Walking & Mapping the Garden: 1 day workshop

Explore the beautiful grounds of The Garden House and create an illustrated map of your walk in a small concertina book with map artist Helen Cann.

This workshop will be a step-by-step session in how to create a ‘ribbon map’ - a style of map popular between the 17th and 19th centuries and used to show linear journeys. The session will include how to take notes on the ground, use mark-making in fine line pen to create distinct features, develop decorative compass roses and add colour after a basic tutorial in watercolour painting.

Helen is the award-winning author and illustrator of ‘Hand Drawn Maps - a Guide for Creatives’ (Thames and Hudson). She has broad experience in creating hand-illustrated maps for books, signage and film props and has exhibited her work widely in galleries including the De La Warr Pavilion and the Towner. She has taught map-making skills in galleries, museums and schools and will bring with her a selection of original vintage and facsimile maps for some extra student inspiration. 

Students will need to bring with them:

• cartridge paper for note-taking (A4 size sheets or sketchbook).
• pencil (HB grade is ideal).
• putty rubber or good quality eraser.
• two fine watercolour brushes (eg sizes 1 and 3, or sizes 2 and 4).
• watercolour paints (either 5ml tubes or half pans). 
• A tray to mix paints in. 
• Black waterproof fine line pen no larger than 0.1 in size (eg Unipin).

Students will leave with a memory of their time at The Garden House but also the skills to create a walking map of their own garden.

Cost: £80, includes refreshments throughout the day - please bring your own packed lunch.