Young Creator’s lab
Young Creator’s Lab | Summer 2026
Three standalone creative days at Lady Bay Scout Hall, open to young people aged 10–15. Each day is self-contained - come to one, two or all three.
The summer days have been designed to give young people an extended creative experience in a relaxed, unhurried environment. Rather than a single evening session, each day offers five hours of making, experimenting and discovering - enough time to go deeper, try more, and build real confidence in what they can do. No prior experience needed. No outcomes expected. Just time, materials and a practising artist to guide the way.
Making & Mark
A day of drawing, printing and mark-making — exploring surfaces and materials to find the visual language that's yours and no one else's.
Art & Science
Latex, ink, vintage microfiche and a handful of techniques that sit right on the edge of science and art.
Curious Objects
Small things. Big ideas. A day of making intimate objects that hold more than they let on.
The details
Three standalone creative days at Lady Bay Scout Hall, Nottingham NG2.
Each day runs 12–5pm. All materials provided.
Tuesday 11 August — Making & Mark
Tuesday 18 August — Art & Science
Tuesday 25 August — Curious Objects
Ages 10–15. Maximum 10 young people per day.
Pricing
£60 per day
£165 for all three days — saving £15
Young Creator's Lab alumni discount
£50 per day
£140 for all three days
Paul holds an Enhanced DBS and uses the update service. A parental consent form will be sent on booking.
To discuss the days before booking, get in touch via the contact form.
The summer days have been designed to give young people an extended creative experience in a relaxed, unhurried environment. Rather than a single evening session, each day offers five hours of making, experimenting and discovering
The details
Three standalone creative days at Lady Bay Scout Hall, Nottingham NG2.
Each day runs 12–5pm. All materials provided.
Tuesday 11 August — Making & Mark
Tuesday 18 August — Art & Science
Tuesday 25 August — Curious Objects
Ages 10–15. Maximum 10 young people per day.
Pricing
£60 per day
£165 for all three days — saving £15
Young Creator's Lab alumni discount
£50 per day
£140 for all three days
About Paul
Led by Paul Liptrot — practising artist, creative educator and MFA graduate with extensive experience working with young people.
Paul holds an Enhanced DBS and uses the update service. A parental consent form will be sent on booking.
To discuss the days before booking, get in touch via the contact form.
Young Creator’s Lab is a nine-week creative programme for young people aged 10 to 14 that offers space to explore, experiment and find their own voice, without the pressure of exams or right answers.
Small groups, a practising artist and educator, real materials, and the freedom to experiment. Not about being good at art - about building the confidence to think, create, and trust your own ideas.
Each session offers a different creative challenge: drawing, storytelling, art and science, working with uncertainty, collaborative making. There are no expectations on outcomes, no right answers, and no pressure to call yourself an artist. Just time, materials, and a small group of young people making things together.
The next full Young Creator's Lab will launch in January 2027
What happens in the Young Creator’s Lab?
Nine Creative Sessions
Tuesdays, 4.00–5.45pm at Lady Bay Scout Hall.
Starting in January 27.
Each Thursday evening explores a different challenge drawn from the 5 Cs framework: Curiosity, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Communication.
Sessions build across the nine weeks, from individual making through to a collaborative installation and final pop-up exhibition.
A different kind of making
Most of what young people make at school gets marked. Young Creators Lab is the other kind of making — where the process matters more than the outcome, and getting it wrong is part of how you find your way.
Sessions are loosely guided with prompts and starting points, but are never prescriptive.
They'll make marks, build things, experiment with processes like latex and ink, and discover what happens when you try something you've never done before.
A pop-up exhibition
The programme ends on 16th July with a pop-up exhibition — a chance for participants to share what they've made across the nine weeks.
This is a key part of the programme, the chance to reflect and recognise their achievements.
It’s a moment of celebration rather than assessment. Families and friends welcome.
Led by a practicing artist and educator
Young Creator’s Lab is led by Paul Liptrot, artist and creative educator. Paul has led on a variety of workshops and was the lead for the Midlands Maker Challenge at the Museum of Making in Derby, working with over 350 young people.
Paul loves working with young people to help them develop and brings genuine excitement about materials and process, and a belief that everyone has something worth making.
Coming Up
The Young Creator's Lab is growing. Three new programmes are planned — sign up to be first to hear when booking opens.
Autumn Term — Lady Bay
A new nine-week series at Lady Bay Scout Hall starting September. Booking opens soon.
Autumn Term — City
A new series in central Nottingham starting September. Booking opens soon.
Want to be notified when booking opens?
Book Now
Booking is currently closed and will become active when new dates are added
£18.00 per session. Deposit of £54 to secure place
Young Creators Lab is a nine-week creative programme for young people aged 10–14 — space to explore, experiment and find their own voice, without the pressure of exams or right answers.
What's included
One Thursday evening creative session, 4:00–5:45pm
All materials provided
Led by practising artist and creative educator Paul Liptrot
How it works
Sessions run Thursdays 4:00–5:45pm from 14 May to 16 July 2026
No session 28 May — half term
Lady Bay Scout Hall, Nottingham
Book individual sessions or commit to the full programme below
Practical details
Ages 10–14
Up to 12 young people per cohort
A parental consent form will be sent on booking
Paul holds an Enhanced DBS and uses the update service
To discuss the programme before booking, get in touch via the contact form
£135.00 · saving £27 on individual sessions. The deposit confirms your place and Paul will send an invoice for the remainder
What's included
Nine Thursday evening creative sessions, 14 May to 16 July
All materials provided
A closing pop-up exhibition on 16 July
Led by practising artist and creative educator Paul Liptrot
How it works
Nine sessions, Thursdays 4:00–5:45pm
Lady Bay Scout Hall, Nottingham
No session 28 May — half term
Payable in full or in two payments of £67.50 — first payment on booking, second before Session 3 (4 June)
A parental consent form will be sent on booking
Practical details
Ages 10–14
Up to 12 young people per cohort
Paul holds an Enhanced DBS and uses the update service
To discuss the programme before booking, get in touch via the contact form
Book now
A deposit of £67.50 secures your place. On booking you'll receive a confirmation email with a parental consent form and details of how to pay the remaining balance — either by bank transfer before Session 3 (4 June) or in full if you prefer.