The Print Garden - a One-Day creative Printmaking Retreat - Thursday 12 June 2025

Step into The Print Garden

A day of slow, immersive making inspired by the textures, shapes and rhythms of the natural world. This workshop is a celebration of botanicals, colour and creativity, where leaves, petals and plant forms become your printing tools and every mark tells a story. 

Your Guide

Your guide will be Lesley Pearce, a textile artist with over 40 years of experience in creative teaching and learning. Lesley is passionate about sharing knowledge, sparking ideas, and encouraging hands-on exploration. As a textile and mixed media artist, her practice centres on dyeing, printing, and stitching fabric and paper—processes that bring her joy and fuel her creativity. Processes she would love to share with you.

Guided by playful exploration, you'll experiment with gelli plate printing, handmade stencils and simple block techniques to create layered, vibrant and tactile prints on both paper and textiles. Discover the magic of negative space, the unexpected beauty of natural spaces, and the joyful surprise of each unique impression. 

By the end of the day, your prints will come together into a finished piece - either a stitched textile panel or a accordion-folded concertina book - a beautiful keepsake for your creative journey. 

No experience needed - just curiosity, a love of colour, and a desire to slow down and make with your hands. 

The venue for The Print Garden Workshop is a studio cabin in a award winning wildlife garden in central Guildford. This garden is design and cared for by Ailsa Vincent a life long friend of Lesley's. This venue is 5 minutes walk from London Road Guildford Train station with on site parking. 

Lesley and Ailsa are life long friends who share a love for art, nature and travel. This workshop is a wonderful combination of Lesley textiles passion and Ailsa's passion for wildlife and the garden.

The Print Garden - One-Day Workshop Outline

A creative exploration of botanical printing on paper and textiles

Arrival & Welcome: 10:00 

• Welcome and introductions
• Overview of the day
• Inspiration table: examples of prints, panels and books
• Brief discussion: tools, materials and techniques

Session 1: Botanical Play - Printing with Nature (10:30 - 12:00) 

• Introduction to gelli place printing
• Collecting and arranging leaves and plant forms
• Exploring colour palettes and layering techniques
• Using masks and stencils to build texture and depth
• Print freely on paper and textile swatches

Refreshment Break (12:00 - 12.15) Tea/Coffee/Cold drinks and snacks provided

Session 2: Handmade Tools and Mark-Making (12:15 - 1:15)

• Creating simple hand-cut stencils and printing blocks
• Techniques for pattern, repetition and contrast 
• Combine handmade tools with natural materials
• Build in a collection of experimental print surfaces

Lunch Break (1:15 - 2:00) Lunch provided

Session 3: Assembling Your Artwork (2:00 - 3.30)

• Choose your final piece - Textile Panel (stitched and layered) or Concertina book (folded narrative of prints)
• Guidance on layout, composition and finishing techniques
• Time to refine and personalise your piece

Refreshments will be bought around on demand during the afternoon session

Session 4: Sharing and finishing Touches (3.45 - 4.15) 

• Final additions: stitching, stamping, writing, embellishments
  
• Groups sharing circle - reflections and creative discoveries
• Photos of finished work (optional) 
• Pack up your prints and take-home

What to bring 

• An apron or old shirt to protect your clothes
• A small collection of leaves, flowers or plants (optional - we'll have plenty) 
• A sketchbook or notebook for ideas and mark-making 
• Any favourite stamps, stencils or found textures you'd like to try printing with 
• A gelli plate or silicone baking mat
• Fabric scraps and paper you'd love to experiment with (optional)
• Water bottle 
• A sense of playfulness and curiosity!

Lesley is generously donating her time to run this workshop and the garden workshop and lunch/refreshments is being donated by Ailsa.  All funds raised will support UK, Social Enterprise, Secret Projects. Secret Projects economically empowers women in India with the skill to stitch and gives second changes to unwanted fabric and sewing supplies. 

Price per person is £95 - maximum number of places is 6. Please book early to avoid disappointment

What is included in the price:

• Parking 
• 5 minute work from London Road Guildford train station
• Workshop 
• A selection of plant material will be prepared and you may gather more from the garden.
• Lunch will be simple vegetarian plowman's style. Tea, coffee, cold drinks and treats will be on hand throughout the day

*Please note there is a step to get into the studio 

Below Lesley's tells you her journey in more detail, she explains her excitement for the workshop and why she believes in social enterprises like Secret Projects 

Creative teaching and learning have been at the heart of my journey for over 40 years. Beginning as an Art and Design teacher and evolving into a Technology educator in both English and New Zealand schools—as well as serving as a National Technology Coordinator—my passion has always been to share knowledge, spark curiosity, and inspire both others and myself through creative exploration.

As a textile and mixed media artist, my happiest moments are spent in the studio, immersed in the tactile process of dyeing, printing, and stitching fabric and paper. My first solo exhibition in 2024 was a proud milestone and a reminder of the joy that comes from making and sharing creative work.

These workshops are an extension of that joy—a chance to combine my love of making with my dedication to supporting others on their own creative path. I believe in learning through doing, exploring new ideas fearlessly, and celebrating each person’s unique voice and style.

I’m passionate about social enterprises and deeply inspired by travel, both of which continue to shape my artistic practice and teaching philosophy. I hold myself to high standards and take great pride in creating rich, meaningful, and engaging learning experiences for others.

I’m excited to welcome you into the studio space—to connect, create, and be inspired together

Hugs and Kisses, Lesley

House keeping 

• Once you book, you will receive a confirmation of your order and then 6 weeks before the event you will receive an email from orders@secretprojects.org with the joining instructions for this workshop
• If you are unable to come, please let us know in advance and we can try and resell your ticket. 
• If you have any questions, please email orders@secretprojects.org 
• All workshops and gatherings arranged for or by Secret Projects are part of our Make With Us Offering.