TALES IN TILES TASTER KICK-OFF WORKSHOP SESSION
On Tuesday, 3 March, the first Tales in Tiles Community Mosaic Workshop took place at Unit 28, Stratford Market Village. The session offered local residents a chance to try mosaic making and explore the skills involved in creating larger-scale public artwork. Participants learned basic cutting and laying techniques using glass and ceramic tiles, making it perfect for beginners.
The workshops are part of an ambitious initiative this spring to create five mosaic panels and accompanying signage for the heritage garden at Alice Billing House. Designed by lead artist Tessa Hunkin, the final artworks will celebrate both the building’s history and the creativity it continues to inspire today.
Tessa Hunkin, who previously led the acclaimed community mosaic at Shepherdess Walk in Hackney, led the sessions alongside Rada Stilianova. Rada, who began as an assistant on The Hackney Mosaic Project, has since taught at the Royal Academy, Working Men’s College, and City Lit. Together, they guided participants through creating their own mosaic pieces and experiencing the collaborative process firsthand. One attendee reflected, “It was a fantastic way to try something new and contribute to a project that will become a lasting part of our community.”
Over the coming weeks, participants will begin work on the final artworks, starting with the Alice Billing House sign. Weekly sessions are held on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, from 2 pm to 5 pm, in the dedicated Market Village space.
Spaces remain available for anyone who wants to learn mosaic-making techniques, contribute to a meaningful, lasting community artwork, and be part of a welcoming, creative environment, no experience required. Email marguerite@growstudios.co.uk
“I believe Mosaic has a remarkable way of bringing people together across ages, cultures, and all stages of life.
Each section becomes part of a wider narrative, telling not only its own story through the hands of the people who made it, while also reflecting the story of the building itself, Alice Billings House. Holding the workshop in the lively setting of the Stratford Village Market makes it feel especially meaningful, offering a rare chance to share traditional craft skills within the flow of everyday life. This open space invites everyone in, making each session wonderfully unpredictable. It inspires me to adapt my teaching style, finding the right balance between guiding participants in essential techniques and allowing them the freedom to express their creativity.” Rada Stilianova, Lead Mosaic Artist Facilitator for Tales in Tiles