About Intoart

Intoart is an evolving alternative art school and pioneering studio programme, championing equity, leadership & visibility of learning disabled and autistic artists, designers and makers. The RSN partnered with Intoart to deliver embroidery masterclasses to artists with learning disabilities using sustainable materials. These new skills can then be incorporated into the artists existing art practices. 

The Project

In June, RSN Tutor Natalie Rowe will be leading two full day masterclasses with artists from Intoart to develop embroidery skills and to work on sample designs inspired by pieces from the RSN’s collection. 

Earlier in April, Natalie spent a half-day with the artists in their Studio in Peckham to meet them, understand their current art practice and introduce them to some of the sustainable materials from Around the World in 80 Fabrics. Natalie also showed off some of the pieces from the RSN collection to inspire the artists to start developing a design to work from in subsequent sessions. 

The first full-day session will focus on introducing embroidery techniques to suit designs that the artists have been working on from the introductory session, using threads donated to the RSN and an organic calico to sample techniques and experiment with thread. 

The second session will focus on working on their sample designs, screen printed onto Barkcloth from Uganda, made available to the project by Around the World in 80 Fabrics. Artists will be guided by Natalie on how to incorporate embroidery into their designs.