Calendar of Courses
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4 events,
PAINTING RETREAT: ART AND SPIRITUALITY
Painting Retreat: Artist (Linda) and Theologian (Trevor) will offer artistic guidance and illustrated talks, respectively, as an enriching foundation to stimulate your creative juices and to maybe encourage a deeper focus for your art. Look at ways in which various artistic traditions have engaged imaginatively with a sense of the human future, through different interpretations:
FULLY BOOKED: ALAN BARNES JAZZ MASTER CLASS
Develop your jazz playing. How about 5 times British award-winning saxophonist Alan Barnes as Tutor? You need to be able to read music, understand chords and preferably have rehearsal band experience. (Limited spaces) Alan Barnes (Bedfordshire www.highamhall.com/alan-barnes) Residential: £510 Non-residential: £370
FULLY BOOKED: MANUSCRIPT ILLUMINATION: MORE CHALLENGING TECHNIQUES (EVERYTHING INCLUDED)
This course is only suitable for those with experience in laying manuscript gesso and using loose leaf gold. You will work on three small projects, one combining flat and raised gilding, one combining different colours or textures of gold (with the option to add tooling) and one using shell gold and watercolour paint. There will
COLOURED PENCILS: A STUDY PAGE OF WINTER LEAVES & BERRIES
Draw and colour a botanical study of five to seven subjects on the same piece of paper. Winter berries are a good choice but you could use dried or dead plant heads, fungi, evergreen or autumnal leaves, peppers etc. Learn to draw subjects accurately, transfer them to good quality art paper, then colour them with
4 events,
FULLY BOOKED: IDENTIFYING TREES IN WINTER
Look at trees as they appear during the winter months and be shown the features to identify them e.g. bark, winter twigs, form of the crown etc. Trips to local tree collections and woodlands will involve minibus travel and gentle level walking. Following outdoor sessions, we will examine specimens collected in fair detail allowing participants
5 events,
FULLY BOOKED: BRIGHT COLOURS IN A DARK MONTH: EXPRESSIVE INKTENSE PAINTING (MATERIALS PROVIDED)
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, this short break art holiday gives artists the ideal opportunity to explore Derwent's Inktense blocks on Canson cotton rich watercolour paper (all provided), using a bold approach and an expressive use of colour with this versatile and unique contemporary painting media. (Not for pure beginners to art as the creative techniques
COLOURED PENCILS: CREATING A CUTE ANIMAL GREETINGS CARD IMAGE
Choose a photo of a cute animal (or bring one of your own pet) and draw and colour it with the idea of turning it into a greetings card ready to print. Your drawing will be no larger than 6in (15cm) square so bear in mind when choosing your subject. You will trace your photo
4 events,
FULLY BOOKED: HANDEL: HIS LIFE AND MUSIC
Handel (1685-1759): one of the greatest masters of the Baroque era in music and one of the supreme composers for the human voice. His operas and oratorios reflect this mastery, but we will also explore instrumental works - concertos, chamber and keyboard music. A larger-than-life character, whose German ancestry, Italian training and later English citizenship
5 events,
FULLY BOOKED: BREAKING THE RULES OF WATERCOLOUR: SEASCAPES
Suitable for everyone who wishes to stretch their Watercolour ability to achieve some spectacular results. Be shown how to represent water in nature to convey energy, life and dynamism. Enjoy the time to try fully the techniques yourself, going on to develop your own work in several different contexts including beach scenes with rocks. Your
FULLY BOOKED: STRING CHAMBER MUSIC WORKSHOP
Higham is the ideal country house venue for chamber music. The course is for preformed string chamber groups (may include piano). Self chosen repertoire. Louise Latham (Gr. Manchester www.highamhall.com/louise-latham) Residential: £260 Non-residential: £190 An alternative to 5 Mar.
5 events,
FULLY BOOKED: GET WEAVING!
Explore the use of colour and texture. Dress a loom. Understand how to read pattern draft. Suitable for both absolute beginners and developing weavers. Jan Beadle (Cumbria www.highamhall.com/jan-beadle) Residential: £346 Non-residential: £244 (Yarns £15 purchasable from Tutor)
FULLY BOOKED: WINTER CONTRASTS – LANDSCAPE IN INK AND COLOURED PENCIL
Combine the impact of ink with the softness and subtlety of coloured pencil to describe the winter landscape. Practise techniques for mark-making in ink and blending, embossing and lifting out in coloured pencil. Integrate the two media to build up a harmonious image which will be admired. Enjoy the varied shades of winter with patient
FULLY BOOKED: ABSTRACTING FROM THE LANDSCAPE (MATERIALS PROVIDED)
Challenge your perception of landscape; be abstract, yet meaningful, by focusing on individual sections of a larger image. Develop confidence in pattern, colour, composition and mood. All levels. Alex Jakob-Whitworth (Eden Valley www.highamhall.com/alex-jakob-whitworth) Residential: £366 Non-residential: £264 (incl. materials)
4 events,
FULLY BOOKED: BRASS BAND WEEKEND
A serious, yet relaxed weekend for brass band players to rehearse and perform popular, and perhaps lesser-known, brass band repertoire. There will be both whole-band and sectional rehearsals. All prospective players must contact Martyn on 07970 036592 or martyn@onlinetrumpetteacher.com before enrolling to ascertain level, instrument(s) and suitability. Martyn Grisdale (Course leader) with Andy Kershaw and
1 event,
4 events,
BOTANICAL WATERCOLOUR PAINTING
Choose your favourite spring flowers to draw and paint accurately. Produce a lovely composition from nature. Both beginners and the more experienced will receive help and individual tuition to suit everyone. Marion Wilson SBA (W Cumbria www.highamhall.com/marion-wilson) Residential: £346 Non-residential: £244
RAKU POTTERY WITH CHRIS BARNES
Chris will help you to create your own pieces of raku pottery and sculpture, and experience the excitement of raku firing. With lectures, demos and hopefully a trip out whilst some things are firing! Chris Barnes (Cumbria www.highamhall.com/chris-barnes) Residential: £575 Non-residential: £405
FULLY BOOKED: WINTER LANDSCAPE: SKETCHING AND PAINTING
Suitable for intermediate to advanced level. Explore the Lake District in winter when colour and shadow are at their most varied and dramatic. With demos, exercises and expert advice throughout, experience outdoor sketching trips (dress for the weather). Use mixed-media and develop a studio project in the painting medium of your choice. Lionel Playford (N
4 events,
STOICISM AND THE ART OF LIVING: THE DISCIPLINE OF DESIRE
This course will focus on what the Stoics referred to as 'The Discipline of Desire', which explores what it is, and is not, proper to want. In considering the application of Stoicism to the modern world, we will explore such questions as 'What is in our power?' and 'How do we live according to Nature?'
5 events,
LACE AS YOU LIKE IT
Want to learn, or return to, the beautiful craft of bobbin lacemaking? Have a lace pattern and need project advice? This is for you. All abilities welcome, including complete beginners. Jan Gardiner (Somerset www.highamhall.com/jan-gardiner) Residential: £250 Non-residential: £180 (Basic materials purchasable from Tutor c£5-£10) Precedes another course
6 events,
ESSENTIAL DRAWING SKILLS: VIEWPOINTS AND PERSPECTIVE
Develop or improve you drawing skills in depicting three dimensional space with an introduction to perspective in an easy-to-grasp way. For beginners or those requiring a refresher. Work primarily inside with some work outdoors around Higham, weather permitting. Ceri Allen (Carlisle www.highamhall.com/ceri-allen) Residential: £250 Non-residential: £180 Our hop-on, hop-off series aims to gently embed, refresh
LACE AS YOU LIKE IT
Want to learn, or return to, the beautiful craft of bobbin lacemaking? Have a lace pattern and need project advice? This is for you. All abilities welcome, including complete beginners. Jan Gardiner (Somerset www.highamhall.com/jan-gardiner) Residential: £250 Non-residential: £180 (Basic materials purchasable from Tutor c£5-£10) Follows another course
FULLY BOOKED: NEW YEAR YOGA RETREAT WEEKEND
Explore the Yoga tradition, balancing seasonal effects through diet, daily routine and yoga practice. Essentially practical, using posture, breathing, meditative techniques and just a tiny bit of theory. All levels. Amanda Oakes (Cumbria www.highamhall.com/amanda-oakes) Residential: £250 Non-residential: £180
4 events,
FULLY BOOKED: ADVANCED WOODWIND ENSEMBLES
A course for wind players from Grade 8 to Diploma, working in detail on wind chamber repertoire for large and smaller ensembles. There will be an informal concert on the morning of the last day. Laurence Perkins (Manchester www.highamhall.com/laurence-perkins) Residential: £670 Non-residential: £500 We can pick up at 5pm from Penrith Rail Station (+£40) BY
2 events,
FULLY BOOKED: PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP
Explore a wide range of techniques: woodcut (cutting in plankwood); engraving (on endgrain hardwood or plastic); drypoint (drawing on metal with steel); and etching, (using acid to etch on a zinc plate). Make handmade prints to your own design. Beginners or experienced. Peter Collins (Gloucestershire www.highamhall.com/peter-collins) Residential: £445 Non-residential: £310
5 events,
SINGING: YESTERDAY ONCE MORE (LADIES ONLY)
Revisit those songs you loved from previous decades, explore The Carpenters, Simon and Garfunkel, Burt Bacharach, the Beatles, Dusty Springfield and many, many more. Just for ladies, mostly unaccompanied and in two or three part harmony "Let the Good Times Roll!" Chris Hale (S. Cheshire www.highamhall.com/christine-hale) Residential: £250 Non-residential: £180
ANIMAL PORTRAITS IN COLOURED PENCIL (MATERIALS PROVIDED)
For beginners and improvers. We will practise the different ways of applying pencil, layering and blending to create fur, texture and highlights. Bring your own photographs and source material, together with your own coloured pencils, everything else will be provided. Bring a larger than A3 folder, for your completed work. Paul Holmes (Staffordshire www.highamhall.com/paul-holmes) Residential:
FULLY BOOKED: DRAMATIC SKIES, LAND AND SEA-SCAPE IN SOFT PASTELS
Extend your artistic skills with pastel for seascapes, dramatic skies and landscapes. Demos throughout, support for beginners, encouragement for more experienced with demanding, yet supportive critiques to enable all to reach full potential. Eileen Gardner (Fife www.highamhall.com/eileen-gardner) Residential: £346 Non-residential: £244
4 events,
FULLY BOOKED: EXPRESSIVE PASTELS: SOFT AND HARD
*NEW* For experienced artists to explore combinations of soft and hard pastels (with fixative) on different surfaces. Weather permitting, Higham's grounds will provide direct inspiration from nature alongside studio-based direction. Some of the taught techniques on this workshop are not for complete art beginners but pastel newbies are welcome. Specialist paper available from Tutor. Robert
FULLY BOOKED: WINTER BIRDS
Imagine spectacular gatherings of Barnacle and Pink-footed geese against a backdrop of a winter sunset and the massed pipings of thousands of waders as they swirl in the sky. Our Solway and Cumbrian coast is wintering ground for many species prior to their northward migration, hosting an exciting array of raptors. Hone your identification skills!
3 events,
WHITEWORK EMBROIDERY
White-on-white embroidery. Sample different types and techniques of Whitework or work on your own piece. Angie Burt (Lancashire www.highamhall.com/angie-burt) Residential: £346 Non-residential: £244 WEEKEND course follows
5 events,
FULLY BOOKED: WHITEWORK EMBROIDERY (WEEKEND)
White-on-white embriodery. Sample different types and techniques of whitework or work on your piece. Angie Burt (Lancashire www.highamhall.com/angie-burt) Residential: £250 Non-residential: £180 Follows a 3 NIGHT course
FULLY BOOKED: UPHOLSTERY
Hands-on! Bring chair, stool, ottoman, headboard... build up from scratch or just re-cover, tackle interior paddings with traditional or modern techniques. Please contact Cathy prior to your course to discuss your project needs 07770 714103. NEW TUTOR: Cathy Newbery (Cumbria www.highamhall.com/cathy-newbery) Simon Ireland has now retired and we welcome Cathy to the Higham team! Residential:
DISCOVERING PEN AND INK
Create textures, tonal areas and decorative patterns in pen and ink, then combine them to create a finished drawing. With demos throughout and access to a variety of pens to experiment with, by the end you should be able to handle your materials with confidence. Jane Beech (Cheshire www.highamhall.com/jane-beech) Residential: £250 Non-residential: £180
4 events,
FULLY BOOKED: STRING CHAMBER MUSIC WORKSHOP
Higham is the ideal country house venue for chamber music. The course is for preformed string chamber groups (may include piano). Self chosen repertoire. Louise Latham (Gr. Manchester www.highamhall.com/louise-latham) Residential: £260 Non-residential: £190 An alternative to 5 Feb.