IOU Active Hub — Nature Notebooking with Mel Davie

IOU Active Hub — Nature Notebooking 

Join local artist Mel Davies for a gentle guided walk from the IOU Hostel.

This relaxed walk invites you to slow down, tune into the surrounding landscape, and notice the small details — moss, textures, patterns and plant life. Through simple drawing prompts, you’ll explore creative ways of responding to nature and capturing what you see along the way.

Mel is an illustrator and naturalist from the Calder Valley. "I love to explore Nature through different lenses - art, ecology, and folklore - but mainly by getting outside and following my curiosity. You'll find me in the woods or the garden, looking at plants, and painting them in my Nature notebook!'

Mel uses a pencil, black fine liner and watercolours. Please bring a notebook, pencil case with preferred pens, pencils and watercolour palette (if you have them!)

This FREE workshop is part of  IOU50 Exhibition & Hostel Open Day

3–5 July 2026

As part of this year’s Hebden Bridge Open Studios, IOU invites you to the IOU Hostel for a weekend of exhibitions, creative workshops, outdoor experiences and conversation.

Marking 50 years of IOU and featuring activities from the IOU Creation Centre and Active Hub, the programme brings together art, nature and creative exploration for artists, families and visitors of all ages.