. Minimum age 14 (14-16 year olds must be accompanied by an adult; 16-18 year olds require a consent form). Wheelchair accessible.
Cost: £49 including all materials, lunch and refreshments. Advance booking essential (online booking details to follow)

Layers of Nature in Landscape Workshop (Saturday 30 May 11am – 4pm)

Join visual artist, Linda Ingham for a nature-themed session inspired by landscape and botany where we will explore the layering of mixed media processes and collage using a variety of papers, paints, found objects and print. Linda will supply most materials, but you may find it useful to bring:

• a small notebook/sketchbook
• photos – as a point of reference for your own ideas
• any bits of print, found objects such as leaves, dried flowers and/or fabric and thread that you might like to incorporate
• and an apron.

Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Sorry, no dogs. Minimum age 16.
Cost: £45 including materials. Booking essential (online booking details to follow)

Awakening the Writer Within (13 June, 4 July, 13 September 1pm – 4.30pm)

Be inspired to write by the sights and sounds of the North York Moors. Janet Dean and Clara Challoner Walker will lead a writing workshop using the landscape, flora, fauna and art to stimulate your poetry and prose. Beginners and more experienced writers welcome.  Minimum age 18. Sorry, no dogs. Wheelchair accessible.
Cost: £25 (paper and pens provided). Booking essential (online booking details to follow)

Wire and Wood Workshop: Making Art Inspired by Nature (Saturday 22 August 10.30am – 4.30pm)

Using a nature table of finds, including leaves, twigs, feathers, wild flowers and seed heads as a starting point, Chris Moss will help us explore how to reproduce these in wire and tin or combine with found pieces of wood to make a number of small, personal artworks. A number of natural finds will be displayed for inspiration but feel free to bring your own pieces or photos.

Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Sorry, no dogs. Wheelchair accessible. Minimum age: 16.
Cost: £48 (light refreshments included. All tools and materials (including gloves) provided). Booking essential (online booking details to follow)

Christmas Craft Fair (Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 November 10.30am – 4pm)

Complementing Brigantia's artists and craftmakers, who will be exhibiting in the Inspired by... gallery (14 November until 24 January 2021), our popular annual Christmas Craft Fair returns. Celebrating the very best of local arts, country crafts and seasonal gifts from stallholders old and new, with everything from designer jewellery, handwoven textiles, ceramics, handmade oak gifts, candles, scented soaps and handmade chocolates, there’s sure to be something to get the seasonal shopping spree started. As well as the wide-ranging goods on the stalls, seasonal gifts will be on sale in the Centre’s shop. A visit to Santa’s enchanted grotto and crafts for the children complete the festive offering. When you need a rest from all the hustle and bustle, why not visit the café, and enjoy a festive treat or two to revive your spirits!
Cost: Free entry (drop in anytime)