Get artistic with FREE Make Your Way workshops

#MakeYourWay in Carluke, Glassford, Lanark, Larkhall and Stonehouse

Local communities are being invited to join in with workshops and events hosted by Make Your Way artists in residence in Carluke, Glassford, Lanark, Larkhall and Stonehouse this March.

Free and open to all, each bespoke workshop and event has been designed by the artists in response to research into the heritage of the communities, with a view to collecting information which can then be interpreted into final installations later in the month.

From creating your own personal Journey Boxes using watercolour and reflective writing in Stonehouse, to adding to interactive maps of Glassford and adding your own personal stories to an archive in Lanark, there’s lots to get involved in.

Workshops and events, detailed below, are FREE to attend and open to all. 

Sunday 5th March, ‘Journey Boxes - Stonehouse Creative Walk’ with Martyn McKenzie & Kate McAllan

Meet at: Auld Stanehoose Cross Cafe, The Hub, 4 the Cross, Stonehouse, ML9 3LQ

Time: 12 noon - 3pm

Join artists Kate McAllan and Martyn McKenzie on their JOURNEY BOXES creative walk around Stonehouse. This free outdoor arts workshop will explore watercolour, reflective writing and trail collecting, offering the chance to produce a collection of artworks that will be contained in your own personal journey box.

All abilities are welcome and materials will be supplied. The workshop will involve mild walking terrain so appropriate footwear and clothing is advised. The walk itself is only over a mile from the Cafe and most of the time will be spent painting or writing.

Saturday 11th March, Seed Sowing Walk, Larkhall, with Allison Smith

Meet at: Millheugh Play Park, Larkhall, near the Applebank Inn

Time: 12:30pm – 3pm

Join Lanarkshire artist Allison Smith for a Seed Sowing Walk around the natural landscape of Millheugh and Morgan Glen. Sow seeds and plant bulbs whilst sharing memories and stories with other attendees.

All abilities are welcome. Walking boots or wellingtons are a must as terrain may be very muddy in places and it is advised you wrap up well. The walk is expected to last 2 – 3 hours but it will be a slow and leisurely walk.

Tuesday 14th March, Glassford - A Landscape of Love & Worship with Ewan Allinson

Meet at: Glassford Church Hall

Time: 6.30 - 8pm

Join sculptor and philosopher Ewan Allinson for an illustrated talk, offering his take on the special character of Glassford and its surroundings. Ewan has immersed himself in this landscape’s nooks and crannies, walking rights of way and researching history and folklore.

Following Ewan’s talk, the Make Your Way team are keen to hear from you about your experiences of the landscape around Glassford, about places that have a particularly strong personal association. Whether the association is romantic, sacred, of a sense of belonging, or even something supernatural, it would be great to hear your stories and even create a map Glassford’s living heritage of love and worship. 

Thursday 16^th March, Under the Ground - Talk with Kevin Morris

Meet at: Carluke Library, Carnwath Road, Carluke, ML8 4DF

Time: 7 - 8pm

Artist Kevin Andrew Morris has spent the last month researching Carluke’s rich brick making history as part of the Make Your Way project. Please join Kevin for an illustrated talk as he presents his findings alongside new work made during his residency.

Kevin’s research was undertaken with the support of the Carluke Parish Historical Society who will also be presenting a talk on their records as well as a short film taken at Mayfield Brickworks before it closed. The society would greatly appreciate any help in identifying the workers in the film.

Friday 17th March and Saturday 18th March, ‘The Elephant in The Close’ with Daniele Sambo

Meet at: The Tolbooth, 4 High St, Lanark, ML11 7EX

Time: 10am - 5pm both days

Have you heard the story of the Elephant in the Wide Close? Did you know that Shirley's close was once called Clarkston's close and that all the streets in Lanark changed names during different times? Artist Daniele Sambo has spent the past month picking and regrouping images and information from the local archives of Lanark. Please join Daniele in The Tolbooth for a small exhibition of his findings. If you have them, please bring along your own stories and photos (past and present) to be scanned and added to your local archive.

Kevin Morris, artist in residence in Carluke, will be undertaking numerous workshops with local schools as part of the project.

The workshops are part of the #MakeYourWay project, which aims to encourage people to walk and cycle more whilst exploring the rich and varied heritage of Carluke, Glassford, Lanark, Larkhall and Stonehouse. The six artists are a mix of Lanarkshire based and those from further afield, who will combine local knowledge with wider experiences of landscape and community to create unique installations within the five towns and villages. 

This project is being delivered by icecream architecture and SYSTRA, with support from Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding and Heritage Lottery Fund supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership.

The final installations will complement a series of new paper-based and digital maps highlighting local routes, which have been produced through a series of community consultations and workshops. The Make Your Way team have been delivering a wide range of workshops since October last year, including Dorodango mud dumpling, mapping, citizen journalism and periscope headdress walks to help local people explore their local landscape in different ways.

From March to April, active travel roadshows will be held in local train stations and health and leisure centres.  This will be the chance for people to collect the new maps with local walking and cycling information and active travel tips.

The artists are keen to create artwork that is meaningful and unique to the communities they are working within. The Make Your Way team are connecting the artists with groups in each area, but anyone interested in getting in touch can make contact through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 07843 145 128.