Bishop's Stortford Library Artist in Residence

We are thrilled to announce that our next Artist in Residence will be author, illustrator and artist, Robyn Wilson. She will be in residence at Bishop’s Stortford Library in February and March and will be offering a wide variety of exciting creative workshops for all local residents.

Robyn says: “I am an author and illustrator who creates picture books. I mostly create my drawings with dip pens, ink, paint and pencil. I always carry a sketchbook and adore detail, texture, pattern and expressive eyebrows.
As well as creating my own stories I illustrate books for other people, including Joseph Coelho and Anne Booth. Before I started making books I designed sets, costumes and puppets for theatre, a job which took me on many adventures.

My stories all start in my sketchbook, where I observe the world and its idiosyncrasies. I believe my fundamental role as an artist is to notice, to observe, to pay attention. Especially to those parts of life which are often overlooked.
Community means a lot to me, and I am so excited to become a part of yours for a time. I am looking forward to meeting lots of people and finding out about their lives. I will be running a wide variety of workshops, with a focus on visual storytelling, recording memories, and mapping how people really live in Bishop’s Stortford.

This will culminate in us creating an alternative town guide, sharing memories and experiences now whilst ensuring they are captured for the future. Like all the best stories, they will of course forever be available on the library shelves.”

Her full schedule of events is:

Friday 7th February, 10.30am-12pm – Working Publicly
Visit the library to see Robyn working on her latest creation. Look through her sketchbooks and maybe even have a chat.

Saturday 15th February, 10.30am-12pm – Family Character Design
Get creative with stamps, stencils, cutting and sticking to create some wild creature characters, and make a simple story for them. Also, contribute to our alternative Bishop’s Stortford map and perhaps contribute a story to our alternative town guide! Suitable for ages 3-7, with an adult, though younger and older children are welcome to join in too. Tickets are free but must be reserved at the library for up to 10 families.

Wednesday 19th February, 1.30-3.30pm – Monoprinting Character Design
Use a favourite toy to inspire a character and create some unique hand printed images of them.
We will be creating monotypes, which is a type of printing that creates individual images. We will transfer your design on to paper from a printing plate using colour layers and stencils. Also, contribute to our alternative Bishop’s Stortford map! Suitable for ages 7+. Tickets are free but must be reserved at the library for up to 10 families.

Thursday 20th February, 3.30-5.30pm – Zine Making
Create mini zines with alternative adverts and articles using collage, stencilling, ink and photocopying. Express your real experience of livinng in Bishop’s Stortford and if you’d like to, have your work included in our alternative town guide! Suitable for ages 12+. Tickets are free but must be reserved at the library for up to 12 people.

Wednesday 26th February, 7-9pm – Sip and Sketch – Dip Pen and Ink Wash Drawing
Learn the technique of line and wash, experimenting playfully with mark making to describe texture and tone in your drawing and exploring how that can interact with a single colour wash to create striking images. Bring along a photo of a special place or memory to work from. If you are a just beginning your exploration of drawing, then working from an image which is mostly landscape rather than people will be best. If you would like to have your work included in our alternative town guide then a memory or place connected to Bishop’s Stortford would be wonderful. Drinks available for donation and suitable for ages 18+. Tickets available in the library and online here - https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/libraries-and-archives/events-and-things-to-do/bishops-stortford/artist-in-residence-sip-and-sketch-%E2%80%93-dip-pen-and-ink-wash-drawing.aspx

Saturday 1st March, 10am-2pm – Tell Your Story (Intergenerational Creative Drop-In)
Work with an author to share your stories together. Come alone or bring along a friend or relative - this is a workshop for people of every age. You will work with simple writing prompts that will get your memories flowing. We’ll then find creative ways to record your memories through words and images. You are welcome to stay for the full session or just join us for a short while.

Wednesday 5th March, 10am-12pm - Working Publicly
Visit the library to see Robyn working on her latest creation. Look through her sketchbooks and maybe even have a chat.

Monday 10th March, 10.30am-12pm – Working Publicly
Visit the library to see Robyn working on her latest creation. Look through her sketchbooks and maybe even have a chat. She will also be talking to our regular craft group.

Saturday 15th March, 10am-2pm – Tell Your Story (Intergenerational Creative Drop-In)
Work with an author to share your stories together. Come alone or bring along a friend or relative - this is a workshop for people of every age. You will work with simple writing prompts that will get your memories flowing. We’ll then find creative ways to record your memories through words and images. You are welcome to stay for the full session or just join us for a short while.

Monday 17th March, 4-6pm – Working Publicly and Town Guide Cover Design
Robyn will be collating contributions from across the residency to create the finished alternative town guide and town map. Join her to see what Bishop’s Stortford has created already or create your very own book cover.

Saturday 29th March, 4-6 pm- Alternative Town Guide and Map Launch
Join Artist in Residence, Robyn Wilson, to see the alternative town guide and map that has been created during her residency. The launch will feature work created by local residents and show exactly what Bishop’s Stortford has to offer. The exhibition will also feature work created by Robyn during her residency and be a chance to celebrate the creativity that’s been offered in the library. Pop in with friends and family to celebrate with us.