Cornwall’s Archives and Cornish Studies Service recently celebrated a very successful ’Victorian Photographic Extravaganza’ and will be offering a  rare chance to take part in a Victorian photographic workshop on Friday, March 18. 

Participants in the ‘ArTchive: Victorian Portraits’ workshop will have the opportunity to use the Victorian wet collodion photographic technique to create an image on glass.

The workshop takes place from 10.15am - 4pm at the Cornish Studies Library and will be led by artist Nicky Thompson, who uses historic photographic techniques extensively. The workshop costs £10 and all materials are included. Pre-booking is essential as spaces are very limited. 

Chloe Philips of the Archives and Cornish Studies Service said: ’Victorian photography is really interesting and more than 150 people recently attended the Victorian Photographic Extravaganza we hosted as part of Redruth’s St Piran’s Day celebrations. Many of the visitors had their portrait taken in the Victorian photo studio, inspired by the many photos on display at the Cornish Studies Library as part of the ‘Cornwall Captured’ exhibition, which looks at Cornish photography and photographers from 1841 until 2015.

’We hope lots more people take the opportunity to come and visit  us and take part in this experience.’

The ‘Cornwall Captured’ exhibition, which features an early calotype print by William Henry Fox Talbot, a pioneer of photography, digital photography by local A Level students, and much more will continue until April 2. 

For more information, or to book tickets for the ‘ArTchive: Victorian Portraits’ workshop, contact the Cornish Studies Library on 01209 216 760.