About this Event
Participants will create a Mughal flower design using traditional materials. After learning to draw floral design, participants will trace it on wasli paper, the classical Indian painting surface, and paint it. This is a unique opportunity to work with traditional pigments and the delicate one-hair Indian squirrel brush to bring their design shade, add detail and bring their designs to completion.
Supported by The School of Calligraphy and Ornamentation (SOCO), a specialised art school in Fujairah, UAE.
Age requirement: 15+
Please note that doors will close shortly before the advertised time so we request that you arrive 15 minutes before the start time.
Open for all, regardless of faith.
About Samantha Buckley
Samantha Buckley is an artist specialising in Indian miniature painting. She received an MA with distinction from The School of Traditional Arts and has spent a further year in India to forward her skills . Since achieving this accolade , Samantha has spent the last 15 years teaching the skills she has learnt , as well as continuing her own practice.
About The School of Calligraphy and Ornamentation (SOCO)
The School of Calligraphy & Ornamentation (SOCO), established in 2023 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, is a government institution dedicated to preserving, teaching, and advancing the traditional arts of the Islamic manuscript.
Based in Fujairah, UAE, SOCO offers specialized educational programs in Arabic calligraphy, Islamic geometric and botanical ornamentation, miniature painting, illumination, gilding, and bookbinding. Through workshops, long-term courses, exhibitions, and cultural collaborations, the School aims to preserve traditional artistic knowledge, nurture emerging talent, and promote the appreciation of Islamic arts among local and international audiences.
About The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts
The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts runs from 19 to 29 November 2026, bringing performances, exhibitions, lectures, and workshops to Cambridge's historic colleges, museums, and cultural spaces. Open to everyone, the festival celebrates the beauty and diversity of Islamic arts, and, fifty years on from the landmark 1976 World of Islam Festival, carries that spirit into our own time. Find out more at cfia.co.uk.
Event venue & nearby stays
The Cambridge Room (Unit 55), The Grafton Centre, Fitzroy St, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.