When: Saturday 18th April

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: Chauffeurs Cottage, 1 St Peters Road, Peterborough, PE1 1YX

Cost: £35 (includes materials and firing)

Only 8 spaces available

To book click here 

Inspired by garden plants and lichens, this workshop will show you how to create your own miniature porcelain sculptures. Under the careful guidance of Kathryn Parsons you will use simple hand tools and a variety of techniques to shape, texture and work the soft porcelain clay. There will be plenty of time explore the material, enjoy noticing the small details of nature and create your own small collection of miniature porcelain treasures.

The workshop will start with a short introduction to Kathryn’s work, her work in porcelain and how she takes inspiration from the natural environment.

Participants are invited to bring in any plant material (small leaves, flowers or seed heads etc) from gardens etc to inspire their work. There will be opportunity to collect samples from the Chauffeurs Cottage garden as well.

Please wear clothing that you don’t mind getting slightly dirty or an apron. All tools are provided. The workshop fee includes the costs of materials and firing. Participants will be able to collect fired items from Chauffeurs Cottage 3 – 4 weeks after the workshop.

Metal is committed to being as accessible and inclusive as possible so please don’t hesitate to contact us with any queries in advance of your booking or visit.

About Kathryn Parsons

Kathryn is a mixed media artist and visual story teller. She is currently artist in residence with the Langdyke Countryside Trust. She creates intricate, intimate hand-made sculptures that weave together tales of people, places and the natural world.

Hand modelled porcelain is currently at the heart of Kathryn’s practice, often combined with found natural and vintage objects.

It is the small details of nature that inspire me. Whether I’m looking at a fragment of lichen-encrusted bark or through a lens at a piece of coral, natural structures, textures and forms delight me. As I explore these treasures, and delve into the history of the places in which they are found, I find myself wanting to share their stories. Through sculpture I select and combine the elements that most fascinate me. Sometimes new species emerge… new wonders of the natural world that have been waiting to be discovered.

Kathryn has exhibited at The Victoria and Albert Museum, The National Centre for Craft & Design (solo exhibition) and City Gallery Peterborough, and as site specific interventions at Burghley House, John Clare Cottage, Northampton Museum and Derby Museum. The Herbarium at Derby Museum now includes four tiny porcelain ‘lichen’ specimens.

Find out more: www.kathrynparsons.co.uk