A Sense of Things: Colour, Pattern & Collections
Copenhagen/Denmark/ ‘26
Details:
Duration: 5 days
Price: £995 (approx. €1130 / 8500kr)
Dates: Fri 10 - Tue 14 July ‘26 - SOLD OUT
Time: 10am - 5pm daily
Group size: 8 - 15 people
Studio location: Hejrevej 30, 3.sal, 2400 København, Denmark
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Also available:
Escape for a five-day drawing and painting workshop in Copenhagen, Scandinavia’s creative capital that blends contemporary design with traditional craft. From colourful harbour-side districts to calm, bike-friendly streets, this is a laidback city shaped by its understated style.
Our workshop space is the light and spacious top floor of health house NOR: with surrounding views across the multicultural neighbourhood of Nørrebro. Contemporary and elegant, it provides a blank canvas from which to recreate the colour and design of this Nordic city.
During the five days we’ll take a trip into central Copenhagen, visiting Designmuseum Danmark and Noma Projects, two distinct places that offer a window into Danish creativity. At Designmuseum we’ll explore collections of objects that blend function and beauty, while the greenhouse and gardens of Noma offer a moment to observe, reflect and sketch in carefully grown natural surroundings.
Pattern, colour and creating collections form the theme of this year’s workshops, giving us a shared focus whilst leaving space for you to choose your own subject matter and personal direction. Whether it’s painting Noma’s jars of fermented fruit, printing mid-century Danish chair designs or drawing the collected ephemera from a cabinet of curiosities, there is a breadth of inspiration to build a rich portfolio of illustrations.
Throughout the week you’ll have the chance to work with your own preference of materials through guided demonstrations and tailored feedback, filling a book with characterfully imperfect illustrations. We’ll explore a range of techniques, including watercolour, colour-pencil drawing, lino cutting, and print-making, along with sharing tips for playful creativity and pushing your work in new directions.
By the end of the week you’ll have a range of drawings, prints and paintings, inspired by gallery spaces and local surroundings. Through individual conversations you’ll have a better sense of how to bring the best out of your work, along with ways to sustain a creative habit once you return home.
Suitable for adults with all levels of experience and ability from enthusiastic beginners to more established artists seeking new inspiration, this workshop covers new themes and processes and is therefore equally suitable for returning students who have attended my previous workshops or retreats.
Included:
Five full workshop days, including daily group tuition and demonstrations
Individual feedback and guidance throughout the week
Full use of a bright open-plan studio space and rooftop terrace
A one-day drawing excursion to Designmuseum Danmark and Noma Projects, plus a harbourside swim (weather permitting)
Daily cooked lunches in our open-plan kitchen-studio
One free yoga class (optional)
Tea, coffee, and light refreshments during workshop hours
Additional materials
Local knowledge and recommendations
Supported by:
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NOR: is 20-30 mins by metro from the centre of Copenhagen if you are arriving by train.
It is also 30 mins on the metro from Københavns Lufthavn airport.
Copenhagen is easily navigated by metro or bicycle. Information about renting bikes will be shared closer to the time.
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NOR: is a calm yoga and therapy space with 12 private treatment rooms. These are being converted into clean, basic bedrooms as an affordable accommodation option for the duration of our workshop.
Rooms cost €23 / £20 / 170kr per night, including tea/coffee, a sourdough bun, jam and cheese for breakfast.
You will be given a fold out mattress, sheets, a cushion, blanket and towel. Basic showers and bathrooms are available on the same shared landing.
More details will be provided after booking a workshop place.
If you prefer to find your own hotel or AirBnb but would like to join the other participants for breakfast at NOR: this will be offered at €8 per day.
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You will need to bring a handful of your own materials (a short list will be provided). Additional specific materials you’ll need will be included in the workshop cost. We can also recommend art supply stores in Copenhagen if you need anything extra.
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This workshop is suitable for adults with all levels of experience and ability from enthusiastic beginners to more established artists seeking new inspiration. It covers new themes and processes each year and is therefore equally suitable for students who have attended my previous workshops or retreats.
Information and assistance can be provided in Dutch and English but all teaching will be delivered in English.
There is step-free access to our workshop space on 5th floor of NOR: via an elevator. We will be walking and standing to draw during our day out in Copenhagen. If you feel this might be difficult for you please arrange to speak to me before booking to discuss what adjustments can be made.
Please email me to discuss any other accessibility needs, which I will aim to accommodate where possible.
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After paying an initial £100 (€115 / 850kr) booking fee to hold a space on the course, you’ll be sent an invoice for the remaining £400 (€450 / 3,400 kr) deposit. This will be due within one week to secure your workshop place.
The remaining balance will be due 6 weeks before the course start date. If you’d like to discuss paying in smaller instalments, get in touch.
Please note that workshop fees are charged in GBP £. Converted € and kr amounts are approximate estimates.
Accommodation and breakfast, where requested, will be processed separately by NOR: and charged in kr.
Please wait until you’ve received confirmation that the workshop has reached the minimum number of participants to make it viable before booking travel or accommodation.
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An optional dinner in the studio (or roof terrace) will be hosted for the group on Sunday evening for an additional £35 (€40 / 300kr) per person. Payment for this will be arranged nearer to the event.
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Bookings are non-refundable unless your space can be filled, in which case it will be refunded minus any transaction fees. In the unlikely event the workshop is cancelled, the workshop fee will be refunded in full, but organisers of the event are not responsible for any lost associated costs including travel, accommodation or transfer fees. Please take out appropriate insurance to cover medical emergencies plus the cost of your travel and accommodation expenses in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
“It exceeded my expectations! I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of the content, though I was a little worried that there might be a forceful push towards 'playing' and 'loosening up' etc! I was very pleased to find the approach was much gentler and spacious than that and much, much more effective for me.
The emphasis on facilitating and allowing for unrushed one-to-one time was very good. Whilst I love the art you produce, it wasn't all about your process but you allowed each person to discover more about their own, without judgement. That's a high level skill!”
- Sarah / From Sketchbook to Studio / Rotterdam ‘25
“I have never been on anything like this before! It was a truly life-enhancing experience. Since the workshop, I haven't stopped drawing or having ideas for more work. The workshop has really helped me to prioritise my creative time and to feel much more confident. My confidence grew over the course of the week and the last day was pure magic!”
- Penny / A Sense of Things / Cádiz ‘26
“Where should I begin? Maybe it didn’t seem that way to you, but everything we did seeped into me and travelled to places I probably knew were there, but didn’t know how to reach or break open. Because of the way you are, Laura.
I liked working with new materials, and in new ways, being gently guided through murky, mean waters of frustration. In short, it brought me joy. Some of the experiences and emotions will eventually fade and colours grow dull, sadly. But certain marks are permanent, and will stand out bold and bright.”
- Peter / From Sketchbook to Studio / Italy ‘25