Portrait Collage Workshop with Hand Embroidery

Portrait collage workshop in Norwich, paper collage, and hand embroidery with guest artist Katy Williamson.


Artidote
Artidote
5.0 (5)

3 hours Class size 1 to 16 guests       £35 (PayPal Pay in 3 available)
Norwich Activities
What to Expect at our Norwich Collage Workshop

What to Expect at Our Norwich Collage Workshop

In this relaxed, beginner-friendly workshop, you'll explore the creative possibilities of portrait collage, you’ll learn how to embellish your collage with hand embroidery to create texture, detail and personality. Katy will guide you through her unique approach, combining cutting, layering, rearranging and stitching to create artwork that's playful, expressive and unlike anything else.


Who is the workshop for?

Who Is the Workshop For?

For beginners, friends and creative escapes:
No experience needed it's for complete beginners.
No sewing skills required either.
Ideal for singles, couples and small groups.

Perfect for:
Curious first timers.
Creative escape seekers
Friends looking for something different in Norwich.
Visitors exploring creative experiences in East Anglia.
Families wanting to try something new together.
Anyone who enjoys making things with their hands.


Why choose Artidote in Norwich

Why Choose Artidote in Norwich

  • Small group sizes (6-16)
  • Central Norwich studio location
  • Relaxed and friendly atmosphere
  • Focus on creative confidence, not rigid instruction.


Our Artidote studio

Our Artidote Studio

Is a bright, airy and welcoming space full of light, art and plants. It's been designed to make you feel good. There is plenty of space, with a range of seating, including ergonomic chairs and sit-stand desks. This ensures you can sit, stand and move throughout your time here.


Part of the slow art movement, this collage workshop in Norwich is all about cutting, arranging, rearranging, stitching and experimenting, one small decision at a time. Before long, you'll find yourself completely absorbed in the process, making up your own rules in creative time set aside just for you, leaving you feeling inspired, energised and connected.
Guest artist: Katy Williamson is a New Zealand-born graphic designer, collage artist and animator known for her striking hand-cut collage portraits, created for editorial publications, political campaigns and the music industry. Combining carefully cut shapes, layered photography and hand embroidery, Katy transforms familiar faces into something unexpected, drawing on Dadaism, Surrealism and the beauty of making by hand. In a world of screens and AI-generated images, her work celebrates texture, imperfection and the happy accidents that only happen when you cut, stitch and create with real materials.
The design brief: you're welcome to bring a portrait photograph of yourself, a friend, family member or favourite person to work from – old family photographs often make for the most meaningful collages. Your image will be scanned and printed so the original stays safe, and you're welcome to bring extra photographs, magazines or papers to include. Fancy a self-portrait instead? You'll be photographed from a few angles on the day for a completely unique starting point.
Materials: you'll have a fantastic selection of high-quality portraits, vintage books, magazines, printed materials and embroidery threads to work with. If portraiture isn't your thing, you're free to create any collage you like – and if you turn up with nothing at all, you'll still have everything you need to create something you might just want to hang on the wall or give as a gift.
Expect a safe, supportive space to experiment without pressure, put perfectionism aside, and stay curious – mistakes are all part of the process, and nothing is ever silly.
What you'll get
A unique collage and a fresh sense of artistic confidence, leaving you feeling inspired and ready to continue your creative adventure at home.
Knowledge required
Absolutely no knowledge or skill is required. This is a beginner-focused workshop, with all levels welcome.
What to bring
Nothing, just yourselves and any (BYOB) drinks and nibbles. Tea and coffee will be provided.
Location

Artidote, Capitol House (Studio 12, first floor) - Studio 12, Capitol House, 4-6 Heigham Street, Norwich NR2 4TE

Capitol House, is next to Norwich Kitchens & Bathrooms on the corner of Heigham Street and Barn Road. Diagonally opposite the car park for Home Bargins and TKMaxx.

Portrait Collage Workshop with Hand Embroidery location
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Your teacher

Artidote
Artidote

5.0 (5)

Artidote began in a simple way. In January 2024 I started a small free art group in Norwich. After more than 40 years working in the creative industries, I wanted to step away from the computer and get back to art and craft, making things by hand again.
Through word of mouth, the group quickly filled up. We capped it at 25 people and met once a month. People loved having a space where they could relax, experiment and make things without pressure.
At the start of 2025 I began running small creative workshops to see if there was interest beyond the art club. We hosted sip and paint evenings in coffee shops, ran workshops for organisations and networking groups, and creative sessions for local businesses. Over 200 people took part in that first year, and the feedback and testimonials were incredibly encouraging.
Later that year my partner Bev and I closed our existing business after ten years. It was a big decision, but it created the opportunity to turn our old showroom into something new. We transformed it into a welcoming creative studio filled with natural light, plants, colour and art. That space became Artidote.
What makes Artidote workshops different? These aren’t traditional art classes, I don’t see myself as an art teacher. My role is more like a creative workshop facilitator — helping people explore ideas, experiment and discover their own creativity.
Most people who come to Artidote say the same thing when they arrive:
“I’m not creative"or I can't draw." Many haven’t made any art since school, that’s completely normal.
Our workshops are designed to help people relax, try new things and enjoy the process of making without worrying about getting it right.
There’s never any pressure and judgement, just curiosity, play and creativity.
Over the past two years we’ve experimented with more than 25 different workshop ideas, including:
* Abstract portrait painting
* Clay and charcoal sculpture
* Cardboard mask making
* Lino and gel printing
* Watercolour and ink
* Cyanotype printing
* Tetrapak printmaking
* Life drawing
* Lego creativity sessions
* Designing family crests
* Creating ideas for children's books
* Drawing personal maps of meaningful journeys
Some workshops are light and playful, others become unexpectedly meaningful. One workshop where people drew maps of personal journeys from their lives became quite emotional for the group. That’s one of the wonderful things about creativity, you never quite know where it might lead.
Artidote workshops are:
  • Beginner friendly
  • Relaxed and welcoming
  • Small groups (around 20–25 people)
  • Social and creative
All materials are provided and you don’t need any experience, just bring curiosity and an open mind.
Creative art and craft has a powerful effect on people, when we start making things with our hands, something changes. We slow down, become absorbed in the process. Ideas appear that we didn’t expect. For many people it’s the first time they’ve made something creative since childhood.
Our hope is that people leave feeling inspired and perhaps rediscover creativity as a regular part of their lives. Creativity isn’t just about art, It’s really about connection, curiosity and community.
That’s what Artidote is all about.

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class 1E57MXLBSX b30fa37a8c654059964d2a78c24cea95 production norwich Norwich East of England GB norwich