Taking inspiration from the ‘post-petrochemical’ painting installation in our current exhibition Made Ground, which uses soil and rock collected locally by the artist Yelena Popova, this workshop will explore the world of locally found and foraged pigments. We will look at which stones, clay and shells can be transformed into colourful pigments and the processes involved. Edward and Lucy will demonstrate how, by adding different binders, a whole range of paints can be achieved.

Participants will be able to try each stage of the process as well as experiment with various types of paint, some of which can be taken home after the workshop. Through painting with natural forged materials we will incorporate the colours of the landscape around us, exploring place through its natural resources.

The Old Mill is an exhibition space, bookshop and art studios situated in the beautiful port village of Palnackie on the Solway coastline. The aim of its founders, Edward and Lucy, is to create a space for enquiry into the connection between creativity, spirit and the natural environment. In their upper studios they run various creative workshops based around making art materials from plants and other foraged materials.