With plant material collected from the Botanic Garden, you will re-create paint-making processes using documented recipes from historical manuscripts and ancient sources. The workshop aims to give you the tools to go on to establish your own paint systems by utilising plants from your own garden or inspiring you to try growing some new ones to support your new-found skills.  Having learnt the basics, you will explore colour compositions, practical paint layering systems, a variety of natural binders and fillers, preservatives, and coloured egg glazes to create a range of samples and images. During the workshop you will also have access to Nabil’s ‘organic paint recipe archive’ detailing in-depth insight into the practical foundations for paint making using common and unusual plants. This course is open to all levels and all the materials you need will be provided.

Nabil is a professional artist and visiting tutor to the University of Cambridge, and Artist-in-Residence at Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Nabil is known globally throughout the Art Conservation industry with insight into organic dyes and paint. He has delivered many creative projects across England and was selected by an international committee to exhibit at the Florence Biennale in Italy. His workshops have been celebrated at the Ferens Art Gallery, Firstsite Gallery, the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter at the University of Oxford, the Prince’s Drawing School and the Lycee Francais Charles Lepierre in Lisbon.