The City Art Centre is thrilled to host an exciting range of events and creative workshops to accompany the Through Line exhibition.
With tours and hands-on experiences led by renowned artists, this is an unmissable opportunity for art lovers and creatives alike! Booking is essential for all events, and spaces are limited.
Upcoming artist In conversation
Friday 31 January, 2pm - Two Ways of Drawing
Join exhibiting artist Charles Poulsen to explore two very different strands of his drawing practice in this talk. He creates descriptive pencil drawings in sketchbooks to generate new sculptural ideas, which he also uses for practical purposes such as explaining to contractors how to build his sculptures.
Poulsen’s other drawings are large, abstract and expressive, and realised in layers of pencil, wax and gouache, through which he communicates often intuitive ideas about the universe. They are more about energy than any particular subject matter – the invisible, the organic forces of growth, forces which drive the winds and currents, the energies within and beyond the earth.
Friday 7 February, 2pm - In Conversation with Mike Walton, Frances Priest, Rhona Taylor and Charlie Poulsen
Michael Walton, exhibiting artist in ‘Through Line’, will chair a discussion among three other artists from the show: Charles Poulsen, Frances Priest and Rhona Taylor. This is a unique opportunity to hear these contemporary artists come together to talk about their work, their commonalities and differences in using line within their practice.
Events are free but booking is essential.
Upcoming Gallery Tours
Friday 17 January, 11am - Gallery Tour with Artist Rhona Taylor
Join exhibiting artist Rhona Taylor for a tour of the exhibition Through Line, and hear her speak about her own work. Rhona will discuss her use of line, light, colour and different materials, and will speak more about the temporary, site-specific work she has made for the exhibition.
Friday 24 January, 3pm - Gallery Tour with Artist Susan Mowatt
Susan will explore the processes involved, the use of specific materials and the ideas underpinning her work in the exhibition.
Saturday 15 February, 2pm - Gallery Tour with Artist Lara Scobie
Lara will explore the development of her work for the exhibition giving it context through discussing previous work and explaining some of the processes and techniques involved with producing her ceramic work.
Saturday 22 February, 1pm – Gallery Tour with Artist Frances Priest
Over her 25-year career, Priest has explored themes such as spatial relationships, ornamentation, and the language of colour. Discover her unique approach as she discusses the two recently donated works to Museums & Galleries Edinburgh’s collection.
Saturday 1 March, 2pm – Gallery Tour with Artist Mike Walton
Exhibiting artist Mike Walton will guide you through his works featured in Through Line, including Flow I and Flow II. Learn about his 1960s and 1970s influences, including the Bauhaus and Jorge Luis Borges, and delve into his unique take on form and abstraction.
Booking is essential. Tours are free with the price of an exhibition ticket.
Creative Workshops for Adults
Saturday 8 February, 10.30am – 3.30pm – Line and Leaves: Exploring Plant Forms
Inspired by the exhibition, this workshop explores plant forms through drawing. Join Tessa Asquith-Lamb to experiment with shading, layering, and patterning, as you bring natural forms to life through mark-making.
£30 per participant. Booking is essential.
Special Tour for Visually Impaired Visitors
Saturday 25 January, 2pm – Described Tour for Visually Impaired Visitors
This specially designed tour, led by artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb, offers a unique experience of the Through Line exhibition for our visually impaired visitors. Discover the exhibition through detailed verbal descriptions and enjoy a guided tour that lasts about one hour.
This tour is free but booking is essential. Please note, this tour is only for visually impaired visitors. The venue is fully accessible.
Councillor Val Walker, Edinburgh’s Culture and Communities Convener, said:
Through Line highlights the incredible work of nine dynamic artists, featuring a diverse range of mediums such as ceramics, drawing, jewellery, painting, printmaking, poetry, and textiles. We are also thrilled to offer an engaging events programme, where some of the artists will lead exclusive tours or give insightful talks about their practices. I strongly encourage art enthusiasts to take part in these unique events—whether you're exploring the creations of celebrated artists or tapping into your own creative potential.
Booking is essential for all events, so secure your place today online or by calling the City Art Centre at 0131 529 3993.