Workshops 2025
A number of inspirational workshops for all will take place over the weekend
Hands-On Exploration: Dive into a variety of materials such as colourful stickers, pens, tapes and collage. Experiment with different textures, colours, and forms to discover what resonates with you.
Concertina Sketchbook Magic: Learn how to use a concertina sketchbook to create dynamic, flowing artworks that unfold into beautiful visual narratives. This versatile format will help you think outside the traditional boundaries of art-making.
Guided Exercises: Participate in structured exercises that encourage you to try new techniques and take creative risks. From abstract explorations to thematic projects, you’ll gain confidence in your artistic abilities.
Artistic Freedom: Embrace the freedom to make mistakes and turn them into opportunities for growth. Learn to see "happy accidents" as integral parts of your creative process.
Community and Collaboration: Connect with fellow artists in a collaborative and inclusive setting. Share your experiences, inspire each other, and build a network of creative support.
This workshop is perfect for artists of all levels who want to build confidence in their creative abilities, explore new materials, and develop their personal style. Whether you’re a beginner looking to discover your artistic voice or an experienced artist seeking fresh inspiration, this workshop will provide valuable insights and techniques.
Adults and children are welcome!
All necessary materials will be provided, including concertina sketchbooks. Just bring your enthusiasm and willingness to experiment!
1 hour workshop
Ages: 6+
Cost £ per person
Unfold your Imagination
with Eloisa Henderson
Workshop details
Adults and children attending the workshop will have the opportunity to explore a variety of hand building and surface decoration techniques to construct and add pattern 2D and 3D forms based on natural shapes and iconic African masks.
2 hour workshop
Ages: 8+
Cost £30 per person
Artist Statement
Basil Olton is an artist, curator, researcher and founder and director of Highgate Art School, promoting a diverse understanding of contemporary art at a grassroots community level and a consultant for the British Art Network.
Instagram: @highgateartschool
Ceramics Workshop: iconic African masks
with Basil Olton owner of Highgate Art School
PlyForm YourSelf workshop
with Plyconic
Workshop details
Become a 3D assemblage artist and join Plyconic’s a PlyForm YourSelf workshop. You will get to play with plywood shapes, colours and layers to create your own unique plywood picture.
Through this creative process, we'll gently explore the basics of composition and how colour and shape can influence a piece.
After reflecting on your previous creations you will pick which one to rebuild and glue down as your final piece. Then take home your plywood picture to adorn your walls and impress family and friends with.
Artist statement
Plyconic, is an east London artist with a passion for architecture and plywood. Building depth and visual intrigue by layering intricately cut plywood to create abstract and architectural inspired pictures. Each ply layer disrupts the grain of the one below, creating a rhythmic interplay of patterns. This interplay of the natural ply patterns, infuses the artworks with a sense of serenity and connection to nature.
1 hour workshop
Ages: 9+
Cost £30 per person
Instagram: @plyconic
Colours of Tradition:
A Madhubani Painting Experience
with Akruti Sinha
Workshop details
Immerse yourself in the vibrant and symbolic world of Madhubani painting. A centuries old folk art form from the Mithila region of Bihar, India. Know for it’s intricate patterns, vivid colours, symbolic motifs and rich story telling, Madhubani art reflects themes of nature, mythology, cosmic harmony and daily life. Traditionally painted by women on walls and floors during festivals and special occasions, this style has evolved into a celebrated global art form while retaining its cultural roots. Each motif whether of lotus flower, birds, animals or trees carry profound symbolic meaning shaped by tradition and occasion. The vibrant patterns, passed down from mothers to daughters, form a visual language that has remained remarkably unchanged through centuries, surviving the many vicissitudes of history through the strength of communal village life.
This hands-on workshop offers participants a chance to explore the techniques and motifs of Madhubani painting, using simple tools and natural inspiration. Whether you’re an experienced artist or someone picking up a brush for the first time, this session is designed for all skill levels. No prior expertise in art is required - just bring your creativity and curiosity!
What to Expect:
• Learn the origins and symbolism behind Madhubani art.
• Discover basic techniques, including linework, pattern creation, and use of colour.
• Create your own Madhubani-inspired artwork to take home.
• Immerse yourself in a relaxing, cultural, and creative experience during the Highgate Art Festival.
Join us for an unforgettable artistic journey where tradition meets creativity, and take home not just a painting, but a piece of living history.
Artist Statement
Akruti Sinha is a seasoned textile designer with over 12 years of experience in creating surface and textile art. Akruti holds a Bachelor’s degree in Textile Design from the prestigious National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad. Her work blends traditional techniques with contemporary design sensibilities, making her uniquely skilled at bringing the rich heritage of Madhubani painting to life in a modern, accessible way.
1 hour workshop
Ages: 14+
Cost £20 per person
Painting workshop
with Fran Gifford
Workshop details
Paint Birds With Fran Gifford!
Spend a happy morning painting birds with Fran Gifford! Everyone is welcome regardless of your skill level. Fran will give you the outline, and all the help, advice, and encouragement you need so that you take home a painting you're really happy with at the end. You'll be painting birds Fran’s way: with bold colour, lots of lines, and an abundance of flowers. She’ll show you some of her secret tricks to making each bird look happy and full of life. We can't wait to see what you create!
Artist Statement
Fran Giffard has long been captivated by the intricate beauty of natural illustrations, and has produced an incredible body of ornithology-inspired artwork. Fran works directly onto her personal Moleskine diaries using watercolour, ink, gouache and graphite pencil, capturing the wonder of exotic and more commonplace birds. The result is a vivid collection of work with an intriguing personal slant. Drawing on influences from contemporary Japanese print making, Fran’s paintings contrast areas of intense detail with negative space, flat gouache with rich mottled watercolour tones, and beautiful loose paint strokes with precise perfect lines. The result is an aesthetically beautiful painting which can appear simple upon first glance, but pulls you in. Each bird painted is filled with character. Fran clearly has a true love of birds and has exclusively
painted them since 2010. The joy that she experiences from studying them is embodied in each piece. Fran paints each bird how she views them: elegant, poised, beautiful, and full of happiness and charm.
1 - 1.5 hour workshop
Ages: 6+
Cost £18 per person
Playful Relief.
Shape, form and colour.
with Andrea Rodriguez Lagartos
Workshop details
Make a relief in clay, and experiment with types of mark-making. We’ll use a range of modern sculptural tools as well as natural resources, which encourages the creation of a wide variety of surface textures and depths protruding into and out of the relief surface. The eventual aim is to cast the relief.
The casting technique demonstrates the basic process of mould making. It is a similar technique that would have been used to create the casts on display in the Cast Courts in the 19th century. Moulds were often made from plaster, but could also be made from gutta-percha, gelatine, or clay.
Although all materials and equipment are provided, please feel free to bring along special items from your own garden if you’d like to make your design even more personal.
You will take away a personalised botanical plaster cast of your design to display in your home, measuring approximately 10 cm in diameter.
Artist Statement
Andrea Rodriguez Lagartos, the curator of the children's exhibition at the Highgate Art Fair 2024 and 2025, is an Art Teacher at Highgate Primary School and the founder and studio lead of the art room at Highgate Primary School. Driven by a deep concern for the environment, she shapes the studio’s creative vision, develops its art curriculum, and leads community engagement. With a background in art and design, Andrea is passionate about creating holistic, process-led spaces where children of all ages can explore, experiment, and grow. She also shares regular updates and inspiration through her community newsletter.
For more info, please check:
highgateartfair.co.uk/childrens-exhibition
highgateprimaryschool.co.uk/classes/art
Picture artworks curated in the Children's exhibition, Highgate Art Fair 2025
1.5 hour workshop
Ages: 6+
Cost £18 per person
