This year we’re making Coastal Connections – an invitation to explore our coastline and your creativity.
This is our latest project supporting a process of reconnecting with, respecting and restoring our environments. David Attenborough introduces his latest film with the simple statement that ‘The Oceans are the most important place on Earth.’ The Oceans are in crisis but can and do recover when we make the right choices and take action.
So Sustaining Dunbar and North Light Arts have developed a programme of walks, talks and workshops to stimulate connection with the marine environment, reflect on our relationship with nature and better understand our habits and social patterns. We are collaborating with artists Katie Fowlie, Anna Davis, Lucy Robertson , marine biologists, a geologist and other local people with knowledge and expertise, to share their enthusiasms.
All our activities are free, including the art workshops but we will ask permission of participants to use some elements of their work in our exhibition: ‘Shore Lines & Tide Marks’ at John Muir’s Birthplace in August & September 2025.
This project is supported by CWP Energy and East Lothian Council Arts and Museums Services
FREE ART WORKSHOPS -to explore our coastline and your creativity
- Bookbinding and floating ink -discover Suminagashi the Japanese art of marbling with ‘floating ink.’ Learn bookbinding techniques to craft a unique ‘cascading’ book, perfect for preserving your artistic creations and reflections and deepen your connection to the natural world. Wednesday 9th July 10-12 or 2-4 at Dunbar Town House suitable age 14+
- Make your own brushes and marks -an opportunity to craft unique brushes, tools, and pigments from natural raw materials and make marks inspired by the diversity of our shoreline. Celebrate the richness of our coastal landscape and its enviroments in this hands-on workshop. Wednesday 16th July 10-12 or 2-4 at Lauderdale Park suitable age 8+
- Tidal Shift, alternative photography -explore eco-friendly photographic techniques without a camera.
- Underwater World – make stunning cyanotype images. Thursday 17th July 2-4 at Lauderdale Park
- Create images directly onto algae-based bioplastics and sea-worn fragments. Transform found objects and express your creativity in ways you never imagined possible. Wednesday 23rd July 10-12 or 2-4 at Lauderdale Park suitable age 8+
- Art on the beach party
Join us at Whitesands Beach for a party to make a super long shoreline drawing together, rockrubbing mark making. Experience the beach like never before – discover stunning geology, birds and plants galore. Friday 18th July 1-4 Whitesands Beach, all ages welcome.
Please make a booking for all these sessions
CONTACT LIZ WILCOX: lizwilcox52@gmail.com or on 07821 402466
WALK, TALK , CONNECT, CREATE -explore our shores with experts.
A look and learn geology walk at Whitesands -explore this very special site and discover the stories in the stones that explain how our landscape was formed and the shifts from tropical sea to forest to icy desert. Find fossils of the creatures that inhabited these terrains and their influence on local industries. Booking essential. Sunday 6th July 4 – 6pm, meet in the car park at the beach
Dunbar Lifeboat Day and the Pearl of Dunbar Restoration Project Dunbar Lifeboat Day is one of the high spots of the town’s year and a fantastic example of community spirit.Take this opportunity to meet the Harbourmaster and hear about the project to restore this wooden sailing boat. We won’t make you climb the rigging but you can see how it’s made and try your hand at knotting and splicing. See how the fishermen make their lobster pots. Hear about life on the harbour, the changes and how we can keep it at the heart of our community and identity. Saturday 12th July – McArthur’s stores, drop in – no booking required.
Lobster pot demo 10-12 , harbour master talk 11–12
Life in the ocean and recycling fishermen’s ropes -marine plastic pollution is a severe environmental problem. This response is not even a drop in the ocean but a moment to reflect on the part we can play in its restoration. Weave the patterns of marine bacteria – the basis of ocean life. Simple and satisfying you can take them home with you but we would be very pleased if you could make some for our exhibition. Saturday 12th July & Thursday 24th 2 – 4 at McArthur’s Stores, drop in
Rock pooling with the rangers -join our Countryside Ranger for a guddle in the puddles and discover the creatures that live there and what they do. Come prepared for fascinating insights and amazing facts about the intertidal world and don’t forget your waterproofs. Wednesday 16th July 12.30 – 2.00 at the East Beach. Booking Essential
FOR BOOKINGS PLEASE CONTACT LIZ WILCOX
lizwilcox52@gmail.com or 07821 402466
Download this Coastal Connections events programme here.