Get crafty
You don’t need to be beside the sea to feel connected to it. Sometimes all you need is a little imagination, a few simple materials and an hour away from your screen.
Getting crafty is a great way to slow down, learn something new and celebrate Plymouth’s connection to the sea. Whether you’re joining a workshop, making something with your family or creating at the kitchen table, every salty masterpiece starts somewhere.
Find a workshop
The Box
From family craft sessions and holiday activities to creative workshops inspired by Plymouth’s history, nature and culture, The Box regularly hosts hands-on activities for curious minds of all ages. Their collections are packed with maritime stories, making it a great place to find inspiration for your next creation.
Market Hall and
Native Makers
Keep an eye on what’s happening at Market Hall. Alongside immersive experiences, the venue hosts creative workshops, makers’ markets and activities that celebrate local creativity. Events often include free taster sessions, demonstrations and opportunities to learn new skills.
Meet the Marine Park
Keep an eye out for the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park team at local events throughout the year.
Our friendly engagement stalls often feature simple, drop-in activities for children and families, from colouring and drawing to cutting, sticking and creating marine-inspired crafts. They’re a great way to learn more about the National Marine Park, discover the wildlife and history of Plymouth Sound, and pick up ideas for your next salty adventure.
Looking for more creative inspiration?
There’s always something new to try around Plymouth. Keep an eye on our Events page, local social media channels and platforms like Eventbrite for workshops, creative sessions and hands-on activities that help you connect with the sea in a different way.
You might discover:
- Pottery painting at ClayArt on the Barbican, where you can decorate your own ceramic keepsake inspired by the coast and Plymouth Sound.
- Creative courses at Flameworks Creative Arts Facility, including ceramics, jewellery making, blacksmithing and other traditional crafts close to the waterfront.
- Hands-on making workshops with The Crafts Workshop, where you can learn practical creative skills and have a go at something completely new.
- Sewing, crochet, knitting and embroidery classes with Make Fabric Boutique, perfect for anyone looking to pick up a new hobby or develop existing skills.
- Creative upcycling projects with Plymouth Scrapstore, turning unwanted materials into something new while helping reduce waste.
- Nature-inspired workshops, such as cyanotype printing, where sunlight is used to create beautiful blue-and-white prints using natural materials and coastal finds. Sessions like these occasionally pop up at places such as Wembury Marine Centre.
- Sea glass jewellery and ring-making workshops, transforming beach treasures into unique handmade keepsakes inspired by the sea.
- Printmaking, painting and other community arts sessions, which regularly appear across Plymouth’s creative scene, including venues around the waterfront and city centre.
You never know what you might find. One workshop could lead to a new skill, a new hobby or a whole new way of seeing Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. So keep an eye on what’s coming up and see where your creativity takes you.
Get salty at home
If the weather’s doing its thing and you’d rather stay warm inside, bring a little bit of Plymouth Sound to the cosiness of your home.
Try some of these:
- Paint a Plymouth Sound sunset
- Draw a favourite view from your coastal walk
- Create a paper shoal of fish
- Press seaweed shapes into clay
- Make a pebble creature
- Design your own National Marine Park postcard
- Build sea creatures out of recycled materials
- Create a collage using maps, magazines and photos of the coast
- Try cyanotype printing using leaves, shells and coastal finds
Share Your Salty Creations
Finished your masterpiece? We’d love to see it.
Whether you’ve painted a sunset, built a lighthouse from recycled materials or created your own marine-inspired artwork, share a photo on social media and tag Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.
Your creation might inspire someone else to pick up a paintbrush, get crafty and take their next salty step.
Looking for more inspiration? Head back to the Salty Scale to discover more ways to connect with the sea throughout autumn and winter.