Making natural watercolours

2025

From extracting the dye to creating the extract and smoothing them into a watercolours, I have enjoyed the process of creating and revealing each colour I collected.

I have made watercolours from: Oak leaves, acorns, beech leaves, brambles, woad (blue) chlorophyllin (green) and wield (yellow).

Making natural inks

2025

For my natural inks I used pre made extracts.

My recipe: 3g extract, 100ml water, and optional alum (adding alum allowed me to get further colour variations). For example the log wood was pink with out alum but purple with it.

 I simmered these ingrediencies for 15-20 minutes until all was dissolved before pouring it into my ink bottles.

Eco dye prints

2025

When experimenting with eco dye printing I collected my own plants and experimented with using them fresh and dried, both getting different results. I love the excitement of each unexpected outcome and unique print each time . 

I have researched many different techniques to eco dye printing (also know as bundle dyeing) but found this method worked best. 

Society of Dyers and Colourists competition 

2025

With the topic of global adversity, I thought of the growing population, pollution and food waste.  With having an interest in natural dyes, I  I know on a domestic scale, food waste can be utilised for dye at home. During this project I sourced all colour this way proving it to be a verry accessible practice.