Sat 11 Jul
|Haddenham Arts Centre
Botanical Print T-shirt Workshop
Experiment with cyanotype photography to create a botanical-printed t-shirt.
Date and Time
11 Jul 2026, 13:00 – 17:00
Haddenham Arts Centre
Use cyanotype printing to design your own nature-inspired t-shirt. These light-sensitive prints are incredibly fun to experiment with. They are also great for capturing intricate botanical forms such as flowers, leaves and grasses. Best of all, they can be used on fabric as well as paper, making it into wearable art!
In this workshop I will cover the steps of cyanotype printing on fabric. I will show you how to:
Mix and apply the sensitiser solution
Select your botanical samples
Compose your own custom design
Prepare and expose your design to get a crisp, intricate print
Develop your printed t-shirt
We will work with pressed, dried and fresh botanical samples. Prints will be made on 100% organic cotton t-shirts (prepared with sensitiser in advance due to drying time). We will also practice preparing and applying the sensitiser using paper and fabric samples, which you can take away to print at home.
WHAT TO EXPECT
3.5 hour, half-day workshop
Materials and equipment provided
Tea and coffee
Relaxed and welcoming environment
Personalised tuition and help to design and create your custom t-shirt
WHAT WILL I DO?
Learn about cyanotype
Learn more about the science and history of cyanotype printing from tutor and biochemist Steph Norwood.
Select your materials
Choose from a wide range of pressed and dried plants to suit your style. We will also explore the beautiful garden and you can select your own fresh samples.
Compose your design
Arrange your materials and learn the best tricks to prepare your t-shirt for a nice sharp print.
Expose your print
Time to take it outside! Exposing the sensitiser solution to UV sets off the chemical reaction, turning your print blue.
Prepare samples with sensitiser solution
Whilst waiting for your t-shirts to print, practice preparing paper and fabric samples with sensitiser solution. Take home your prepared samples to continue the fun at home.
Develop your custom printed t-shirt
Finally, remove your samples, wash away the undeveloped sensitiser and reveal your printed t-shirt.
WHAT WILL I TAKE AWAY?
A cotton t-shirt (your choice of size). Printed using real botanical samples and cyanotype photography processes. Additional samples of cyanotype sensitised paper and fabric you have prepared.
MATERIALS
100% Organic cotton t-shirt (women’s sizes 8 to 18 or men’s sizes XS to 5XL)
Cyanotype sensitiser
Pressed, dried and fresh botanical samples - leaves, flowers, grasses etc.
Watercolour paper and cotton fabric samples
TECHNIQUES
Cyanotype
Cyanotype printing is a photographic technique often used to make botanical prints. You apply a light-sensitive chemical sensitiser to paper or fabric and place items on top. When sunlight (UV) shines on the sensitiser it turns blue, leaving a negative image of your object.
Developed in 1842 by Sir John Herschel, the technique was quickly taken up by his friend and neighbour Anna Atkins. Anna was a botanist and one of the first female photographers. Over her lifetime, Anna used cyanotype to make hundreds of prints of seaweeds, ferns and flowering plants. Anna published what is considered to be the first book illustrated with photographs. Her work was incredible and intricate and still captures people’s imaginations today.
VENUE ADDRESS
Haddenham Arts Centre, 20 High St, Haddenham, ELY, CB6 3XA (google maps)
ACCESSIBILITY
Details to be confirmed with the venue.
If you have any accessibility requirements or questions please get in touch - I am very happy to make adjustments where possible.
BOOK NOW
Tickets
Standard Ticket
Sale ends
05 Jul, 23:50
£60.00
Total
£0.00
