Explore surrealist oil painting through a creative reinterpretation of Terrace of a Café at Night inspired by the expressive style of Vincent van Gogh.

During the workshop, participants will begin with an introduction to the original painting and an overview of surrealist techniques and ideas.

Through guided discussion and demonstrations, attendees will explore how small creative changes can completely shift the mood and meaning of an artwork.

Participants will then be guided through a visual analysis of the painting before learning techniques such as altering scale, introducing floating objects, and replacing elements within the composition.

Using oil paints, attendees will create their own surreal reinterpretation of the scene, focusing on making one or two intentional changes rather than completely transforming the image.

The workshop concludes with a group reflection and discussion, giving attendees the opportunity to share their creative decisions and finished outcomes.

Attendees will create their own surrealist oil painting inspired by the original artwork and leave with both a finished painted piece and a deeper understanding of surrealist painting techniques and visual storytelling.

Basic materials provided. Food and drink is also available for purchase throughout the session from our cafés.

This workshop is suitable for ages 16+.

What is surrealism?

Surrealism is an art movement that explores dreamlike imagery, unexpected juxtapositions, and subtle distortions of reality.

Rather than creating fantasy worlds from scratch, surrealist artists often transform familiar scenes by altering scale, perspective, gravity, or everyday objects to create something imaginative and unsettling.

About your tutor

Denisa Mansfield is an artist whose work explores expressive colour, movement, and emotion through the language of Impressionism and abstraction.

She works primarily in oils, with a focus on how traditional methods can be reinterpreted in contemporary ways. Her practice celebrates curiosity, creative risk-taking, and the joy of discovery through paint.