Botanical Printmaking

Join artist and nature enthusiast Liz Gaffney for an immersive Botanical Printmaking workshop and discover how to transfer the natural beauty of plants onto fabric and paper. Discover which plants create the best imprints and the alchemy behind achieving vibrant, lasting results. You might be surprised at how common garden weeds can produce incredible prints!

This workshop is perfect for both beginners and those looking to refine or advance their printmaking techniques. We’ll start by experimenting on paper before moving on to fabric, exploring different methods to enhance designs. You’ll learn about plant selection, fabric preparation, and the steaming and cooking processes that bring prints to life. To make the most of our creative time in the studio the preparation of the fabric and paper will be done in advance but notes will be available on scouring and several methods of mordanting so that you will be able to carry out these steps at home. On the day you will have delightful fun experimenting first on paper as we gain an understanding of the process. We’ll move on to work on upcycled fabrics such as tablecloths and napkins, and use the variety of results we have achieved in our experiments to compose a harmonious design. We will use steam and cook the fabrics, extracting and sealing the alchemic colours from the plant materials. As we go we’ll work to identify ‘perfect printers ‘ and discuss how you might choose to record your experiments so that you can achieve stunning results at home too.

By the end of the session, you’ll take home a unique collection of botanical-printed papers and fabrics, along with the knowledge to continue experimenting on your own. Plus, you’ll gain fresh inspiration for transforming old, stained fabrics into stunning artworks or useful materials for future crafting projects. Join us for a creative, hands-on day and see everyday plants in a whole new light!

About Your Tutor

Liz Gaffney’s journey with textiles has led me to many countries, places and communities around the world, and after a recent move to Fife she has decided to concentrate on teaching the skills she knows and loves best. 

“Craft is such an important language to communicate with one another and within ourselves. I am passionate to share that knowledge with others, to ignite an essential creative spark that is inside each and everyone of us. To connect with the world around us and our own personal worlds. Connecting with nature in my beautiful landscape through growing , foraging and using natural materials for my dyeing. Really getting to know the plants by growing and propagating and of course celebrating their gifts. Botanical Printing with living materials is a way of capturing a moment in time, imprinting flowers and leaves with special properties onto paper and cloth.”

• All materials will be provided for your Botanical Printmaking workshop. If you’re curious about the plants in your garden or local area, feel free to bring a small selection to experiment with.
• Tea and coffee are provided but participants should bring their own lunch and utensils.
• All of our classes are suitable for over 16s, younger crafters may be accommodated if accompanied by a participating adult but please contact us before booking
• If the workshop you were looking at is fully booked drop us an email and we’ll add you to the waiting list. We will add extra dates to our most popular workshops too, join the mailing list to be the first to know
• All of our workshops are held in our accessible studio at Craft Central, High Street, Dunblane, FK15 0EE
• If you need to cancel or reschedule your workshop we need at least three weeks notice and an administration fee will be applied. Please read our cancellation policy before booking