Shoebox Studio

Multiple Dates Available (See Above) Class Time: 10:00am - 5:30pm With Tutor: Jordan Harcourt-Hughes In this full-day community workshop, you’ll build your own Shoebox Studio; a playful, calming, and accessible way into mixed media and collage. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by materials, you’ll begin by sorting scraps, painted papers, textures, and fragments into simple creative categories. This gentle system transforms collage from something chaotic into something exploratory, tactile, and surprisingly meditative. From those boxes, compositions begin to emerge. Guided by creative visualisation prompts and intuitive mixed media techniques, you’ll transform everyday materials into layered, storytelling artworks -discovering how innovation often begins by reimagining what already exists. No experience needed. Just curiosity and a box! What Are Some Benefits of Doing This Workshop? Learn a simple system for organising collage materials so the creative process feels clear and approachable. Discover how everyday scraps and textures can be transformed into expressive mixed media artworks. Explore intuitive collage techniques that encourage play, experimentation, and discovery. Develop a calm, meditative approach to making through hands-on creative sorting and arranging. Create layered compositions that tell stories through colour, texture, and found materials. Build confidence working with mixed media in a relaxed, beginner-friendly environment. Enjoy a full day of creative time in a supportive community setting with fellow makers. Leave with a personal Shoebox Studio system you can continue using for future artwork. What You'll Learn: Mixed media techniques and painted paper creation Creative visualisation as a source of imagery Storytelling through collage and composition Framing, layering, and visual contrast Innovation through upcycling and reuse What You'll Take Home: A completed A3 artwork, a handmade Totem Art Card, and additional gift cards or bookmarks. What Your Day Will look Like: The day begins with building your Shoebox Studio, creating painted collage papers and textured surfaces that will become the foundation for your work. You’ll develop several small mixed media bases and begin sorting your materials into simple creative categories, making collage feel intuitive and approachable. Through cutting, layering, and mark-making, you’ll start exploring how everyday scraps can transform into expressive visual elements. Later in the morning, a guided creative visualisation will lead you to imagine a symbolic holiday island landscape, which you’ll translate into your first collage compositions using your organised materials. In the afternoon, a second visualisation invites you into a forest setting to encounter a totem animal. From this imagery, you’ll paint atmospheric backdrops and develop a small Totem Art Card alongside your main A3 mixed media collage. The day closes with optional sharing and reflection. About Your Tutor: Jordan Harcourt-Hughes is an artist, author, and creative educator specialising in abstract painting and mindful creative practice. Her workshops combine imaginative prompts with grounded techniques, creating welcoming spaces where participants can explore creativity with curiosity and confidence. “What if your next artwork didn’t begin with a blank canvas… but with a shoebox?” – Jordan Harcourt-Hughes What to Bring: 3–4 empty shoeboxes (or similar boxes) Old artworks, painted papers, magazines, packaging, or scraps you’re happy to cut up. Any mark making tools that you have handy. What Will Be Provided: Glue Art Card for your compositions Acrylic and Watercolour Paints Scissors Visual inspiration Posca pens and permanent markers Can Anyone Do This Class? Yes! This workshop is suitable for all levels, and absolutely beginner-friendly. If you love being creative, you’ll fit right in.