During the day we will explore hue, value, intensity and temperature in colour working with a series of monochrome studies where colours are balanced through intensity and value and provided with additional interest by adding analogues or complementary colour accents. Our subject will be the four seasons and students are encouraged to bring a selection of images cut out from calendars or magazines to provide the source for the four colour studies to be undertaken during the day. Students will be asked to bring their own colour pigments so that they can be assisted in exploring and finding their ideal colour palettes. Additional colour pigments in all media will be provided as part of the course so that participants can explore lesser known hues.
Session 2: Tues 21st Apr
Session 3: Tues 14th Jul

The aim of this 3-day machine embroidery course is to familiarise students with the sewing machine in a free and exciting way. Various stitches will be learnt alongside some simple but effective design approaches. This will enable students to start designing their own unique pieces of work. Other techniques such as applique, quilting, cut work and wrapping will be included. At the end of the course students should be able to start to produce some lovely pieces of work with confidence.
Session 2: Wed 11th Mar
Session 3: Wed 25th Mar

In this workshop you will experiment using many different techniques (traditional and contemporary) to decorate and embellish papers. This could include resists, printed, stamped and stencilled, as well as some 'suprise' techniques using simple tools that are readily available. You will be able to use your papers in many craft projects.

An opportunity to take part in the absorbing study of Life Drawing in a supportive and friendly atmosphere.
Session 2: Thurs 5th Mar
Session 3: Thurs 19th Mar

Sharon takes part in lots of our textile-based workshops and many of the techniques learnt are incorporated into her work. She will be working in the gallery where she is more than happy to talk to visitors about her work.
Techniques demonstrated may include free-machining, embellishing, painting & embellishment, and heat-distressing

The latest workshop designed to cover all aspects of working safely with heat tools and discovering what is new to colour, zap and stitch. There will be time on this 3 day course to create some fabulous new textures.

An opportunity to take part in the absorbing study of Life Drawing in a supportive and friendly atmosphere.
Session 1: Thurs 26th Feb
Session 3: Thurs 19th Mar

Make an ingenious folded book based on a design from remote SW China. Beautifully decorated inside, these fun-to-make, surprisingly capacious books open up into 15 3-dimensional compartments. Photographs, mementoes, special messages and many other items can be concealed inside.

Wanted to draw and paint but didn't know where to start? Using flowers as our subject, this one day workshop is a chance to learn some of the basics of drawing & watercolour painting in a fun and relaxed way. Introducing some basic drawing skills we will follow the process from the drawing of our natural form through to the finished painting or paintings. Along the way we will explore and play with different materials and mark-making techniques, aiming to dispel the fears when faced with a blank sheet of paper! We will then introduce watercolour, exploring basic techniques such as washes & wet-in wet and applying this to the drawings.
Session 2: Tues 2nd Jun
Session 3: Thurs 30th Jul

An opportunity to take part in the absorbing study of Life Drawing in a supportive and friendly atmosphere.
Session 2: Tues 24th Mar
Session 3: Tues 7th Apr

The aim of this 3-day machine embroidery course is to familiarise students with the sewing machine in a free and exciting way. Various stitches will be learnt alongside some simple but effective design approaches. This will enable students to start designing their own unique pieces of work. Other techniques such as applique, quilting, cut work and wrapping will be included. At the end of the course students should be able to start to produce some lovely pieces of work with confidence.
Session 1: Wed 25th Feb
Session 3: Wed 25th Mar

Wanted to draw but didn't know where to start? Discover the joy of drawing, starting with this relaxed, fun evening workshop! Introducing basic drawing skills we will explore materials and different mark-making techniques aimed at dispelling the fears when faced with a blank sheet of paper! This workshop is aimed at complete beginners and will give you the confidence to continue to develop your skills on the 'Drawing for All workshops'.

..... but it can be a close run thing. Basic machine-sewing skills and haberdashery waste are almost all you will need to make a sumptuous wrap-around cover for an album to contain precious photographs and keepsakes. And if that doesn't take your fancy adapt your design to encase a special sketch book. Think Klimt meets Matisse and invites Hundertwasser along too. Start looking out your buttons and beads, broken jewellery, ribbons and fancy yarns, glitzy offcuts and special fabric fragments.
This is definitely a 'more is more' exercise but don't worry if you don't quite complete on the day; a sheet giving full finishing instructions will enable you to make up your cover simply and effectively at home.

An introductory workshop with jeweller Sarah Lamb, working with the revolutionary silver clay product from Japan. Create objects in silver by simply modelling the metal clay using non-traditional jewellery methods. The method is open to endless possibilities of the imagination. Besides being a jeweller's dream, metal clay can have tremendous applications in any other creative areas requiring embellishments. Sarah uses this clay almost on a daily basis in her role as a professional jeweller so has great experience with it as a medium. It will be possible to have created simple, small pieces of jewellery by the end of the day after exploring the use of texture and form.

An opportunity to learn to make two unusual bindings. Being made only from paper they retain simplicity and elegance while remaining robust. Their many uses are as widespread as their charm is alluring. How can you resist?

Discover or re-discover the joy of drawing with these relaxed, fun evening workshops! For those who have some experience but would like help and encouragement to practice their drawing skills as well as for complete beginners who came along to the 'Absolute Beginners' evening workshop. Continuing to build upon our drawing skills we will explore, through a range of different subjects, techniques such as shading, composition & space. Although these workshops are aimed at both beginners and those with more experience, they are structured so that complete beginners continue to build on their drawing skills whilst the more experienced gain more practice.
Session 2: Wed 1st Apr
Session 3: Wed 15th Apr

Using fabric, thread and paper we will be exploring the potential of the 'coiling technique' as a means of creating 3-D forms. Experimentation with materials and ideas for embellishment will lead to working on a finished piece. A workshop suited to everyone who works with textiles and strives to bring originality into their work.

An opportunity to take part in the absorbing study of Life Drawing in a supportive and friendly atmosphere.
Session 1: Thurs 26th Feb
Session 2: Thurs 5th Mar

An exciting and stimulating course, which introduces students to accessible and fun methods of filling the pages of a sketchbook, using a variety of media and approaches

Why is it that presented with such a beautiful array of paint colours, we invariably manage to mix mud when left to out own devices? This day will concentrate on the rules of colour as they apply to successful watercolour paintings. You will produce at least two paintings in the course of the day, and hopefully there won't be an ounce of mud or sludge to be seen anywhere.

An opportunity to take part in the absorbing study of Life Drawing in a supportive and friendly atmosphere.
Session 1: Tues 10th Mar
Session 3: Tues 7th Apr

The aim of this 3-day machine embroidery course is to familiarise students with the sewing machine in a free and exciting way. Various stitches will be learnt alongside some simple but effective design approaches. This will enable students to start designing their own unique pieces of work. Other techniques such as applique, quilting, cut work and wrapping will be included. At the end of the course students should be able to start to produce some lovely pieces of work with confidence.
Session 1: Wed 25th Feb
Session 2: Wed 11th Mar

For those of you who have been on Kim's collagraph workshops will know the endless creative area it covers and the infectious enthusiasm she has for this art form. Kim will primarily be concentrating on printing as she takes her students on a journey exploring the amazing mark making possibilities created with Mono Collagraphs using organic materials & simple household textures, to fine detailed work of classic pictorial & abstract collagraph plates. There will be further opportunities for printing in the second week, but simple hand embellishing will also enable the student to transform their dried prints into shimmering art pieces using gold leaf, hot foils, iridescent threads and decorative pen work. This workshop is suitable for all levels and no experience in printing or art based workshops are necessary. This two-day workshop is split over one week to allow time for drying and development.

Have you ever wanted to use screen print in your work but were terrified by the seemingly complicated processes? Then this is for you! Thermofax screens make the process of screen-printing unbelievably simple. Originals, such as photographs with strong contrast, text or Indian Ink drawings can be transferred to the screen in seconds. The resulting screen can be used for print, devore and discharge. Very fine detail is possible. You will be hooked in moments! Fabulous fabrics can be created and the surface built up, for patchwork, fashion items or to further embellish with stitch.

An introduction to the marvellous world of metallic decoration. Working with both real metal leaf and metallic transfer foil, you will be able to experiment with a variety of media to texture, colour, oxidise and distress your samples. You will produce a collection of dramatic starting points for further use and embellishment. Students who attended Jo's one day workshop last June may have the opportunity of joining the second day (April 7th) numbers permitting.

Explore the possibilities of this creative technique and add a new dimension to your textile work. Layers of synthetics, stitched to a background of handmade paper is then cut back with the soldering iron to produce a deeply sculptured surface.
See also 'More Experimental Cutwork' on 18th July

Learn more techniques for creating rich machined textures and combine them to create a landscape style embroidery that can be developed into a hanging, picture or book cover etc. Will develop techniques from a previous class but also suitable for beginners. Students should be familiar with their machines.
See also 'Taking it Further II' on Sat 13th Jun

Carol will be working with dissolvables in the gallery where she is more than happy to talk to visitors about her work.

An opportunity to take part in the absorbing study of Life Drawing in a supportive and friendly atmosphere.
Session 1: Tues 10th Mar
Session 2: Tues 24th Mar

Sharon takes part in lots of our textile-based workshops and many of the techniques learnt are incorporated into her work. She will be working in the gallery where she is more than happy to talk to visitors about her work.
Techniques demonstrated may include free-machining, embellishing, painting & embellishment, and heat-distressing

A basic workshop in the Tiffany copper foil method of stained glass. Demonstrations and instructions will be given on how to cut glass into various shapes followed by grinding, foiling, soldering and then finishing a suncatcher. (A choice of several patterns will be provided.) The methods shown can be used in an endless range of items such as window panels or lampshades as well as 3d projects. All materials provided.

You want colour, but what type for what surface? Should it be acrylics? Or fabric paint? Or dye? Or even watercolour and gouache? What can be done with each one? Why do they behave and look different, and what makes one make better than another? Can they be mixed? Why can colour mixes look like mud?
A lot of questions to answer in one day, but hopefully by the end of it you should have a much better idea of which colour medium is best for you!

Taking the landscape as inspiration, explore an expressive approach to the effects of layering papers, threads and found materials to form surfaces for stitch. Work with acrylics and dyes to add texture and overlay washes of colour on layered paper and fabric grounds. Cut back and reveal texture and image, fragment and reassemblage, explore the potential of this flexible method.

Exploring Complementary Colours to create colourful Greys & Using White and Black to intensify contrast in the composition. We will be looking at Gauguin's, Monet's, and Whistler's as also John Pipers' work to illustrate what is possible to achieve with understanding this area of colour. Like these artists we will be working from the landscape with images provided by the tutor and participants working with some of the techniques applied by these artists. These will be explained and demonstrated by the tutor and then put into each individual's work according to what they wish to achieve in their final results. We will look at what is achieved by these artists in terms of colour and how to apply it to our own work.
Session 1: Tues 24th Feb
Session 3: Tues 14th July

Explore the possibilities of working with colour and paper - build paper surfaces, add print, plus a variety of mixed media such as gesso, wax resists and acrylic mediums to give uniquely colourful finishes. A course for those prepared to experiment, who wish to expand and develop their knowledge and experience colour on paper.

Some of you may have flirted with Romeo or other dissolvable films and fabrics and if you want to take this forward this may be the workshop for you. Over the 2 days, using motif shapes of all sizes, you will be making your own unique Designs on Romeo, stitching lacy panels and looking at how we can also create 3D work in lace. But don't panic about the D word; we'll keep things nice and simple, so we can quickly get stitching. With the right mix of threads, fabrics and motifs you could create something special for the summer holidays, special occasion or for the home. Bring your own motifs and we'll check them out so your work is unique! Familiarity with your sewing machine is essential as is a darning foot for free machining.

A fresh look at Drawn Thread Work involving exciting use of colour on linen scrim! Techniques and ideas will include pulling threads to rearrange the colour pattern to make interesting colour mixtures; withdrawing threads, and create a loopy surface which can form a 3D shape such as a flower head. Withdrawn threads can be replaced with interesting yarns, ribbons, and strips of paper. Combine and layer techniques for 'new' surfaces.

Watercolour is an exciting and versatile medium which can seem a bit daunting at first! During this relaxed, fun evening workshop we aim to discover the basics of using this medium, learning about, amongst other things, different paints, which brushes & paper to use and how to mix different colours. We will also be experimenting with techniques such as washes, wet-in-wet, salt & sponging This workshop is aimed at complete beginners and will give you the confidence to continue to develop your skills on the 'Watercolours 'Plus' for All' workshops.

A basic workshop in the Tiffany copper foil method of stained glass. Demonstrations and instructions will be given on how to cut glass into various shapes followed by grinding, foiling, soldering and then finishing a suncatcher. (A choice of several patterns will be provided.) The methods shown can be used in an endless range of items such as window panels or lampshades as well as 3d projects. All materials provided.

Imagine a quintessentially Elizabethan surface, sensitively created with Silk Fibres and integrated with machine lace. Embellish, quilt and embroider at will. Reflect on the opulent, luxurious surface. Carefully place around your neck and admire the result... You know you're worth it!!
This two-day workshop further explores the amazing potential of silk fibres sensitively combined with your embellisher and machine using complementary techniques and stitching chosen for their functional and decorative properties to enable you to create a scarf (more than a scarf - a creation!) of distinction.

A great day full of lots of ideas for adding interesting textures to your watercolour paintings. This day is perfect for experimentation, and trying more unusual techniques to increase the versatility of our watercolours, and is particularly relevant to those who like painting landscapes.

It's not always possible to paint from life. Jill will show you techniques to turn your favourite photograph, whether it be a holiday photo, a favourite animal, or person, into a painting using coloured pencils. An opportunity to learn coloured pencils techniques, drawing skills & composition

For those who have some experience but would like help and encouragement to practice your drawing & painting skills, as well as for those who came along to the 'Absolute Beginners' watercolour painting evening workshop. Continuing to build upon our drawing & watercolour painting skills we will practise & explore, through a range of different subjects, techniques already learnt and new ones such as combining watercolour and other media & materials.
Session 2: 2nd June
Session 3: 23rd June

This will be a personal exploration of design for hand and machine stitching. Although a structured course, it will also be a day of experimentation using a variety of soluble stabilisers.

Sharon takes part in lots of our textile-based workshops and many of the techniques learnt are incorporated into her work. She will be working in the gallery where she is more than happy to talk to visitors about her work.
Techniques demonstrated may include free-machining, embellishing, painting & embellishment, and heat-distressing

Extend your experience with the embellisher by constructing unique fabrics specifically for use in your textile art. Day one will be utilised to construct and experiment with your embellisher. On day two our chosen embellished fabric will be transformed into either a unique designed bag or a scarf. It is essential that you bring your Embellisher with you or that you have a needlefelting attachment for your sewing machine. Experience with free machine embroidery is essential.

One of the most important forms of African textile art - this technique of stamping pattern onto fabric comes from the Ashanti people of Ghana and Nigeria. In this workshop, presented by Magie Relph of The African Fabric Shop fame, you'll create your own stamps from everyday materials, then create your own unique stamped designs on fabric. Use traditional Adinkra symbols - or invent your own.

Wanted to draw and paint but didn't know where to start? Using objects found in Woodland & Fields as our subject, this one day workshop is a chance to learn some of the basics of drawing & watercolour painting in a fun and relaxed way.
Session 1: Tues 10th Mar
Session 3: Thurs 30th Jul

Explore the possibilities of transfer paints and crayons, creating startling colours on synthetics and more subtle effects on naturals. We will try resists, overprinting, layering and various ways of applying paint and crayons. Build a portfolio of delicious samples on an amazing array of fabrics.

A workshop that will expand the ways that you use your sewing machine to create lines. We will look at all sorts of lines from nature to man made and will interpret them in lots of different ways. As well as being fun this will add to your vocabulary of machine techniques. For those with a little experience.

During the workshop you will be introduced to the magical and ancient art of Indigo Dyeing. Fabrics will be prepared in a variety of tie dye/shibori techniques before being immersed in your own individual indigo vat. The results will surprise and amaze you and you will leave with a set of samples for future use in textile work. Alternatively you might just want to keep them as a reference for future projects!

Learn more techniques for creating rich textures on your sewing machine with a focus on stitch. Combine them to create a landscape style embroidery that can be developed into a hanging, picture or book cover etc. This will develop techniques from previous classes but can be taken as a stand alone class.
See also Taking it Further Fri 3rd Apr

Incorporating personal or unique images into textiles is becoming more & more popular as the range of products and methods expands. However, it can be difficult to sort out which is the best method to use from the array of possiblities. A range of techniques will be explored to give you a clearer picture of the main approaches. The two days are split over two weeks to allow for preparation time.

Vegetables are not only good to eat, they can also make wonderful paintings. Jill will show you how to transform them into works of art so they could make a great addition to your kitchen décor. An opportunity to learn coloured pencils techniques, drawing skills & composition.

Following on from the previous collagraph courses, artist and teacher Kim Major-George will again be primarily concentrating on printing but this time on a variety of surfaces. Discover the mark making possibilities, created with Mono Collagraphs using organic materials & simple household textures, to fine detailed work of classic pictorial & abstract collagraph plates on many different surfaces from papers, fabrics, metal shims and lots more. The second week we will explore decorative mark making on the dried prints, with each student guided through the many simple processes of hand embellishing to a fine degree of finished artwork using burnishing with foils , threads, inks, conti crayons, etc. all adding lustre and gem like finish to the prints. There will also be more printing opportunities.
Kim is known for her enthusiasm , showing the endless possibilities with her press using every day materials to create gallery level art pieces. This workshop is suitable for all levels and no experience in printing or art based workshop are necessary. This two-day workshop is split over one week to allow time for drying and development.

Sharon takes part in lots of our textile-based workshops and many of the techniques learnt are incorporated into her work. She will be working in the gallery where she is more than happy to talk to visitors about her work.
Techniques demonstrated may include free-machining, embellishing, painting & embellishment, and heat-distressing

Although not critical, this course could lead on from ideas developed in 'The Resourceful Sketchbook' workshops on 20th & 21st March. This course provides opportunities for working on a larger scale, by exploring ideas and techniques with mixed media.

You will be working with a variety of dissolvable and soluble materials, using machine embroidery (basic machine only) and combining it with a variety of exciting materials including paper, metal and beads. It should be possible to make a small embroidery, a piece of jewellery or motifs to apply to further work.

Introducing three unusual colour palettes for your own work: The Delicate Palette, illustrated in watercolours, the Intense Pallette, illustrated in acrylics, and the the Bright Earth, illustrated in oils. Each of these palettes can be used with any of the other mediums. Working with these three palettes, we will explore the concept of colour harmony and how to best achieve this. Colours are translucent or opaque, staining or lifting, warm or cool, and include shades and tints as well as pure hues. Understanding how to combine these to produce a harmonious piece is what we aim at exploring in this workshop while looking also at the work or contemporary artists to see how they achieved this harmonious effect.
Session 1: Tues 24th Feb
Session 2: Tues 21st Apr

Summer One-Off Evening

Construct a fabric and create 3-D forms by using the technique of couching by hand. Fabric will be manipulated by the flow and contour of the couched line to distort and bring originality to items such as bags, vessels, boxes etc. Effects created by using a variety of materials and media will be explored. This workshop is suitable for students of any level or experience. Just an interest in stitching by hand and exploring the diversity of fabric and thread is required.

The definition of watercolours is changing! In this workshop we will look at some of the more recently adapted techniques that will help to loosen up your watercolour style. Mixing watercolour paints with other media (wax resist, oil pastels, pencils, ink etc) to create interest will help to lift your paintings and open up new fields and areas to explore. Plenty of hints and tips to help you as you investigate some of these exciting ideas.

Exciting lacy and openwork effects can be achieved using heat tools with Kunin Felt and synthetic fabrics.

Join Jill and paint magnolia flowers and foliage in coloured pencils. She will show you the techniques used to create a stunning painting with the aid of these wonderful flowers. An opportunity to learn coloured pencils techniques, drawing skills & composition.

Wanted to draw and paint but didn't know where to start? Using objects found on the Seashore as our subject, this one day workshop is a chance to learn some of the basics of drawing & watercolour painting in a fun and relaxed way.
Session 1: Tues 10th Mar
Session 2: Tues 2nd Jun

Have you ever wanted to use screen print in your work but were terrified by the seemingly complicated processes? Then this is for you! Thermofax screens make the process of screen-printing unbelievably simple. Originals, such as photographs with strong contrast, text or Indian Ink drawings can be transferred to the screen in seconds. The resulting screen can be used for print, devore and discharge. Very fine detail is possible. You will be hooked in moments! Fabulous fabrics can be created and the surface built up, for patchwork, fashion items or to further embellish with stitch.

Make an ingenious folded book based on a design from remote SW China. Beautifully decorated inside, these fun-to-make, surprisingly capacious books open up into 15 3-dimensional compartments. Photographs, mementoes, special messages and many other items can be concealed inside.

The techniques which will be explored and expanded in this workshop will be those which are explained in Isobel's book, 'Embroidered Books', which will be published by Batsford in Sept 2009. This workshop, which coincides with the launch of this new book, will reveal for the first time some of the new techniques for working with new and exciting mixed media products which are suitable for stitch and ultimately for many applications such as wall display, sketch book work, wearable art and book covers. The emphasis in this workshop will however be on producing covers which are suitable for books and those who wish to can go to complete the book under the guidance of the tutor or they can choose to concentrate on working exclusively with the new techniques.