124 Recreational courses in Edinburgh

I've added this two day workshop because a one day workshop gives you the basics, but two days will allow you to develop your carving technique and use additional knife grasps.  By embedding good technique into the way you carve, you will avoid injuries and additional regular stretching will help you to look after your body. You will leave with the knowledge and confidence to carve safely at home.  You will have access to a range of different tools, starting with the axe to rough out spoon blanks - I have a good range of axes you can try from budget to the Gransfors large carving axe. Next using the Mora wood carving knives (105/106/120) to shape your blanks into spoons following traditional designs for optimising strength and utility. I also have a range of hook knives to try out. Using these traditional tools you will make a spoon from local and sustainable fresh cut green wood (usually willow/birch/alder or cherry) - starting with a log and leaving with a spoon. From the initial splitting of the log, trimming it down with an axe, to carving finer details and decorations with chip carving knives. This course is located close to central Edinburgh and is accessible by public transport.  Depending on the weather it can be inside or outdoors in the wildlife garden. Courses can also be arranged to suit your availability! Please email to discuss your requirements, discounts are available for small groups or multiple days. Course numbers are usually limited to five or less; individual training courses can also be arranged. What's included in the price? Tea, coffee, light lunch of bread and soup and snacks. Professional training in the use of a range of traditional tools. Advice on tool care and sharpening. Fresh cut (green) wood for carving. Some tools available for sale at competitive rates.  

2 day Portrait Workshop in acrylics inspired by Dante Gabriel Rossetti   Join well known Edinburgh artist and tutor Suzanne Kemplay and model Beth Davison to create a portrait in the style of the pre Raphaelite Brotherhood. Expect an atmospheric set and romantic lighting in keeping with the Rossetti’s style, with a few modern touches thrown in.   On Day 1 Suzanne will give a short talk on how to approach your composition and how to capture the spirit of the artist’s technique. You’ll plan and sketch out a drawing in the morning before moving on to painting in the afternoon and on day two.  All materials are supplied (or feel free to bring your own) and the class is kept small to ensure everyone gets some individual attention. This course is most suited to those who have some drawing experience but we welcome beginners. Over 14s only. The workshop will run from 10 - 4pm on 1 and 2 April.

Private foraging in Argyll and Lochaber. The rest of the UK is also possible.

One day, weekend, pottery workshop for beginners. Hand Building and Wheel Throwing in a Saturday

From propaganda to advertising, posters are a ubiquitous, powerful vehicle to take a message to the masses. Over four weeks, learn how to approach poster design in a creative and practical way. Although some computer work will be introduced, it will only be used as another production tool, participants will be encouraged to experiment with analogue techniques such as collage and hand-generated type. You will learn about the history of poster design; learn to use aspects of Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop; develop approaches to letterform and layout. The emphasis of this course is on the development of a set of posters from research and design through to output. Week 1: History History of Poster Design: Looking at significant and famous posters from around the globe and their impact on society. Practical activity: After a quick introduction to InDesign we will recreate one of these posters, studying the component parts and their relationships to one another. Homework: Think of a concept for your design. What is it for? Who is your target audience? Where and how will it be displayed? Select a favourite poster to bring in or discuss with the group in week 2. Week 2: Image We will begin by discussing participant posters they have brought in to share and look at positives and potential negatives within the designs. Image selection can be a key factor to the success of your poster campaign. We will think about the choices between photography and illustration looking at examples of how this is done successfully. Think about the different ways we can generate and use images. Practical activity: Consider what medium the image might be and how it can be created. Learn about flatbed/film scanner for potential use in image creation. Week 3: Fonts We will look at how typography impacts designs and the messages that it can convey by itself. Consider various approaches to how we can generate type. How typographic selections work alongside selected images. Practical activity: Work through a few typographic workshops thinking about how typographic choices will alter the message you are trying to convey. We will consider various ways and techniques of creating type for our poster. Homework: Developing your typographic solution further, if required. Work through variations of layout. Week 4: Output Continue working on our posters making final tweaks and selecting the poster that is our most successful design for output. We will look at the various formats for output and how we prepare our posters for print. Look at usage of different poster sizes – why use one over the other?? Practical activity: Size your final poster and get it ready for output (if working analogue, scan final poster and upscale).   Courses are subject to minimum enrolment. Please register early, within five days of the start date, to reduce the likelihood of course cancellation. Please read our cancellation policy before booking. Students, anyone over the age of 65, and those in receipt of any form of benefits can claim the concessionary price, offering a 10% discount on the full course price. Valid proof of eligibility must be produced on the first day of the course. Please use the code CONCESSION when prompted at checkout.

Learn to hand engrave from a master engraver

Interior design masterclass in the city centre of Edinburgh

Learn how to make multi-coloured screen prints with artist and printmaker Lou Davis at The Arienas Collective in central Edinburgh

Design and enamel your own copper backed brooch on this beginners workshop with jeweller Sheila McDonald in Edinburgh City Centre

Join Cass for a creative day of mark making and bookbinding inspired by local flora and fauna.