Natural Dying and
Botanical Inks with Cath Lewis

19th and 20th June 2021

£130

Textile artist, dyer, printer and ink-maker Catherine Lewis makes all her healthy artwork and handmade inks at her workshop in Cardiff, Wales. She is inspired by the natural beauty, local materials and the post-industrial vistas of her native Welsh landscape. Her work combines sustainable, handmade and recycled materials with both traditional and contemporary techniques. Catherine is able to dye and print a wide variety of materials. She is highly skilled in colour matching and has an extensive knowledge of the various dyes and fibres required to achieve the best results. 

WORKSHOP: On this weekend of botanical loveliness, Cath will first give an introduction to natural plant and food dyes. You will learn about cloth types, eco-prints, hammered prints, mordants, and will make and dye a sample range to keep and refer back to. 

On day two Cath will demonstrate botanical ink making, as well as explaining the fascinating hand techniques and natural materials involved in her work.You will source and make your own ink, draw and paint with crafted tools and then get to play and draw with your own inks made from plants, flower, berries and scrap metals. You'll make beautiful marks and patterns onto cloth and paper, which will go into your own little natures colours sample book.

Please read the covid guidelines below before booking 

Where will the workshops take place?

We will be embracing the outdoors and working between gazebos and where necessary the studio space. Outside the studio is a large patio area which houses the outdoor classrooms. The format is 2 people spaced apart at the end of the tables. All tables are separated and at the edges of the space. The tutor will have  a teaching desk to work from. Students will be mostly outdoors and asked to wear a mask indoors. Common sense will be applied at all times but even outdoors some may feel more comfortable wearing a mask. Visors are also provided for anybody who wishes to wear them. All students are expected to respect each other’s space and safety at all times. 

You are advised to bring layers of clothing as the Welsh weather is a little unpredictable.

What happens if the pandemic is ongoing and government restrictions do not allow workshops at the allocated time?

The workshops will adhere to ALL guidelines and will absolutely only take place if it is safe to do so. No risks will be taken. Please read the T’s and C;s and Covid Guidelines below.

Should I book a workshop if I am unsure what will be happening in 2021 with the pandemic?

This is a difficult one. I can give my opinion and explain my experiences if it helps. I cannot control lockdowns, travel restrictions, and the potential for us to need to postpone a workshop. In 2020 I postponed many guest workshops, but my team and I ran lots of regular classes via zoom and  returned to small in person workshops in mid-September. We worked with Welsh Government to keep creative classes running safely as they are so important for wellbeing. 

In the first term of 2021 in the second lockdown, we held all workshops online. From May onwards all in-person workshops have taken place in the outdoor classrooms. The students and tutors have adapted together and enjoyed the experience. The studio is accessible for use of machinery and materials. The students enter in small numbers to work in the studio, but are based under the gazebos just outside. I believe we are now more prepared than ever with distancing measures, PPE etc and in general people are more willing to take part in organised activities that they deem safe - whereas initially nothing felt safe! It has been so good for everybody’s mental health to get creating again at the studio and outdoors. If booking a workshop gives you something to look forward to, then it can only be a good thing. We all need a bit of hope and I sincerely hope the guest workshops will see these incredible tutors share their talents with the Beth Morris Workshops community.