Tag: Derbyshire

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Matlock Artists Society Workshop

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of running a batik workshop for the wonderfully talented members of Matlock Artists Society. As an invited tutor and given the brief of ‘semi-abstact’, I wasn’t sure quite what to prepare for or what to expect — but I left feeling inspired, energised, and deeply grateful for the opportunity.

Though many participants were new to the process of batik, all were clearly experienced creatives in their own right. It made for an exciting group energy: inquisitive, experimental, and many appeared quietly confident. After a brief talk and demonstration of the tools, everyone settled into their own rhythm supported by ad-hoc one-to-one tutoring throughout the day.

We worked with hot wax, inks, and watercolours on paper, exploring a process that sits somewhere between painting, printmaking with dipped items, and happy accident. There’s something wonderfully unpredictable about batik — the way wax resists and the colours blend for a meditative, layered experience. The medium tends to reward those who surrender to it rather than try to control it.

It didn’t take long for the session to become beautifully self-directed. By the afternoon, the room was filled with a diverse collection of artworks — from loose landscapes and stylised florals to bold wildlife and semi-abstract pieces. One thoughtful attendee even brought along some exquisite batiks from overseas to share with the group, which added an extra depth to my teaching display and discussions.

Many became so engrossed that they skipped their lunch or coffee breaks entirely, choosing instead to stay in the flow. As a tutor, I always see that as a good sign — when people forget to stop, it means something magical is happening!

Workshops like this remind me why I love teaching. It’s not just about passing on techniques — it’s about creating space for curiosity, courage, and a bit of alchemy. Watching people light up as they discover a new and alternative process that they can begin to make their own, is always an honour.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone at Matlock Artists Society for such a welcoming and creatively rich day. I hope your minds are still bubbling with ideas! 🤯🎨💛

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New Classes Now Available

Attic Batik is thrilled to announce two additional themed classes: Botanical Batik and Mandala Art! Both offer new and exciting ways to explore batik with a bit more focus and precision than our Initial Class, which is designed as a foundational course with room for experimentation.

For beginners, the Botanical Batik class provides an accessible yet slightly more challenging experience—ideal for a confident beginner interested in creating beautiful floral designs on silk. This class could be achievable for a novice, whilst offering enough depth to keep those with some creative experience engaged.

Our Mandala Art class, however, is best suited to returning students who have completed the Initial Class or artists with an intermediate batik skill level. Here, students can delve into intricate designs, layering wax and dye to create contemplative, geometrically-inspired patterns that encourage focus and mindfulness.

Whether you’re starting out with our Initial Class, Botanical Batik or returning for Mandala Art, there’s an inspiring experience waiting for you at Attic Batik. Here’s a close-up look at the beautiful work created by recent students in these classes!

Examples of some of my floral batiks
Mandala batik by Sue
Returning students Sue & Tracey, proudly displaying their superb silk batik mandalas!

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Batik Talk to Ashbourne Creative Stitchers in Derbyshire

I was honoured to give a talk and a batik demonstration, followed by a hands-on taster session for the members of Ashbourne Creative Stitchers. Initially scheduled for a year earlier, this event was postponed due to the passing of my father. I dedicated this talk to his memory, as he had always been a significant cheerleader in my early creative journey. So, this one was for Dad — I know he would have been proud!

The talk, which lasted about 50 minutes, featured a slideshow showcasing both my artistic journey and the historical and contextual background of batik. My husband, Jamie, provided excellent IT support and filmed the presentation. As a television sound man, this was a busman’s holiday for him!

The group, consisting of around 25 enthusiastic ladies, welcomed me warmly, putting me at ease instantly. Their diverse textile backgrounds added richness to the session, although many had never tried batik before, making it a delightful new experience for them.

After the talk, we shared tea and biscuits, giving everyone a chance to refresh. While some attendees engaged in their own textile projects, I led an interactive batik session for those eager to try. It was inspiring to see participants experiment with the batik tools and techniques. One lady, in particular, created a fantastic spontaneous design featuring snails!

Many thanks to Ashbourne Creative Stitchers for hosting me and for their patience during this challenging time. Your support and enthusiasm made this event truly special.

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Belper Arts Trail Event 5/6th May 2019

What an event! This was my first time exhibiting on an arts trail and what a joyous experience it turned out to be. Attic Batik was venue number 5, snuggled up in the middle of the old former White Swan pub on Belper’s Market Place. Our space was shared by artist Karen Logan displaying some fine lino cut prints and by mixed media painter Neil Hunt showcasing his rather lovely local landscapes. Neighbouring businesses RedFox Beauty and Emerald Beauty also loaned space to young and super hardworking animal painter Natasha Lowe and creative landscape photographer Valerie Dalling showing her beautiful painterly looking photos.

This 2 day event was extremely well attended by folks from near and far and it was heartwarming to meet with and share batik with so many lovely people. It was especially pleasing to see and hear the curious expressions of young and old who had never seen this craft before. For plenty of others who could smell the hot wax on their approach up the stairs it brought back nostalgic memories of having tried batik at school or at University. One lady said the smell was highly evocative and reminded her of when she used to work in a ski shop where she waxed skis! It was also a nice surprise to meet fellow batik artists (we are a rare-breed in the UK) and to compare tools, techniques and swap information.

Thank you to every body who came out to visit, peruse and to purchase work and big thanks to the team of organisers at https://www.belperarts.org for all their hard work. I can’t wait to do it all again next year now! 🙂

Making window light catchers
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Now an Airbnb Experience Host

Are you travelling to pretty Derbyshire for a holiday? Or even staying a while in the lovely little shopping and heritage town of Belper? There is so much to do and see around here and you’ll be received with a warm welcome.

Approved by Airbnb

Attic Batik on the Belper Market Place has just been approved as an Airbnb Experience Host. We now offer classes to holiday makers to enhance your visit and for you to come and create lasting special memories as part of your stay in the county.

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