Visual Dictionary
Visual Dictionary is a four-week creative course for young people aged 10 to 14 that explores personal mark-making and visual language, without the pressure of exams or right answers.
Small groups, a practising artist and educator, real materials, and the freedom to experiment. A focused creative experience for young people who want to explore without the longer commitment of the full nine-week programme.
Each session builds a personal visual language — from first marks to a book that's entirely their own.
The next Visual Dictionary course runs at Lady Bay Scout Hall from 22nd September.
What happens in Visual Dictionary?
Four Creative Sessions
Tuesdays, 4.00–5.45pm at Lady Bay Scout Hall.
Starts 22 September 2026.
Each session builds on the last - from first marks through to a personal visual language that's entirely their own.
Finding your own mark
It starts with black-only mark-making - pen, charcoal, ink, no pressure, just exploration. Then out into the world to collect: leaves, textures, found objects, fragments.
Back inside, those finds become rubbings, prints, marks on the page. A second colour is added only once their own visual language starts to take shape.
A book that becomes yours
Every participant leaves with a fold-out book of the marks they've made.
It’s not a finished piece, but the beginning of a visual language they'll keep building.
It's theirs to keep adding to long after the course ends.
Led by a practising 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.
Book Now
£72.00 for the full four-week course, paid in full at booking.
Visual Dictionary is a four-week creative course for young people aged 10 to 14 that explores personal mark-making and visual language, without the pressure of exams or right answers.
What's included
All four Tuesday evening creative sessions, 4:00–5:45pm
All materials provided
Led by practising artist and creative educator Paul Liptrot
How it works
Sessions run Tuesdays 4:00–5:45pm on 22 & 29 September, and 6 & 13 October 2026
Lady Bay Scout Hall, Nottingham
Paid in full at booking — no deposit, no per-session option
Practical details
Ages 10–14
Up to 10 young people per cohort
A short onboarding form is completed as part of booking, followed by a consent form covering full details and photo permissions
Paul holds an Enhanced DBS and uses the update service
To discuss the course before booking, get in touch via the contact form.