Drawings in Drypoint

Discover the art of drypoint in this
One-day hands-on workshop.

Learn
To create rich lines, texture, and shading on plates, experiment with
mark-making, and produce your own expressive prints. Perfect for beginners or anyone looking
To explore this printmaking technique.

By the end of the day, you’ll be able to:

Prepare
And etch a plate using drypoint techniques.

Apply
Different Marks, textures, and tonal effects to create expressive prints.

Ink
And print their plate successfully on paper.

Reflect
On their printed outcomes, identifying techniques to develop further.

Demonstrate
An understanding of the creative possibilities of drypoint printmaking.

Discover the tactile and expressive
world of drypoint printmaking in this hands-on, one-day workshop. You’ll learn
The fundamentals of the technique, including how to prepare plates, use etching
tools safely, and experiment with line, texture, and shading. Through guided
Demonstrations and practical exercises, you'll explore a range of Mark-making
Approaches-from delicate lines to bold, expressive scratches-and see how these
Translate into printed images.

You
Will also learn how to ink, wipe, and print your plate onto paper, gaining an
Understanding of how pressure, ink consistency, and technique affect the essure, ink consistency, and technique affect
the final result. By the end of the day, you’ll have your own expressive prints
To take home and an understanding of drypoint techniques that you can continue
To explore.

Tutor Jo will demonstrate how to cut and knot the felt and how to build up the layers on the frame. You’ll be able to choose your own felt colour scheme and select seasonal embellishments from a range provided.

About the tutor:

Tutor Jo Shearer is an artist and art
educator living and working in Leicestershire. Her belief is that art is for
everyone. It is another language for expressing and communicating our
Experiences, thoughts and emotions which often reflect the world around us and
how we fit into it. Art can demonstrate a tremendous level of skill and be
Aesthetically pleasing; however, the greatest strength is in its capacity to
express and unite people. Jo studied Visual BA (Hons) Arts and English
Literature and a PGCE in secondary art. She taught in schools and colleges in
Hertfordshire and Leicestershire for over 10 years.

After leaving mainstream education she
Continued her love of teaching through tutoring and went on to develop
workshops like this one. She enjoys the freedom to work in a variety of media
and has an ever-increasing love for print. She enjoys nurturing creativity and
Developing individuals' skills to build confidence in their own work as well as
Evoking a sense of calm and release of emotions through the process of making.
Her personal work explores the spaces that we inhabit, the collection of
Experiences and emotions that connect us to a place and the inherent beauty of
The natural world in all its forms.

Further information:

This one-day workshop will run on Tuesday 7 July 2026, 10am - 4pm
with a short break for lunch. Our café will be open or you are welcome to bring
Your own refreshments.

All materials and equipment will be provided. Please come in old
clothes and/or bring an apron as printing can get messy! We also have aprons
Available to borrow if you prefer.

Participants must be aged 14+. Under 18s must be accompanied by a
Paying adult at all times.

If the
Course/workshop you'd like to book is sold out, we do operate a waiting list
Simply contact our box office team on / arts-centre@le.Ac.UK and ask to be added to the waiting
list. We’ll then contact you if a place becomes available, with absolutely no
Obligation to accept it if you've made other plans!

Please ensure that you agree to our updated Terms
& Conditions before booking as courses/workshops
Are non-refundable if cancelled within 21 days of the start date for any
Reason.

We aim to
make all our sessions as accessible as possible and carers/PAs are very welcome
just remember to book their free place when you book your session. If you'd
Like to talk to us in advance of booking or attending your sessions to discuss
your access needs, our Box Office team is here to help! Email
Arts-centre@le.Ac.UK, pop in or call, open 7 days a week.

We have four blue badge parking spaces outside
Attenborough Arts Centre, plus double yellow line roadside parking very close to the building for blue badge holders
For up to three hours if our parking spaces are occupied.

Free parking for all customers is available after 5pm on weekdays
and all day at weekends in the University of Leicester car park next door to
Attenborough Arts Centre on Lancaster Road.

The closest public car park for parking at all other times is
Victoria Park, 5-10 minutes walk from us (near De Montfort Hall).