About this Event
Can you learn to see what isn’t there? What is revealed in the shadows and reflections of nature?
Join us for the 4th session of our Sensory Walks series, in collaboration with Girls Who Walk Newcastle, exploring our natural surroundings through our senses… and this time, it’s Sight 👀
This walk will be a special night time experience as we walk along the Ouseburn and the Tyne during twilight. We’ll get to see the light stretch and the shadows take over, and maybe even the glint off a nocturnal creature’s eye!
As daylight fades, we'll follow the changing landscape through the interplay of light and shadow, silhouettes, reflections and darkness. We'll look for patterns in the natural and urban environment, noticing the shapes cast by trees, plants, buildings, water and wildlife.
Why? To make art, of course! 🖼️
During the walk we'll:
- Explore how light and shadow transform familiar landscapes
- Look for shapes, silhouettes, reflections and patterns hidden in the environment
- Search for traces of wildlife and things that might otherwise go unnoticed
- Consider how different animals experience and navigate the night
- Collect visual inspiration to bring back into our creative session
- Experiment with seeing the landscape through light, dark, positive and negative space
🎨 From seeing to making
After our walk, we'll settle in at the Cumberland Arms to transform what we've seen into artwork.
Using simple, accessible creative techniques, we'll reproduce and reinterpret the patterns we've encountered: a leaf’s silhouette against the night sky, a bat swooping in a streetlight’s glow, the reflection of Tyne Bar lights on the river, and even the shadow of the Earth on the Moon..
You might trace, draw, cut, layer, silhouette or abstract what you've seen. The aim isn't to make a perfect representation, but to experiment with how we can translate an experience of seeing into something tangible. Whether you haven't picked up a pencil since school or you're already filling sketchbooks every day, you're invited to experiment, make something strange, and see what happens.
🌙 Nature learning
Along the way, we'll think about how light shapes the natural world, from animals that rely on darkness and camouflage to the ways artificial light changes what we see and what wildlife can see.
We'll look for signs of nocturnal and crepuscular activity, consider how animals hide and move through their environments, and explore the different ways that humans and other species experience the night.
The focus is on curiosity, observation and creative interpretation: looking closely enough to notice something, then finding your own way to capture it.
Meeting point: Millenium Bridge (Quayside, Newcastle side)
We'll finish at the Cumberland Arms for the creative session.
Please bring weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes for the walk. A small torch or phone light is recommended.
About the Sensory Walks series
A relaxed series of nature walks creatively exploring our natural environment through the senses, slowing down, noticing more, and reconnecting with the natural world.
Each session focuses on a different sense, touch, hearing, sight, smell, and taste, using guided walks, nature learning, and creative activities to encourage curiosity and connection with the places around us.
Each walk includes:
- A guided sensory exploration of a local landscape
- Simple nature learning and observation
- A creative activity inspired by the surroundings and theme
- Space to meet others and experience nature in a slower, more mindful way
These walks are open to everyone, with no art or nature experience needed. Whether you’re curious about local wildlife, looking for creative inspiration, or simply want to spend time outdoors with others, you’re very welcome.
Event venue & nearby stays
Millennium Bridge, Quayside, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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