Discover the creative possibilities of fine art printmaking in this series of hands-on workshops inspired by the tropical beauty of the Cairns Botanic Gardens. Combining nature, observation and artistic experimentation, these workshops invite you to explore the gardens, gather inspiration from the landscape and transform your observations into original printed artworks.
Each workshop series begins with a guided walk through the Cairns Botanic Gardens, where you’ll explore the colours, textures, patterns and forms of tropical flora. Using drawing, photography and observational techniques, you’ll collect visual references to inspire your own artwork before heading into the print studio to learn the fundamentals of your chosen printmaking process.
Choose your printmaking medium
Running from 23 November to 10 December 2026, each medium is offered on a different day of the week. Choose the technique that interests you most and attend three classes on that same day over three weeks, giving you time to develop your skills, experiment with the process and create your own original prints.
WORKSHOP 1: Lithography with Dian Darmansjah
Every Monday for 3 weeks | 9am-4pm | Mon 23 November, Mon 30 November, Mon 7 December
Explore the art of lithographic printing and discover how to create images through drawing, mark-making and the printing process.
WORKSHOP 2: Screenprinting with Sam Tupou
Every Tuesday for 3 weeks | 9am-4pm | Tues 24 November, Tues 1 December, Tues 8 December
Discover the versatility of screen printing, exploring image-making, colour and the process of transferring designs onto paper.
WORKSHOP 3: Monoprinting with Dian Darmansjah
Every Wednesday for 3 weeks | 9am-4pm | Wed 25 November, Wed 2 December, Wed 9 December
Experiment with colour, texture, layering and spontaneous mark-making to produce unique, one-of-a-kind prints.
WORKSHOP 4: Linoprinting with Lauren Carter
Every Thursday for 3 weeks | 9am-4pm | Thur 26 November, Thur 3 December, Thur 10 December
Learn the fundamentals of relief printing, carving designs into lino and transferring your imagery onto paper.
Participants will:
- Take part in a guided walk through the Cairns Botanic Gardens to observe and collect visual inspiration.
- Explore the gardens through drawing, photography, and foraging/collecting.
- Return to the print studio for an introduction to the fine art printmaking technique they have nominated.
- Develop original imagery inspired by their experience in the gardens.
- Produce one or more finished fine art prints using the printmaking process of their choice.
- Gain an understanding of contemporary printmaking practices and the collaborative nature of the medium.
Participants will leave with:
- An original hand-printed artwork.
- A practical introduction to fine art printmaking techniques.
- New observational drawing and image development skills.
- A deeper appreciation of the botanical environment as a source of artistic inspiration.
- The confidence to continue exploring printmaking as a creative practice.
By bringing together art, nature, and hands-on making, Printmaking and the Botanic Gardens offers a unique creative experience that celebrates both the remarkable landscape of Cairns and the enduring craft of fine art printmaking.
Meet your facilitators
Dian Darmansjah
Dian is an artist and experienced collaborative printer who has completed post graduate studies at the prestigious Tamarind School of Lithography in New Mexico, USA.
Before starting his own business, Firebox Print Studio in 2006, Dian spent six years working in the Charles Darwin University’s printmaking studio as a Lecturer, Course Coordinator and as the Workshop Manager of Northern Editions. He has also taught at TAFE QLD.
As a collaborative printer, Dian has worked with many artists both nationally and internationally. Dian has maintained his own art practice throughout his career in the arts and regularly exhibits.
Dian holds a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts) majoring in Printmaking from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and is currently completing his Master’s at the Queensland College of the Arts.
Lauren Carter
Lauren Jaye Carter is an artist and printmaker based in Cairns/Gimuy, Far North Queensland, originally from the South Coast of New South Wales. Working across linocut, monotype, hand-colouring, and collage, she creates delicate, layered constructions that combine organic forms with sharp edges, echoing surface textures drawn from elemental materials. Her prints reflect an intuitive reimagining of overlooked or ephemeral details, arranged within abstract, aggregate frameworks. Carter’s unique state prints explore the self-constructive nature of perception and the interplay between material process and sensory experience.
A graduate of RMIT University (Melbourne) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking, Carter was awarded the Collie Print Trust Award from the Australian Print Workshop. She has held committee positions on the Print Council Australia and Inkmasters Cairns. Her works are held in the collections of the Australian Print Workshop, Print Council of Australia, National Art School, Curtin University, RMIT University, and Townsville City Council, as well as private collections across Australia and New Zealand.
Sam Tupou
Samuel is a Cairns-based Australian artist of Tongan heritage whose work explores themes of cultural identity, migration, and visual storytelling through a distinctive blend of traditional Pacific Islander motifs and contemporary pop culture aesthetics. After completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts at James Cook University, Tupou co-founded the printmaking studio at KickArts Contemporary Arts (now NorthSite Contemporary Arts), where he honed his experimental screenprinting techniques.
His layered compositions draw on influences ranging from tapa cloth designs to comic books, video games, and street art, using vivid colours and repetition to explore hybrid identities in the context of globalisation. Tupou’s work has been widely exhibited and is held in major public collections including the National Gallery of Australia, QAGOMA, and Artbank, marking him as a significant voice in contemporary Pacific and Australian art.