Advised workshop length: 1.5 hrs

Exhibition Workshop: A Celebration of Drawing

Drawing is a universal language—a way to communicate ideas, thoughts, and emotions. Join us at the gallery to experience the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, an exhibition showcasing the diverse ways artists use drawing to express themselves. From charcoal and ink to pencil and wire, these works reveal how drawing can capture feelings, convey ideas, and document the world around us.

Workshop Details:
This 1.5-hour workshop takes inspiration from the artworks on display, inviting students to explore their own creativity. Together, we’ll:

  • Create and fill a sketchbook.
  • Engage in warm-up exercises to embrace experimentation and free ourselves from thoughts like ‘I can’t draw’
  • Explore mark-making using a variety of materials.

Afterward, students will have time to study and draw from a piece of their choosing, deepening their connection with the art.

Exhibition Dates:
Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2024
1 February – 10 May 2025

Still Life

Learn to draw from observation. Notice the space between the objects, how the light creates the form and shadows, notice the scale and shapes of the objects. Are their patterns in the floor, in the textiles, or the objects. What marks will you use?

Using pencil and oil pastel we will start by drawing and sketching the objects in front of us. When we feel confident to start, we will design our composition and then use colour to bring atmosphere and form to our picture.

Patricia Algar (1939-2013): Still life with blue dish, oil on board, 56.6 x 50.5 cm

Pattern, Colour and Print

Some artists interpret the world through abstract patterns, shapes and colour. Allowing the colour and shape to direct the form the artwork takes. An organic process. Not so planned.

We will use some simple collage and oil pastels to play with colour and shape. When we are happy with our preparatory pieces, we will then transfer our patterns using a simple monoprint technique.

Christopher Le Brun RA (born 1951): Yellow Tower, 1998, woodcut (B.A.T), 65 x 89 cms. 

Animals, Nature and Stories

How do these artists depict nature and our relationship to the natural world? Do you have a place in nature that you like to go? Your garden? A relative’s garden, the woods or by the sea?

Together we will explore our rituals and stories of nature. Using different materials from paint to collage and pastel we will create our own image of nature.

Filippo Palizzi (1818-1899): The Animals leaving the Ark; Mount Ararat, oil on canvas, 102 x 144cm.

Painting the Sea

sea is so much part of our lives here in Cornwall and particularly in Falmouth. The Sea has been a source of inspiration for many local artists.

Learn the skills of colour mixing, mark making and expression. Inspired by our art collection, the view from the gallery and our imagination. Let’s paint our own sea painting

AUTOMATA

Learn some simple mechanics and create your own flying creature. Inspired by our images of myths and legends, design a creature from your wildest imagination.

Inspired by our automata collection we will work with a local artist educator to build our own automata.

If the weather is fine you could venture into Kimberley park for a picnic lunch and see the automaton made by local artists, Rob Higgs, Paul Spooner and Keith Newstead.

Learn more about the history of Automata making in Falmouth


Half day, build your own automata.
Full day, design and build your own automata.

This workshop costs £5 per pupil

We use recycled materials from Cornish Scrapstore

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or speak to us about your requirements

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