Upcoming Workshops 2026
Unfolding Creativity - A Four Week Sketchbooking and Creative Flow Workshop
Join Liza for a four-week sketchbooking course set in the atmospheric surrounds of The Kilteel Inn, a warm, welcoming space perfectly suited to slowing down and rediscovering the joy of creativity.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to build on existing skills, this course offers a relaxed, supportive environment to explore your creativity through the pages of a sketchbook. Across four sessions, you’ll build a toolkit of techniques and a personal record of your creative journey, which you can then carry with you well beyond the course.
Event Details
Date: Friday 9th/16th/23rd and 30th October | Time: 10.30am – 2.30pm | Cost: €225
Venue: The Kilteel Inn, Kilteel, Co. Kildare W91TK51. Situated at the meeting point of counties Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, we will have the premises entirely to ourselves. The class will take place in a room filled with natural light, overlooking Cupidstown Hill and by a cozy open fire!
Mixed Media Exploration
What We’ll Cover
Week 1 - Mark Making. Discover the expressive potential of line, texture, and gesture. We’ll explore different tools and techniques to loosen up, experiment, and find your own visual voice on the page.
Week 2 - Colour Mixing. Get hands-on with colour theory in practice. Learn how to mix, layer, and apply colour confidently, building an understanding of tone, harmony, and contrast that you can carry into any medium.
Week 3 - Print. This week we will be exploring printmaking techniques. From simple mono-printing to textural transfers, discover how print can add a new dimension to your creative process.
Week 4 – Mixed Media Drawing. This week we bring everything together as we focus on observational and expressive drawing and collage, helping you develop confidence in capturing what you see and utilising a range of mixed media drawing techniques.
Why should you attend?
Small-group, welcoming atmosphere
All levels welcome, no experience necessary!
Hands-on, process-led learning
A beautiful, atmospheric setting at the Kilteel Inn
Guidance from an experienced artist and arts educator
Refreshments, (teas, coffee) and lunch will be provided
Hard back artist quality sketchbook and all materials included
Come with curiosity, leave with a sketchbook full of new skills, ideas, and confidence.
Places are limited — book now to secure your place!
About the Facilitator
Liza Kavanagh is a Visual Artist and Creative Arts Educator with extensive experience across diverse collaborative initiatives, encompassing educational partnerships with schools, youth organisations, workshops and multi-disciplinary community exhibitions.
Participants receive a beautiful Hahnemuehle sketchbook
Previous Workshops
Unfolding Creativity - Sketchbook Workshop - A creative journey through colour, texture, pattern-play and mark making
Join visual artist and arts facilitator Liza Kavanagh for an inspiring and nurturing creative ‘sketch-booking’ workshop. Designed specifically for anyone who wishes to explore the joy of expressive art-making! During this hands-on workshop, we will experiment with mark making, discover colour relationships, and play with a diverse range of materials and processes.
What You'll Explore
Expressive Mark Making: Discover your unique artistic voice through gestural drawing, texture creation, and spontaneous mark-making techniques
Colour Mixing & Theory: Learn intuitive colour mixing while exploring how colours interact and
Mixed Media Exploration: Experiment with various materials including paints, pastels, charcoal, collage elements, and unconventional tools
Process-Focused Art: Embrace the journey of creation rather than focusing on final outcomes, sketchbooks are a place for ideas and experimenting!
Who Should Attend
This workshop welcomes:
Women seeking creative expression and community
Beginners with no prior art experience (we'll guide you every step!)
Experienced creatives looking to break out of their comfort zone
Anyone wanting to reconnect with their playful, experimental side
What's Included
All art materials, including a HANMUEHLE hardback sketchbook.
Supportive, non-judgmental environment
Connection with like-minded creatives
What to Bring
Just yourself and an open mind! All materials will be provided, though you're welcome to bring an apron or clothes you don't mind getting a little messy.
Class Size
This workshop has alimited number of spaces available to ensure personalized attention and meaningful connections. Early booking is recommended to secure your spot.
Event Details
Venue: Ardclough Community Centre - A warm, welcoming space with adjoining café for refreshments and casual conversation
Date: Saturday 26th July | Time: 10.30am – 2.30pm | Cost: €95
About the Facilitator
Liza Kavanagh is a Visual Artist and Creative Arts Educator with extensive experience across diverse collaborative initiatives, encompassing educational partnerships with schools, youth organisations, workshops and multi-disciplinary community exhibitions.
‘Art in Action’ - Summer Camp for Children aged 6 to 12 years
Book your child in for week 2 of our action packed Summer Camp Tuesday to Friday 5th - 8th August from 10 am to 2pm. The camp is facilitated by professional Kildare artists and educators Karen Hickey and Liza Kavanagh. The 4 days will have a big focus on fun through art activities with lots of movement, there will be snack time and outside play time too. Suitable for children 6 to 12 years old. Spaces are limited. Facilitators are Garda vetted, have First Aid and have completed Tusla’s Children First training. Once you have booked in we will be in touch with you directly to confirm your child’s age and any allergies etc.
Dates: WEEK 1 Tuesday 5th - Friday 8th August 2025 | Time: 10:00am to 2pm | Cost: €100.00
Location: Liza Kavanagh Art Studio, Eascanrath, Suncroft, R56EY84, Co.Kildare.
For further information and any questions please contact artistkarenhickey@gmail.com / liza.kavanagh@gmail.com
Layers of Expression, June 2025
We hosted our 'Layers of Expression' workshop at the lovely Ardclough Village Centre. In the morning, Karen brought us on a journey of self expression through intuitive mark making and non-judgemental drawing to create calm and art that flowed. The focus was on process rather than outcome and relaxing through the art of creating. After lunch, Liza continued the workshop with some fun explorations of shape and form using everyday vessels as our inspiration. We explored various techniques and got to play with a variety of materials, including stencils, inks, paints and drawing materials. Everyone went home with their unique artwork on board panel.
Spring into Colour, April 2025
Our Spring into Colour Workshop at Ardclough Village Centre drew inspiration from the beautiful flowers that were blooming all around us. The floral-inspired session celebrated the awakening of nature as we explored the delicate forms, vibrant colors, and organic shapes of seasonal blossoms using chalk and oil pastels, paint and collage. Participants immersed themselves in capturing the essence of the season through various artistic techniques, translating the fresh energy and natural beauty of flowers into their own creative expressions. The workshop provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature's renewal while developing artistic skills in a supportive and inspiring environment.
‘Awakening’ - Workshop Series of 4
We ran our Awakening Workshop at Ardclough Village Centre as a comprehensive 4-week series that truly lived up to its name. Each participant received their own sketchbook at the beginning, which they gradually filled with their creative work throughout the course. The program covered a rich variety of techniques including monoprinting, expressionist portraiture, collage, painting, sketching, expressive drawing, and colour mixing, providing participants with a well-rounded foundation in different artistic approaches. By the end of the series, everyone had completed their own personal portfolio of work, creating a valuable resource that continued to assist them in their ongoing art practice long after the workshop concluded.
Booking a workshop
Due to our commitment to maintaining small class sizes to ensure personalised attention for all participants, our workshops reach capacity very quickly. If you are interested in securing a place or would like to discuss arranging a bespoke workshop tailored specifically for your group, please contact us to explore the available options.
