Colour from Plants: Madder, Weld, Woad
Two-Day Workshop Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th April 2026 - Cober Hill, Scarborough
Available spaces
Join us for a two-day workshop at Cober Hill, led by Edward and Lucy Campbell, as we celebrate the historical and artistic significance of three primary plants: madder, weld and woad. This beginner-friendly session welcomes all skill levels, guiding you to explore how these plants produce the primary colours - red, yellow, blue - and from them a spectrum of hues. You will learn traditional methods of extracting colours, experiment with paints and inks as well as create your own samples, inspired by North Yorkshire’s natural heritage and your own creativity. Set in the serene, inspiring surroundings of Cober Hill, near Scarborough, this workshop offers a supportive and creative atmosphere for all. Madder, weld and woad have been used for thousands of years, with madder’s RED pigments found in ancient Egyptian textiles, weld’s YELLOW adorning medieval tapestries, and woad’s BLUE iconic in Celtic and European dyeing traditions. These plants were central to art and textile production, creating vibrant dyes, inks and pigments for manuscripts, clothing and paintings. Their natural, eco-friendly properties make them a sustainable choice today, requiring only plant material, water and simple mordants to produce lasting colours. Throughout the two days, there will be demonstrations on how colour can be obtained from these plants and clear instruction regarding the methods used to turn them into dyes, inks and pigments. There will also be time to experiment with the materials produced by your own hands, which will imbue the paintings and drawings we produce with an extra bit of magic. Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th April 2026 10am - 4pm with Edward & Lucy Campbell This class takes place at: Cober Hill Cloughton Scarborough North Yorkshire YO13 0AR The workshop runs from 10am to 4pm. Please arrive at Cober Hill between 9.30am and 9.45am for refreshments before heading to the studio for a prompt 10am start. Complimentary refreshments will be available throughout the day. A free single-course buffet lunch is provided at 12.30pm in the restaurant as part of the workshop. The cost of this residential includes 20% VAT (£25) as we are a VAT-registered business.
Cancellation Policy
All workshops are priced including VAT charged at 20%. By completing this purchase you are securing a place for a workshop or course which, unless stated, includes all materials, refreshments and lunch. We understand that plans can change, so we’ve outlined our cancellation and rescheduling policies for our residentials to ensure clarity and flexibility. At North Yorks Art School (NYAS), we incur a number of costs as soon as a booking is made — including venue, tutor, bank charges and administration fees. Unfortunately, due to the increasing number of cancellations, we now need to pass on a portion of these costs to customers when cancellations occur. Rescheduling Your Booking You can reschedule your booking up to 8 weeks before the start date of your workshop free of charge — (subject to availability). Reschedules outside of this time will be subject to a 10% booking fee. We will confirm the change in writing and transfer your place accordingly. Cancellations & Refunds If you choose to cancel your booking rather than reschedule, the following cancellation fees will apply: Over 6 Months 90% refund 4 to 6 months 80% refund 2 to 4 months 70% refund 31 to 60 days 50% refund 30 days or less No refund Refunds will be processed to your original payment method within 3–5 business days once the cancellation is confirmed. Your Right to Cancel (Cooling-Off Period) If you live in the UK or EU, you are entitled to a 14-day cancellation window from the date of booking. Within this period, you may cancel for a full refund without providing a reason. To exercise this right, contact us at info@bookaclass.org within the 14-day period. Refunds will be processed to your original payment method. For all booking-related enquiries, rescheduling requests or cancellations, please email: info@bookaclass.org