Science Magic – A Hands-On Journey into Local Fibres & Natural Dyeing

Step into a world where creativity meets the landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. In this immersive, hands-on experience, we’ll explore wool, plants, and fungi gathered from our local hills, forests, and fields — transforming them into sustainable, beautiful materials.

Together, we’ll cover the whole journey: from sourcing and preparing local fibres, to spinning them by hand, to dyeing with colours drawn from both historical recipes and modern plant-based techniques. Sessions can include outdoor foraging walks, studio time creating your own skeins of naturally dyed wool, bundle dyeing with botanicals, and learning the basics of processing raw fleece into spinnable fibre.

This class can be tailored just for you — whether you’d like an introduction to the basics, a deep dive into a particular technique, or a combination to suit your group’s interests. Get in touch to design your own creative adventure in fibre and colour.

I can bring Science Magic to you — whether you’re a farm or croft looking to explore the creative potential of your own fibre, a visiting group wanting a hands-on Highland experience, an artist keen to expand your skillset, or a retreat host seeking something memorable for your guests. I’ll work with you to shape the session to your location, materials, and interests, creating a truly personal and immersive workshop. From pasture to palette, we’ll make the most of your setting while connecting deeply with the colours, textures, and stories of the Highlands.

How It Works

1. Get in Touch

Send me a message with your ideas, location, and preferred dates. You don’t need all the details yet — just let me know what excites you most about the workshop.

2. Tailor Your Experience

We’ll chat about your goals, group size, and setting. I’ll suggest ways to make the most of what’s available — whether that means using your own farm fibre, foraging locally for dye plants, or focusing on a specific skill like spinning, bundle dyeing, or colour layering.

3. Plan the Details

Once we agree on the format, I’ll create a custom outline including the workshop structure, materials list (or what I’ll bring), and a quote. I can work indoors or outdoors, adapt to retreat schedules, and travel to locations across the Highlands and beyond.

4. Hands-On Creativity

On the day, we’ll dive into the process — connecting the raw materials of the land to the colours and textures you create. Every participant will take home their own fibre or yarn, plus the knowledge to keep exploring.