This workshop offers a practical introduction to lake pigments and the possibilities of working with plant colour. We’ll begin with a clear explanation of what a lake pigment is and how it’s made, walking through each stage of the process from extracting colour from plant material, exploring the alchemy of lake pigments. You’ll leave with your own handmade watercolour samples and a grounded understanding of how plant colour can be transformed into a usable, sustainable art material. No experience is required just an interest in natural materials and the pleasure of making.

Kirsty MacDonald is an interdisciplinary artist based in Aberdeen whose work centres on plant colour and sustainable material practices. In 2024, she received the QEST Radcliffe Trust Emerging Maker Award, which allowed her to dedicate a full year to developing her skills in natural pigments, inks and dyes.
She creates sculptural, paintings and installation-based work informed by research into Scottish culture, folklore and plant knowledge.