Cyanotype Photography & Natural Dyes
Print photographs using sunlight, then bring them to life with natural colour.
Start Date: Thursday 3rd of September 2026
Duration: 5 weeks
Format: Live Zoom teaching, recordings of Lives, downloadable PDFs
Tutor: Ashleigh Ellis
Price: €199
Discover the beautiful intersection of photography, cyanotype and natural dyes in this five-week online course with eco artist Ashleigh Ellis.
Learn how to create photographic cyanotype prints on both paper and fabric before transforming their distinctive blue tones with carefully selected plant dyes. Combining photographic processes with natural colour opens an entirely new creative palette, allowing you to produce artwork and textiles with rich botanical hues while maintaining the delicate detail of the original image.
Whether you're an artist, textile maker or simply curious about alternative photographic processes, this course offers a practical introduction to creating unique cyanotype artwork using environmentally conscious techniques.
Designed for paper, textile art and smaller wearable projects such as tote bags and T-shirts, you'll learn every stage of the process—from preparing negatives and exposing prints through to dyeing, mordanting and finishing your work for display or wear.
🌿 What You'll Learn
Throughout the course you'll explore:
- Printing photographic negatives for cyanotype
- Setting up and using a UV lamp and exposure box
- Exposing and developing cyanotype prints
- Creating a full tonal range of blues
- Choosing suitable papers and fabrics
- Understanding which plant dyes work best with cyanotype
- Foraging for natural dye plants
- Dyeing cyanotype prints with botanical colours
- Mordanting for improved wash fastness on wearable textiles
- Creating a wide spectrum of colours from a single dye source
- Bleaching and shifting colours using plants and pH
- Caring for naturally dyed cyanotype garments
- Gallery-standard finishing techniques for artwork
Bonus Lesson
The History and Chemistry of Cyanotype
Gain a deeper understanding of the origins of cyanotype and the fascinating chemistry that makes this historic photographic process possible.
📅 Course Details
Start Date: 3rd September
Duration: 5 Weeks
Live Sessions: 4 Live Zoom classes
- 3rd September
- 17th September
- 24th September
- 1st October
Time: 4:00 pm (Irish Time)
Format
- Live Zoom teaching
- Recordings of all live sessions
- Downloadable PDF resources
🎥 Course Access
Can't make a live session? No problem.
All live sessions are recorded, allowing you to join live or watch back whenever it suits you. Recordings and downloadable resources remain available within your course space, giving you the opportunity to revisit techniques and continue learning throughout the course.
🧺 Equipment
For this course, a 50W UV Lamp is recommended, with the CAYDO brand being Ashleigh's preferred choice.
If you're new to cyanotype or simply want to explore the process before investing in specialist equipment, you can complete the course using sunlight instead. Natural sunlight is an excellent way to learn the process and create beautiful prints.
A UV lamp becomes particularly useful if you wish to continue printing throughout the winter months or would like greater consistency and control over exposure times, especially when producing detailed photographic prints.
Most equipment and materials will be discussed during the first live lesson, giving you plenty of guidance before you begin.
🌿 Who This Course Is For
This course is suitable for:
- Beginners and experienced creatives alike
- Artists wishing to combine photography and natural dyeing
- Textile artists interested in botanical colour
- Anyone looking to print photographs onto fabric and paper
- Makers seeking environmentally conscious creative processes
- Those curious about plants, photography and alternative printing techniques
🎨 Materials
Most suitable for:
- Paper artwork
- Textile art
- Tote bags
- T-shirts and other small garments
🌿 Meet Your Tutor
Ashleigh Ellis is an award-winning eco artist based in Cork, Ireland.
Her practice explores creative processes that deepen our relationship with the more-than-human world through plants, textiles, natural pigments, painting and music.
Ashleigh is founder of The Natural Dye Project Cork, has worked with Helium Arts supporting young people living with long-term health conditions, and has been a guest lecturer on the Eco Art module for the Masters in Arts & Engagement at Munster Technological University since 2023.
Her teaching combines artistic practice with accessible, environmentally conscious methods that encourage experimentation, observation and creativity.
💬 What Students Say
"The course was brilliant. I was glued to my seat watching the recorded live calls. Everything was so clear. Thanks for a lovely, easy sweet entry to creative mayhem."
— Helen L. B.
"I think I'll be making wet cyanotypes now till the day I die! It is so much fun. I didn't know if I could be creative, but now it's pouring out of me."
— Sinead Hackett
"Ashleigh Ellis is an excellent teacher and facilitator in all things related to natural colour, natural dyes and cyanotype. Her passion and commitment to sharing her knowledge is phenomenal."
— Kathy Kirwan
🌿 What's Included
- 🌿 Five-week online course
- 🎥 Four live Zoom classes
- 📹 6 months access
- 📄 Downloadable PDF resources
- 💬 Opportunity to ask questions during the live sessions
