Have you seen that squirrel?

Well? Have you ?  Have you seen that Squirrel and Tiffin creating in Blackpool Town Centre throughout January? Causing a riot of fun and colour?

Linzi Cason, the brains, beauty and talent behind Squirrel and Tiffin, has been running FREE, yes I said FREE workshops, in the old Disney Store premises on Victoria Street, Blackpool.

As printing in all its various forms is Linzi’s current passion, the majority of workshops have been two hour spots of glorious printing creativity. Using everything from the humble potato, a small embroidery screen, lino tiles, and even a huge pink eraser….. groups of art hungry attendees have cut, squeegeed, gouged and carved their way to creating a series of beautiful and original prints, on both paper and fabric. Personally, I am now the proud owner of a hand-printed zippered cosmetic bag, tote bag and notelets for friends.

Visiting local artists also provided workshops which included fascinating afternoons of expressive letter art, book sculpture, relief printing and book making for further inspiration. The workshops have expanded the artistic skills of all who attended and spurred them on to greater things.

All of this fun and creative enjoyment has cost us not one penny either! Local artist Linzi Cason organised everything with help from the Arts Council England to provide art materials and creative instruction directly to the people of Blackpool. Thanks must also go to the management of the Hounds Hill Shopping Centre, who provided the old Disney Shop premises as a venue for January, and also for providing the palettes, which creatively formed the main work table, and the small coffee tables.

The walls of the old Disney store were transformed by Linzi’s personal printing exhibition, based on natural forms in the environment. Using a more sophisticated system of photographic screen printing, Linzi has produced a series of wall hangings using the inspiration of trees. The processes used are explained in the accompanying texts stationed nearby.

It would be unfair not to mention the wonderful Garth Gratrix who helped Linzi to set up, dismantle and generally monitor the workshops and to photograph, along with Linzi, the progress of the attendees. Garth has also been tea-maker by appointment to a constant stream of extremely thirsty would-be artists!

For more information about Squirrel & Tiffin go to the website. You can also like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter: @SquirrelTiffin. Squirrel & Tiffin will also be at FYCreatives in Venn Project’s first show of the year opening from 6pm on 13 February.

Images courtesy of Linzi Cason and Garth Gratrix.