The Great Southern Reef is home to some of the most extraordinary creatures on the planet. Leafy sea dragons. Giant cuttlefish. Blue-ringed octopus. Seahorses so small they anchor themselves to seagrass with their tails. In this workshop, you get to paint one of them.

Creatures of the Reef is a hands-on mixed-media painting workshop running during school holidays as part of the Reef Resilience Photo and Art Showcase. Guided by artist Emma Collins, participants choose a reef creature from a curated reference pack and bring it to life on canvas using acrylic paint, fine-tip markers, and pencil detail.

No experience needed. The session is designed to be genuinely accessible — for kids who have never held a brush and adults who haven't painted since school. You'll be guided through each stage, from background wash to finished creature, and leave with a completed artwork to take home.

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What's included

Everything. Canvas board, acrylic paints, brushes, markers, pencils, and a printed reference sheet of reef creatures. All you need to bring is yourself.

Who is it for All ages. Children under 16 are welcome with a parent or guardian. Accompanying adults who aren't painting don't need a ticket — each ticket covers one canvas and one set of materials.

How long does it run

Two hours. The pace is relaxed. There's no rush to finish and no wrong way to paint a cuttlefish.

Where

Ardrossan Town Hall, as part of the Great Southern Reef Reef Resilience Photo and Art Showcase display.

Contact the host of Mixed Media Workshop - Creatures of the Reef