About Us
Our story
A place to learn and create
Work Shop is a drawing space in Bantry town run by designers Tara Kennedy and Mark Wickham.
Everything we do at Work Shop begins with a drawing or a sketch. We draw to communicate ideas, design buildings, tell stories, solve problems and generate new things. For us, drawing is thinking, meditation and a creative mindset.
Work Shop is a place that explores the role of drawing in design and through creative activities and workshops for adults and children at all skill levels. Our core activities include workshops and after school and evening classes in our space on William Street in Bantry. When we are not running classes we also draw for various design projects including architecture, exhibition design, graphic design and children’s book illustrations as well as teaching at UCC and NCAD.
We love nature and the outdoors, and believe positive environmental and social action starts with conversation and gaining knowledge, so lots of our activities will include learning about the natural environment through drawing.
Meet The Team
Mark & Tara
Mark Wickham
Mark Wickham is an illustrator and designer with a background in publishing and visual communication. He has worked as an editorial illustrator for over 20 years and teaches illustration at the National College of Art & Design. He is creative director for Irelands longest running periodiclal, Comhar magazine. He has also published children’s books. Mark is Managing Director and Teaching Lead at Work Shop.
Tara Kennedy
Tara Kennedy is an architect and educator with a background in visual arts. She teaches architecture at Cork Centre for Architectural Education and works with award winning practice John McLaughlin Architects. She is also an independent creative consultant working on a variety of civic and cultural projects, currently including with Bantry Marine Activities Centre and also with the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Tara is Creative Director at Work Shop.