About Masterclass: Tintype photography

Saturday 28 February 2026

10am - 4pm

Join photographer Emma Brown for a hands-on introduction to the specialist 19th-century art of tintype photography, run alongside the exhibition Women of Influence: The Pattle Sisters.

Limited to just three participants, this intimate masterclass offers a rare opportunity to experience the wet plate collodion process first-hand and create your own tintypes using the same technique that Julia Margaret Cameron once worked with.

Emma will guide you step by step through this fascinating process — from preparing the plate to varnishing your finished image — in a supportive, creative environment. All materials, chemistry, and equipment will be provided. This taster session is perfect for anyone curious to explore the magic of early photography and to make a portrait using one of the most beautiful and enduring photographic processes ever invented.

Black and white tintype image of a fig tree leaf
Tintype of a man in his 60s wearing a flat cap and lots of layers on looking in the camera. He has a beard.
A black and white tintype portrait of two women