Kevin Stamper has a wealth of experience and knowledge to help you create your marquetry picture. He has used both traditional and contemporary marquetry techniques in his own work for many years. He loves to show complete beginners how to get started in this fascinating craft with just a few simple hand tools. 

Kevin trained in art, design, and technology at Winchester and has enjoyed a lifetime of creating furniture and other objects in wood.  He has twice won the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers design award and is a fellow of the Society of Designer Craftsmen.
 
In recent years, Kevin developed a unique process to hand-dye wood veneer (thin sheets of wood less than 1mm thick) that allows the dye to penetrate through the veneer - meaning it can be applied to a design and sanded back without any loss of colour.   The dyes he uses are spirit-based ‘light-fast’ dyes which give the veneers a translucent appearance, allowing the delicate grain patterns of the individual veneer pieces to shine through, creating beautifully diverse designs.  When lacquered, the colours become bright and lustrous with a depth of tone that cannot normally be achieved using ‘off the shelf’ dyed veneers.

Jane Bevans workshop provides a sociable, playful, and engaging day exploring the potential of natural materials for creative art making.
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The workshops are suitable for people of all ages and experience and are run either at your accommodation or nearby.
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The day includes a short stroll and forage in local woodlands, with a few moments to explore and observe the natural world around us.
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The feathers, thorns, twigs, seeds, or leaves you collect will then be used to make a wide range of mini sculptures, wall hangings, jewellery, and collage.
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You will use a variety of simple hand techniques including:
Plaiting. Stitching. Coiling. Binding. Tying. Weaving. Knotting. Threading. Stacking. Twisting. Wrapping. Shaping. Constructing. Layering.
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Participants are encouraged to fully explore the materials by play, test, and experiment, resulting in often unexpected and surprising results!
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Time spent connecting with nature is now well proven to be of great benefit to our health and well-being. 

Jon White and Becky have been making and teaching basketry for 29 years, they are qualified teachers
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Basketry Courses take place in a bespoke and comfortable craft studio in the Worcestershire countryside.
 

Making multi-colored strong baskets using locally grown and Somerset willows, some students have gone on to become basketmakers themselves! 

If you are a beginner and you want to make a large, strong, and durable basket in coloured willow, this is the workshop for you.

Make some willow birds to hang in your garden in Jon and Becky's lovely studio in the Worcestershire countryside.




 

Clare Mahoney's ceramics reflect her love of the natural world, capturing its textures, patterns, and rhythms through the malleable medium of clay.

Her pieces are made using porcelain, and traditional hand-building techniques. The surface imagery is created through printmaking, drawing, and low-relief inlay.

She draws inspiration from the beauty of human connections and the everyday world around her. Creating elements, multiples, and small sculptures that are then collaged together. 

Creating Artwork with Nature Botanical Casting with Plaster and Cornish Stone.​
This workshop highlights our connection to the natural world, encouraging us to slow down and look closely at nature. The intricate structure, texture, and beauty of foraged botany, the hedgerows we drive past every day.​

The clay impression is used to form a mould. The mould is loaded with plaster and Cornish stone, creating a positive mirror image of the clay piece. The clay is removed, and the Botanical relief is revealed.

Just like a Botanical monoprint, it’s simple and effective, bringing out all the unnoticed details.​
 

Make some cute 3D fluffies with Zoe from ZCrafts

​Needle felting is a craft technique that involves using special barbed needles to interlock wool fibres, creating a firm, sculpted material. This technique is popular for creating 3D figures, ornaments, or embellishments on fabric. ​​


 

With Jo Dewer you will be using coloured copper wire to make either a flower or duck brooch and

Jo will be teaching you how to make a malleable mesh to create shapes into small pieces of jewelry or a hanging.


 

Jo Dewer will teach you how to make a small pair of paper shoes.
You will be painting up the papers first and then with a provided pattern, make up two little shoes to stick on a card or as a hanging.
 

These super useful little baskets can be sewn in different sizes and used around the home to store all sorts of trinkets! They also make great little plant pot covers too.

You’ll leave with full instructions and pattern pieces to create more baskets at home!

 

You'll be introduced to the addictive practice of free-motion sewing - 'drawing with thread' with Katy Cocklin In this workshop, you'll create a picture using the sewing machine to build up layers of fabric and stitches.

 

Using textiles, natural fibres & flowers - A creative session introduces you to the therapeutic world of natural fibre papermaking.

You'll create your fibre papers embedded with textiles and real flowers and you'll also be shown how to embellish your papers using free motion embroidery.​​

 

Based on the Kantha quilts which were traditionally handmade across India, you'll be shown how to use the basis of Kantha stitching to produce your own piece of art! ​

This day is a day to get messy with Jo Dewer.

You will be mono printing with acrylics on gelli plates, painting in concertina sketchbooks, and using your prints for collage.
 
The themes will be seascape, landscape, or floral. You are welcome to bring along your pictures for inspiration.
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A separate workshop will be making your concertina sketchbooks.
 
With a pre-cut card for the front and back and the inner paper. 
You will print your gelli print papers and make up the sketchbook.
 
If there is time you can start to fill it.

 

The foil and plastic lining in Tetrapak containers wipes clear of ink, and the layer just under the foil after you cut a shallow shape and peel it away is rough enough to hold inks for printing intaglio style.

Batik is an ancient Indonesian technique of layering melted wax and water based dyes onto paper or fabric.
The wax protects areas of white and areas of colour, it can be cracked and dyed to create a background effect typical only with this medium. 
The wax is ironed out and the process is complete. (Some residue is left in the fabric whip can be removed with the dry cleaning process.

 

Lino printing, short for linoleum printing, is a printmaking technique that involves carving a design into a linoleum surface.

Once the design is carved, the raised (uncarved) areas are inked and pressed onto paper or fabric to create a print. It’s a popular method in art and design for creating bold, graphic images.

 

During a workshop you will learn the techniques of cutting and applying glass, ceramic, and china using the appropriate tools; choosing the appropriate adhesives to different substrates, and the method of grouting.

A specialty of Victoria's is garden mosaic which enhances outdoor spaces with colour, texture, and pattern.
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You will learn how to carve your very own lino block and then use your design to print your cards, please bring with you your ideas and floral images.

Create 3-4 stacking rings.

This is a great introduction to forming and soldering.

At the end of the workshop, you will have learned some beginner rudiments of jewelry making.

 

Using the Ancient Lost Wax process you will carve out your design into wax, which will be cast in silver at Birmingham Jewelry quarter, where it will be also hand finished then posted to you.

Come and make your statement earrings.

Crafted from Stirling silver you will experience how to work with the silver, using tools to create shape and texture.

At the end of the workshop, you will have learned the basic principles of silversmithing and leave with your personally designed earrings.

If you wish you can choose from a selection of natural gemstones to add a touch of colour to your design. 

 

Make your own textured hoops.

Crafted from Stirling silver you will experience how to work with the silver, using tools to create shape and texture.

At the end of the workshop, you will have learned the basic principles of silversmithing and leave with your lovely earrings.

 

Join Kelly from Small Kindness to learn how to make natural soap using the traditional cold process method.
 
This workshop is for you if you have ever been curious about how to make soap, love learning a new skill or just want to spend a lovely morning doing something completely immersive and creative.
 
During this beginner friendly workshop you will get to make your own bespoke palm oil free soap, creating your own essential oil scent blend and using your choice of natural colourants and botanicals.
You will be provided with everything you need to make 5 beautifully unique bars of soap and you will get to try out first hand the absolute joy that is soap making.

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Michelle started working with letterpress at the end of 2019, after visiting another studio during Herefordshire Art Week and falling in love with the process. Since then, she has sold her work at many a Wayzgoose (printing fair), and other markets.
 
She currently has a studio in Worcestershire, where she offers one-to-one and group workshops, where you can print your greeting cards or posters.
 
The type and picture blocks are all vintage, with some dating back to the later 19th Century.

 

Julie Fountain started making glass lampwork beads in 2007, and this hobby became a full-time job in 2010.

She has since gone on to excel in her skills and showcase her outstanding talents at the UK Flame Off, becoming a representative of Trollbeads as their accredited Lampworker, and making her own bespoke glass bead jewellery for Beach Art Glass. 

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“Helping people make their first glass beads is magical – I love to see their excitement as they realise they can do it too. 

We all know beads don’t actually grow on trees but seriously, who knew you could make them yourself?!” - Julie Fountain

Olivia Levez is a critically-acclaimed author of Young Adult fiction, as well as being a writer of thrillers and short stories.

Her latest book, Silver, a science fiction romance, received a 5-star review in the Telegraph, describing it as combining ‘the passion of Jane Eyre with the poignancy of ET.’An experienced teacher for more than 25 years, she has delivered creative writing workshops and retreats as part of Inkwell Writers.

Olivia will run full or half-day creative writing sessions, focussing on character, place and writing from different perspectives.

Her workshops are suitable for writers of all ages, stages and interests, from beginners to those interested in honing their craft in a supportive and friendly setting.