Burn, Melt & Print: A Fire Collagraph Workshop
Burn, Melt & Print: A Fire Collagraph Workshop
Collagraph Printmaking with Fire — Weekend Workshop
Learn a technique I discovered through master printmaker Peter Wray that transformed my practice. Using a blowtorch and controlled burning, you'll create organic textures, burnt edges and dramatic marks that give your prints an immediate, powerful presence. This is collagraph like you haven't seen it before.
Workshop Details
Dates: Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 May 2026 Time: 10am – 4pm both days
Location: Sithean Studio, 16 Academy Road, Rothesay, Isle of Bute PA20 0BG — garden studio overlooking Rothesay Bay
Maximum 4 participants
What's Included
£200 per person for the two day weekend workshop, including all materials, inks, cleaning supplies and a basic paper allowance.
Optional Extras — Extend Your Stay
The weekend gives you a solid introduction to the full collagraph process. Staying on for one or two extra days opens up what's possible considerably — adding colour in a more nuanced way, combining your plates in multiple layers, or introducing viscosity inking techniques that bring a completely different quality to the surface.
Before booking any extension, please email me first to check availability.
Monday and Tuesday places are limited and depend on my schedule at the time. The closer you are to the workshop start date, the less likely I am to be free — so if you think you might want to extend your stay, it's always worth getting in touch early.Additional tuition days (Monday and/or Tuesday) — £100 per person per day, materials included: Once you've confirmed availability with me by email, you can book extra tuition days here
Day 3 introduces viscosity inking — a technique that uses inks of different consistencies to create striking colour and tonal effects in a single pass through the press, and can be combined with monotype layers for something genuinely unexpected.
Day 4 focuses on multi-plate and layered printing with monotype — combining your plates from the weekend, printing them together in jigsaw configurations, or building up layers to create more complex images.
Independent studio days (Monday and/or Tuesday): If you'd like to work independently in the studio — with or without occasional input from me — please email me to check availability and arrange this directly. Rates start from £15 for a half day. Full details are on the Studio Hire page.
Half day, no support — £15
Half day, with support — £30
Full day, no support — £25
Full day, support for half the day — £40
Full day, support throughout — £50
All independent studio day options include a £5 charge covering inks, cleaning supplies and equipment. Paper is charged at cost — from £1.80 (Fabriano Unica) to £6.50 (BFK Rives) per full sheet depending on what you choose — or bring your own
Subscriber Discount Mailing list subscribers receive an exclusive 10% discount. To claim it: sign up to the mailing list first, then email me to request your discount code before booking.
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Techniques to create texture using flame for collagraph plates
Working with burnable substrates and wet/dry materials
Practical skills in making distinctive collagraph plates using controlled burning and melting methods for texture creation
Creating irregular plate shapes and burn-through effects
Multiple inking approaches to enhance your finished prints
Confidence in handling tools and materials safely (including blowtorch use)
New ways of thinking about texture, negative space and abstract expression
Finished plates ready for inking and printing, plus inspiration for future work
Bring an open mind and a sense of curiosity; leave with fresh possibilities, new techniques and plates unlike anything you’ve made before.
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Day 1 - AM creating plates.
Spend your day creating one or more distinctive textured plates with a blow torch
Day 1 - PM Proofing the plate
Day 2 - Explore various inking methods to bring your heat-formed surfaces to life. Perfect for printmakers wanting to expand their collagraph skills or artists seeking experimental printmaking techniques.
Join me but please make sure you read the small print first.
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Mount board and PVA as base materials
Tile grout, tapes and mixed-media additions to build relief and surface interest
Fire and heat to alter materials safely and creatively, producing unique marks and voids
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Suitable for beginners and experienced printmakers
Small-group format (maximum three participants) for focused guidance and plenty of studio time
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This course celebrates the journey rather than the destination. You'll be encouraged to:
Experiment freely with accessible, everyday materials
Discover unexpected textures and patterns as I share with you various ways of inking up a plate
Develop intuitive responses to materials and processes
Build technical confidence through playful exploration
Release expectations and embrace happy accidents
No pressure to create "finished" artwork—instead, focus on building a personal vocabulary of textures, marks, and techniques that can inform your future creative practice. This approach creates a relaxed environment where true discovery can happen.
How to Book
Select the weekend workshop from the options by clicking on Add to Cart above
Then, if you'd like to add extra days, select each additional option in turn and click Add to Cart for each additional day or half day
After you have added all additional options to your cart (to design the shape of the extension to your course), click the cart icon at the top of the page and follow the steps to complete your booking
You'll receive a confirmation email once your booking is complete
If you’re still not sure what to select, or prefer not to book online email me at carol@carolnunan.co.uk and I'll take your booking directly and send you a payment link. I'm happy to talk through the options with you first if that would help.
