Calendar of Courses
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2 events,
TRY FOR A DAY: BOTANICAL PAINTING
TRY FOR A DAY: BOTANICAL PAINTING
This informal and relaxed workshop is a gentle introduction to the delights of drawing from nature. You will spend the morning building confidence while closely observing individual flower petals, leaves and berries and practising watercolour techniques. The afternoon is spent painting flowers and plants from the beautiful gardens here at Higham. Everyone welcome, no experience needed.
A RECITAL BY EDEN BAROQUE
A RECITAL BY EDEN BAROQUE
All the world`s a stage: 17th & 18th century theatrical songs and instrumental music inspired by Shakespeare and others. Programme includes music by Holborne, Locke, Biber, Purcell, Dibdin and Arne. performed by Eden Baroque: Michael Sanderson baritone, baroque violin and Katharine May harpsichord £10 Proceeds to the Stroke Association www.highamhall.com/Katharine-May-Michael-Sanderson
1 event,
VISITING LAKELAND HOUSES AND GARDENS
Join expert horticulturalist Louise for special guided tours of some inspiring Spring gardens in the Lake District. Get to know the plants, growing conditions and particular challenges that gardeners and garden designers faced as part of the history of landscape gardening in this special corner of the world. Louise Stoddart (Cumbria www.highamhall.com/louise-stoddart) Residential: £430 Non-residential:
2 events,
WOODCARVING: CREATIVE RELIEF CARVING
Relief carving is the process of cutting a pattern or design into a flat surface. For those new to the craft, Sharon will gently guide you through the process of transforming a block of wood into a unique image in relief with generous one-to-one support, technical instruction and extensive knowledge of her subject. Bring your own visual
4 events,
WOVEN TAPESTRY: LANDSCAPE TO WEAVE
Capture the essence of Higham's gardens and the surrounding landscape first in yarn and then directly into weave. The second in a series of 3 separate courses led by international award-winning tapestry artist Louise. See also TAPESTRY DAY (10 April) and WOVEN TAPESTRY: TREES, (12 to 14 April). Louise Martin (Orkney www.highamhall.com/louise-martin) Residential: £295 Non-residential: £215
WOVEN TAPESTRY DAY (MATERIALS PROVIDED)
WOVEN TAPESTRY DAY (MATERIALS PROVIDED)
This one-day course serves either as an introduction for those new to tapestry or as a refresher covering the fundamentals of tapestry weaving. Looms will be ready for you to start weaving an image of a tree. The first in a series of 3 courses led by international award-winning tapestry artist Louise during her spring
5 events,
WOVEN TAPESTRY: TREES
This course will focus on observing form and texture in the trees at Higham. We will look at how trees have been portrayed in tapestry and explore various weaverly possibilities. The last in a series of 3 separate courses led by international award-winning tapestry artist Louise. See also TAPESTRY DAY (10 April) and WOVEN TAPESTRY: LANDSCAPE
LANDSCAPES AND GARDENS IN LITERATURE
Gardens and landscapes have always been important to writers. This weekend course offers the opportunity to enjoy and discuss the writings of Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy and other novelists and poets, in their settings of landscape and landscape gardens, with illustrations. Prof. Bill Jones (Leicestershire highamhall.com/bill-jones) Residential: £290 Non-residential: £210
MAKE THE MOST OF WATERCOLOURS (MATERIALS PROVIDED)
Watercolour is a beguiling medium, fast-drying, responsive and versatile. Its transparency lends colour a luminosity that is unmatched by other media. Learn how to use watercolour with confidence over a weekend that will cover all the basics, from how to mix colours to painting flat, graded and variegated washes and what to do if something
6 events,
FULLY BOOKED: DRAMATIC SKIES, LAND AND SEASCAPE IN SOFT PASTELS
Extend your artistic skills using pastels to create expressive seascapes, landscapes and dramatic skies. With demonstrations throughout, gentle guidance for beginners, encouragement for the more experienced and constructive one-to-one critique to support you to confidently handle this subtle yet versatile medium. Eileen Gardner (Fife www.highamhall.com/eileen-gardner) Residential: £390 Non-residential: £270
LINO CUT PRINTMAKING
Produce your own lino cut designs to create individual and decorative printed cards and pictures using traditional lino cut printmaking techniques with expert guidance from Clare Melinsky. Clare is a professional illustrator whose sought-after designs can be seen on product packaging and book covers, magazines, cards and even postage stamps. All tools and materials needed
3 events,
FULLY BOOKED: BIRD SONGS AND CALLS
The vocalisations of birds are invaluable aids to help us in their identification but the process of learning them all may seem daunting and never-ending. Fortunately, most species have a repertoire which is unique, enabling confident identification, even in the absence of a view. Such calls and songs can also draw our attention to the
4 events,
FULLY BOOKED: THE WORLD OF SAMUEL PEPYS AND JOHN EVELYN
The diaries of Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) and John Evelyn (1620-1706) provide a unique window onto the social life and turbulent history of 17th century England. We will spend some time in their company, encountering kings and princes, artists and scientists, prostitutes and mistresses, coffee houses and theatres, wars and revolutions. Dr. Andrew Lacey (Cambridgeshire www.highamhall.com/andrew-lacey)
4 events,
OVERTURES
Traditionally, concerts always began with an overture featuring colourful orchestration and memorable melodies. Starting with Mozart and Beethoven we will examine overtures by Rossini, Mendelssohn and Weber, Verdi and Wagner, Smetana, Dvorak and other European and Russian composers, plus lighter works by Von Suppe and Nicolai. Ian will educate your ear and enrich your understanding
FULLY BOOKED: INTRODUCTION TO MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPT ILLUMINATION
Learn ancient skills involved in the embellishment of a manuscript with rich colours and pure gold leaf. Working with both traditional and modern materials and techniques (all materials provided) you will create a small-scale design using 23 carat gold leaf and pigments, drawing inspiration from a selection of medieval and contemporary designs and patterns including
5 events,
PEN, INK AND COLOURED PENCIL
Bring your own photographs (animal portraits, birds or landscapes make good subjects) or inanimate objects to work from. Learn about the different ways you can use pen and ink with coloured pencil: layering, blending and removing colour to create images with rich texture and depth. All materials except pencils provided. Bring your own good quality
FULLY BOOKED: FURTHER MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPT ILLUMINATION
This course involves more advanced illumination techniques and is therefore NOT suitable for beginners. Those who have already attended the beginner's course (INTRODUCTION TO MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPT ILLUMINATION, 19-21 April) and have some experience of the craft will be able to progress and expand their repertoire. We will make a perfect manuscript gesso using a traditional
SUNDAY LECTURE: RUSKIN AND THE PRE-RAPHAELITE WOMEN
SUNDAY LECTURE: RUSKIN AND THE PRE-RAPHAELITE WOMEN
John Ruskin’s attitude to Pre-Raphaelite women writers and artists reflected an unsympathetic age. The challenges faced by Christina Rossetti, Elizabeth Siddal, Georgiana Burne-Jones, Jane Morris, Evelyn de Morgan and Maria Spartali were immense, but they created some of the most wonderful poetry and painting of the 19th century. Kathleen Jones £18 each or £32 for
2 events,
FULLY BOOKED: BASSOONS WITH LAURENCE PERKINS AND ROGER BIRNSTINGL
For bassoon lovers, the aim of this course is to help make playing easier and more enjoyable! Receive advice on posture & breathing, embouchure, good tone and tuning, sound projection, reed adjustment, fingerings, technical fluency and musical interpretation from internationally renowned bassoonists Laurence Perkins and Roger Birnstingl. There will be optional reed-making sessions, opportunities to play
2 events,
FULLY BOOKED: CONTEMPORARY PAINTING: BETWEEN ABSTRACTION AND REPRESENTATION
This is a practical course exploring the relationship between abstraction and representation in painting. You will be encouraged to develop your technical skills with your chosen media and to extend your responses to your subject matter whilst exploring the processes of abstraction. Exercises may invite you to work in a particular way, with a specified
3 events,
FULLY BOOKED: FRANCES WINDER IN RESIDENCE
Join Frances for a few days in the studio to work on your own paintings with Frances’ guidance and expertise. Frances Winder (S Cumbria www.highamhall.com/frances-winder) Residential: £290 Non-residential: £210
BEADED EMBROIDERY
Embroider with beads on silk fabric. Learn different stitching techniques to create intricate beaded designs. Taster kits available from £20.00 upwards. Angie Burt (Lancashire www.highamhall.com/angie-burt) Residential: £290 Non-residential: £210
3 events,
FOLK N FELL
We welcome the well-established FolknFell weekend to Higham Hall. Three outstanding musicians lead a weekend of folk and acoustic ensemble playing, singing and informal sessions with time for walking. A great way to enjoy yourself, learn new material and meet new friends. With the option to take time to explore the local area on Saturday,
4 events,
YOGA FOR EVERY BODY
Helen has practised yoga for 25 years and is a Yoga Alliance senior teacher. In 2021, she experienced a chronic illness which left her unable to perform self-care tasks and made movement painful. This experience and long recovery impassioned Helen to make yoga more accessible to people adjusting to illness, ageing, or who are apprehensive about the physical
FULLY BOOKED: BOOKBINDING: RESTORATION
Old books are irreplaceable, but often their pages and bindings show signs of fragility, decay or damage. This course focuses on the processes of deconstruction, repair and conservation that can extend a book’s usable life for many decades. Students are invited to bring along at least three books (no larger than A4) to be guided
EXPLORE COLLAGE
Collage frees you up from the ‘rules’ of representational drawing or painting and allows you to explore a more personal artistic language. It is a compositional technique that combines found images, printed text or textured surfaces – often alongside painted or hand-drawn elements – to create an image that can be abstract, expressive and sometimes