Seasonal Botanical Dyes Workshop - Camden Art Centre
Type
Courses & Workshops
Format
In the Building
Date 6 Dec 2025
14:00-17:00
Price £35

Inspired by the seasons and permaculture principles of re-use and zero waste, join artist Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck to learn the basics of natural dyes and reveal a palette of colours from local and seasonal foraged materials, including walnut shells and oak leaves.

This seasonal session will unfold in Camden Art Centre’s garden, offering a moment to relax, observe, and draw its plants and trees towards an holistic understanding of how materials grow. It is an entry-level, adult-only workshop; no prior experience is required, and the method can be repeated at home. All materials, including a small reference library for inspiration and an organic tea break, will be provided. This workshop is directly inspired by the method Johanna employs in her practice. The artist will also share her experience growing and foraging plants responsibly, as well as using plant-based kitchen waste as dyes.

This workshop includes and participants will return home with:

  • A 15-minute drawing session.
  • A short history of natural dyes.
  • Demonstration of the creation of two colours using natural dyes.
  • Knowledge of how to safely repeat the process and create natural dyes at home.
  • Two natural dye samples.
  • Basic fabric knowledge.
  • Knowledge of non-toxic mordants.
  • Ground understanding of what tannins are.
  • Basic knowledge of plants which can be safely and responsibly foraged in England as natural dyes.
  • Knowledge of a selection of plants that can be grown in small home gardens in England for natural dyes.
  • Organic tea break
  • Inspiration for natural practices and fabric care.

 

The Artist Images

The Artist

Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck (b. 1990, France) is a transdisciplinary artist based in rural Oxfordshire. Her practice, rooted in ecological awareness, spans painting, sculpture, photography, publishing, horticulture, and participatory projects.

Johanna founded the independent, artist-led imprint Poetic Pastel Press in 2015, perhaps best known for its printed publication series Journal du Thé: Contemporary Tea Culture, which she co-founded in 2018. The deep ecology movement influences the imprint, with works printed in England using vegetable-based inks and distributed in over thirty countries. Poetic Pastel Press has participated in notable international book fairs, including Offprint in London and the Tokyo Art Book Fair. Johanna has also led and participated in talks on artists in publishing at venues such as BOAN Books in Seoul.

International imprints, including InOtherWords (UK), Chose Commune (FR), Nieves (CH), Hat Press (UK), Jane & Jeremy (UK), Editions Ulmer (FR), Ao-hata (JP), and Tombolo Presses (FR), have released publications on her practice. Her forthcoming photography book, Please Take Your Shoes Off and Come In, has been edited and published by Pon Ding (TW).

Johanna’s work expresses care and tenderness, reflecting on the fragility and beauty of life. Recent solo exhibitions include Dreaming About Tomorrow at Nidi Gallery, Tokyo (2022). Group exhibitions include Soil at Somerset House, London (2025), The Equal Right to Live and Blossom at Kate MacGarry, London (2024), One Foot in the Sky at Contemporary Sculpture Fulmer, UK (2023), and Edge Effects at Whitechapel Gallery, London (2024).

In addition, Johanna founded the collaborative initiative The Gardening Drawing Club. She has organised and facilitated workshops and learning programs for adults and children at multiple British art institutions, including Camden Art Centre.