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In the book you’ll
find a recipe
A Collaborative Creative Residency with Christina Riley
For Blank Canvas Christina will bring together photography, books and food, inviting local people to share their own recipes, cooking tips and food memories to form a community cookbook. Borrowing her title from artist and enthusiastic cook Georgia O’Keeffe, the project celebrates the beauty of the recipe book, and the value of knowledge sharing in our communities during times of climate, cost of living and misinformation crises. Throughout the month she will design and bind the book, and take a series of photographs developed in Narture's darkroom to illustrate the book. The space will include an installation of The Nature Library dedicated to books on food, growing, agriculture, weather and climate.
About Christina Riley
Christina Riley is a Florida born, Ayrshire based artist and writer whose work explores themes of place, memory, and the natural world. Author of Looking Down at the Stars: Life Beneath the Waves (Saraband, 2025) and The Beach Today (Guillemot Press, 2021), the influence of books and reading on her practice led her to start The Nature Library, exploring the role of literature in times of climate crisis through library installations, workshops, artist’s books, and various art and ecological collaborations.
THE WORKSHOPS
Make Your Own Recipe Book with Christina Riley (Family Friendly)
Fri 10th July, 10am - 12pm
Do you love strawberries? Honey? Potatoes? Cabbage?
In this hands-on workshop, participants will choose one ingredient that comes from the natural world and learn how to make a one page folded zine to celebrate its humble beginnings and role in the food we grow, cook, eat and share.
Christina Riley will guide you through the making of your book and materials will be provided to decorate your cover and inside pages with words, images and recipes inspired by your chosen ingredient.
This workshop is suitable for ages 12 and under.
MAKE by Narture Studios 30 Newmarket St, Ayr
Make Your Own Recipe Book with Christina Riley (13+)
Sat 11th July, 12pm - 2pm
In this hands-on pamphlet-making workshop, participants will choose one humble ingredient from the natural world and learn how to make a three-stitch pamphlet, with cover and recipe card pocket, to celebrate its role in the food we grow, cook, eat and share.
Christina Riley will guide you through the making of your book and materials will be provided to decorate your cover and inside pages with words, images and recipes inspired by your chosen ingredient.
Please note, this workshop will include the use of bookbinding awls and sewing needles. For our family friendly version, take a look at our folded zinemaking workshop!
MAKE by Narture Studios 30 Newmarket St, Ayr
Cyanotype Workshop with
Christina Riley
Sun 12th July, 12pm - 2pm
In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn how to create your own cyanotypes, using the food we grow, cook and share to explore food as a lens through which to interpret and understand the natural world.
A photographic, camera-less process which uses UV light to expose light-sensitive paper and create striking blue and white prints, cyanotypes gained prominence through Anna Atkins’ 1843 publication Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions. Christina will guide you through the cyanotype process, sharing its historical context and practical application, followed by time to experiment and create your own prints in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
This workshop is suitable for all ages, no prior experience is required and all materials will be provided, however, feel free to bring your own food related materials to print with!
MAKE by Narture Studios 30 Newmarket St, Ayr
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