Elements of Nature is a collaborative arts project by Left Bank Leeds, bringing together early-career artists, local communities, and the natural environment. Inspired by 12 natural elements—Earth, Water, Light, Shadow, Time, and more—artists and participants co-create new artworks through workshops, outdoor exploration, and creative experimentation. The final works will be showcased in a public exhibition at Left Bank Leeds in November 2025.

This project is funded by Leeds Inspired & Leeds City Council as part of their Grow Cultural development program.

Meet the Artist: George Moody

George Moody is a bio-artist deeply inspired by queer ecology, working with experimental materials and collaborative processes to reimagine preconceived notions of nature. Their practice explores the porous boundaries between bodies, ecosystems, and materials, often using bioplastics, natural dyes, and foraged matter as a way of questioning sustainability and care.

Through workshops and participatory projects, George invites others into playful acts of making and reflection, weaving together ecological awareness with collective creativity.

Element: Earth & Plant
Project Focus: George’s work explores how biodegradable materials can be used to reimagine our connection to the natural world. Participants will experiment with bioplastics, natural dyes, and foraged matter, creating a collaborative artwork that celebrates transformation, ecology, and care.

Workshop Series: BioPlastic Futures

George’s workshops can be enjoyed as a three-part course or as standalone sessions — book one or all (it’s up to you!). Each session offers something different, so you can join the one that excites you most, or take part in all three to deepen your creative exploration.

Workshop 1: Introduction to Bioplastics (MON 29TH SEPT)
In this hands-on session, you’ll be introduced to the fascinating world of bioplastics. Using sodium alginate, foraged weeds, and food-safe inks, you’ll create two unique bioplastic pieces — experimenting with embedding natural materials and exploring colour mixing. The session will include a short demonstration, plenty of making time, and a chance to share your first experiments with the group.

Workshop 2: Exploring Natural Dyes (MON 13TH OCT)
Building on the first session (but equally open to newcomers), this workshop focuses on the use of natural dyes to bring colour and life to bioplastics. You’ll experiment with ingredients such as turmeric, onion skins, and berries, learning how to layer colours and playing with how natural inks disperse and blend in bioplastic mixes. Together, we’ll discuss how colour changes the feel of the work and reflect on how these processes connect to nature and transformation.

Workshop 3: Future Fossil (WED 29TH OCT)

In this workshop, participants will explore bioplastics as a way of mixing the natural with the man-made. Using sodium alginate, they’ll create unique pieces that combine things like leaves, twigs,and other organic materials with fragments of waste such as plastics or fibres. The results will be “future fossils” — small objects that imagine what traces of today might be left behind in the future. Each participant will have two chances to cast their own fossil-like piece and reflect on the process.

Before the workshop, please collect a small handful of “future fossil” material. This can be a mix of the natural and the synthetic: dried leaves, twigs, seed husks, alongside pieces of foraged waste such as plastic wrappers, fibres, or fragments of packaging. Aim for items that are light, flat, and easy to embed.

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Location: Left Bank Leeds

Cost: Free – click Get Tickets to sign up for one or all sessions

Who Can Join: Open to adults only  (no prior experience required)

What to Expect:

• Choose to attend one workshop or enjoy the full three-part series
  
  
• Learn bioplastic-making, natural dyeing, and collaborative art techniques
  
  
• Contribute to a public artwork that will be exhibited at Left Bank Leeds
  
  

Come curious! This is your chance to play with sustainable art materials, connect with others, and co-create something extraordinary.

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