🌺 Vibrant Summer Blooms using alcohol inks

Explore the beauty of summer through vibrant colour, flowing ink, and joyful creativity.

Love colour, flowers, and working with new techniques? Join Karen, aka Millie Moth, at The Orangery at Thornbridge Hall for a relaxed and inspiring morning of creativity using alcohol ink brush pens.

🎨 What’s included in the workshop:

Karen will guide you through her signature splashy floral technique using vibrant summer colours. You will be blending inks with splashes of alcohol on smooth A5 Yupo paper to create your own stunning artwork. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, this workshop is designed for all skill levels, with plenty of encouragement along the way. It’s a beautiful, freeing process — full of happy accidents! All materials are provided – just bring yourself and enjoy a morning of creativity in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. 

🪷You’ll come away from this workshop with your A5 artwork to frame at home, a new skill and understanding of alcohol inks so you can explore them further and a sense of calm and relaxation from this mindful session. 

🧑🏻‍🎨 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 ❤️