Wed eves - 17th Sept, 24th Sept, 1st Oct, 8th Oct
Time - 6.30-8.30pm
Price - £135 for all 4 weeks
Venue - Wild Roots’ First Class Craft Carriage at Ecclesbourne Valley Railway in Wirksworth
 
A joyful series of splashy, inky evenings learning tips, tricks and techniques to build your confidence and expand your understanding of alcohol inks.
 
Over four relaxed Wednesday evenings in the quirky Wild Roots Craft Carriage, you’ll explore the vibrant world of alcohol inks with Karen Johnson, aka Millie Moth. This mini course is all about playful experimentation, learning new skills, and building beautiful inky layers – from bold backgrounds to flowing florals. Whether you’ve dabbled before or are totally new to the medium, this is your chance to really dive in and have fun with it.
 
🎨 What’s included in the workshop:
Each week you’ll focus on a different set of techniques to help you grow your understanding of this fascinating medium.
 
You’ll learn:
Clever tips for working with alcohol inks on Yupo paper
How to create dreamy backgrounds, blended edges and controlled colour effects
Techniques for making expressive splashy flowers and wild weed shapes
Ideas for adding interesting detail, creative mark making and your own artistic flair
How to build layers, texture and depth to your pieces
 
You’ll work at a relaxed pace, with demonstrations each session, plenty of guided time to play, and lots of encouragement to find your own style. This isn’t a step-by-step class with a single ‘end result’ – it’s a welcoming space to explore, experiment and let your creativity bloom.
All sessions are held inside the exciting vintage train carriage at Wirksworth Station, which has been transformed into a cosy, inspiring studio space.
 
By the end of the four weeks, you’ll have a deeper understanding of how alcohol inks behave, a set of new tricks up your sleeve, and a whole collection of splashy floral pieces and colourful experiments. Any art pieces or experiments/notes you create you get to keep and take away with you.
 
🧑🏻‍🎨 Meet the tutor:
Karen Johnson is a local artist working from her home studio in Allestree, Derby, where she creates vibrant floral artwork for her small business, Millie Moth. Inspired by the joy she feels in her garden, Karen uses flowing alcohol inks to capture the colour, movement and essence of flowers and plant life. She regularly sells her colourful artwork as large canvas prints and cards at art trails and markets, and teaches her technique in workshops across Derbyshire and the surrounding areas.
 
 
⚠️ A quick note about materials and safety from Millie Moth:
This workshop is for adults only, and places are limited.
 
During the session, we’ll be using 91% isopropyl alcohol as part of the painting process. You’ll use it sparingly—dripping a few drops onto your artwork and occasionally spraying a fine mist over the surface. Some people notice the smell (though I’m completely used to it now!), and I’ll do my best to keep the room well ventilated if needed.
 
There’s also a bit of gentle blowing through a straw involved—just something to keep in mind if you’re prone to breathlessness or lightheadedness. If that sounds tricky, I can provide a small hand-pump blower as an alternative.
While this technique generally isn’t messy, alcohol inks can stain clothing. They’re not harmful if they get on your skin—I’ve had more than my fair share of inky fingers over the years! An apron or old top is a good idea, just in case.