Crafts@Kirkgate Botanical Casting

9th May 2026 10:00am (Doors open at 9:30 am)

Kirkgate Centre

The Introduction to Botanical Casting Workshop is designed to allow participants to learn and practice the skills and techniques used in the craft of plaster casting to create beautiful floral inspired plaster plaques.

The Morning

To begin with we talk through the relevant health and safety aspects of working with clay and plaster. We also discuss how to select botanical items through ethical foraging.

We then embark on making our first cast, we walk through the process together with step by step instructions while still ensuring that everyone is able to use their own creativity to design their own picture. We prepare the clay to use as a mould and impress a variety of different items into it. Towards the end of the morning, we will then mix the plaster (we use Eco-Resin/Resincrete as it is waterproof when cured) and pour it into our moulds. The plaster requires a minimum of 30 minutes to cure and this is a good point to take a break for lunch!

The Afternoon

We return refreshed from lunch and are ready for the big reveal of the plaques created in the morning session. We spend some time looking at all our creations and discussing what worked well and what was less successful and why. Using the knowledge gained we then start on round two, creating a second plaque. Those who are confident can work at their own pace, those requiring more support can be talked through the process and techniques. Again, the plaster is mixed and poured and set aside to cure.

While we are waiting for the second plaque to cure, we use a third pre-made plaque (that we supply) to learn and experiment with a variety of finishing methods such as water colour painting, acrylic painting, varnishing and even gilding wax rubbing.

Finally, once fully cured we reveal the second plaque completing the workshop. We then carefully pack the items safely into recycled bubble wrap, talk through how to ‘air’ the plaque for the next 7 days. We also send all participants away with an information sheet and a link to a video for them to watch should they want a refresher of the workshop.

Additional information:

All materials and equipment (including aprons) are provided but participants are welcome to bring along their own selection of leaves, flowers, textured items etc. which can be used in addition to those provided if they wish.