Calendar of Courses
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3 events,
ANIMAL PORTRAITS IN COLOURED PENCIL (MATERIALS PROVIDED)
For beginners and improvers. Bring your own photographs of your pet, other animals, birds, landscape, or inanimate objects. Learn about the different ways you can use pencil, layering, blending, removing colour to create texture and depth. Bring your own good quality coloured pencils (tutor will be using Derwent Inktense), together with an A3 size folder
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 highamhall.com/jan-gardiner) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190 (Basic materials purchasable from Tutor c£5-£10) Follows another course.
EXPRESSIVE PASTELS: SOFT AND HARD
For experienced artists wanting to become more expressive when using 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
4 events,
FULLY BOOKED: CHINESE BRUSH PAINTING FOR THE TERRIFIED (MATERIALS PROVIDED)
Come and explore the relaxing free flowing brush strokes of this ancient artform. You will be surprised at how quickly a good painting can be formed. Traditional and modern topics covered. Lots of support for absolute beginners and interesting projects for the more experienced. Peta Allingham (Lancashire highamhall.com/peta-allingham) Residential: £385 Non-residential: £275 (inc. materials)
FULLY BOOKED: MAHLER 5, 6 AND 7
Mahler’s central triptych of purely orchestral symphonies offers a less fanciful, more mature and realistic approach than his early symphonies. The Fifth moves from death to life, the Sixth Mahler himself called the “Tragic” and the Seventh explores “night music”. Ian France (Cumbria highamhall.com/ian-france) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190
5 events,
BRAHMS AND THE SCHUMANNS
Johannes Brahms (1833-97) and Robert Schumann (1810-56) were 2 of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Their lives were intertwined through the remarkable figure of Clara Schumann (1819- 96). We will explore this ‘musical threesome’ through orchestral, chamber and piano music, choral works and songs. Chris Rodwell (Lancashire highamhall.com/chris-rodwell) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190
FULLY BOOKED: LEATHERWORK: PERSONALISED JOURNAL (MATERIALS PROVIDED)
Create your own personalised A5 sketchbook/journal. Learn the traditional craft of leatherwork to hand-tool your own drawings and designs onto the leather cover and hand-stitch the cover together using the saddle stitch. Templates will be available if you do not wish to use your own drawings. Roslyn Whiting (Scottish Borders highamhall.com/roslyn-whiting) Residential: £290 Non-residential: £210
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. Cathy Newbery (Cumbria highamhall.com/cathy-newbery) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190
WATERCOLOUR, IT’S EASIER THAN YOU THINK
Many people begin by saying “I’ve been told watercolour is the hardest medium”. Franky disagrees, and she is here to tell you it’s easier than you think. Learn to love watercolour and watercolour pencils, all through the joy of spring flowers and landscapes. Franky Rodwell (Lancashire highamhall.com/franky-rodwell) Residential: £290 Non-residential: £210 (incl. materials)
6 events,
FULLY BOOKED: YOGA AND WALKING: SPRING
A perfect mix - sessions of hatha yoga (postures, breathing exercises, relaxation) coupled with guided hill walks of up to 5 miles, sometimes over rough and steep ground (requiring a reasonable level of fitness), among the peaceful northern fells - which will leave you feeling supple, relaxed and refreshed! Suitable for beginners and experienced. Gill
ACRYLIC SEASCAPE AND ALSO TREES
Use whatever acrylics brushes, implements you are able to bring. Step-by-step guidance towards producing two scenes, of both coast and trees, employing a range of techniques to achieve realism and coherent tonal qualities. Kara Strachan (Staffordshire highamhall.com/kara-strachan) Residential: £365 Non-residential: £255
2 events,
FULLY BOOKED: BOOKBINDING CLAM-SHELL BOX AND CASE WITH A POP-UP SLIP-CASE
Knowing how to make ‘Enclosures’ is an important part of bookbinding whether they be for the protection for the item during storage or whether they are part of the whole decorative presentation of the book they protect. Over this long weekend we will be making a ClamShell Box and Case with an additional pop-up Slip-case
3 events,
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 Create textures, tonal areas and decorative patterns
SHAKESPEARE’S CONTEMPORARIES: BEN JONSON’S THE ALCHEMIST
Join us to explore Ben Jonson’s ever-popular comedy of greed and folly. Social satire and split-second timing combine as a trio of conartists frantically juggle an increasingly complex series of overlapping scams and fight for status between themselves. Not to be missed! Clare Smout (Shropshire highamhall.com/clare-smout) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190
4 events,
FULLY BOOKED: STRING CHAMBER MUSIC WORKSHOP
Higham is the ideal country house venue for chamber music. This course is for preformed string chamber groups (may include piano). Self-chosen repertoire. A large library will be available for further study. Louise Latham (Gr Manchester highamhall.com/louise-latham) Residential: £275 Non-residential: £195 An alternative to 9th Feb
3 events,
FULLY BOOKED: PRINTMAKING: CREATIVE COLLAGRAPHS
*NEW* Ideal as an introduction to experimental collagraph printing, or as a refresher. This course covers basic collagraph plate making techniques such as masking, layering, impressing and cutting into the surface. Understand how to create texture and line as well as tones from very dark to very light in your plates, using a combination of
FULLY BOOKED: PATCHWORK QUILTING: MYSTERY QUILT
Mystery Quilts can be a bit of a challenge as you have less idea what the end result might be. It’s a challenge even to buy the fabric as you have to guess how the colours will work in the design. If you’re up to the challenge, we’d love to see what you achieve with
3 events,
FOLK SINGING FOR THE TERRIFIED
A gentle sing together workshop which welcomes all abilities including those with little experience of folk singing. No, you do not need to read music - folk music traditionally is passed on by ear. Warm-up, sing in rounds and in parts, become acquainted with a wonderful repertoire with professional folk duo Rosie and Will providing
6 events,
RECORDER: BEGINNERS GRADES I-III
Do not be scared to make mistakes, have fun and make music! A chance for those developing a liking for recorder playing to progress their musicality in a gentle way with like-minded people under professional guidance. Annemarie Klein (Edinburgh highamhall.com/annemarie-klein) Residential: £275 Non-residential: £195
FULLY BOOKED: RUSKIN LACE
A Lake District speciality since 1884, using Needlepoint Lace techniques for drawn thread and cut linen work with geometric designs. Suitable for both beginner and experienced. If required, a starter pack (£15) is purchasable from Karen. Karen Quickfall (Lancashire highamhall.com/karen-quickfall) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190
ESSENTIAL ART SKILLS: ACRYLIC FOR BEGINNERS
A starter or refresher to get to grips with the basics in painting with acrylics. Projects will be set to explore the subject and develop your skills. Ceri Allen (Carlisle highamhall.com/ceri-allen) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190
6 events,
THE INTENSITY OF STILL LIFE: LIGHT, COLOUR AND COMPOSITION
The practice of still life has been foundational for great painters from Vermeer to Hockney: this course will show you why! Develop your creative sensitivities in observational and expressive drawing and painting, colour composition and mark making to bring illuminated objects and materials to life. Suitable for intermediate level and for more experienced painters alike.
FULLY BOOKED: CAPTURE SCOTTISH SCAPES: EXPLORE EXPRESSIVE MIXED MEDIA
Work with (don’t fight against) the fast-drying nature of acrylics and use mixed-media to create vibrant, atmospheric paintings (from excellent reference images provided by your Tutor), layer by layer. For all levels to loosen up with a willingness to get paint on hands, possibly clothes! Marion Boddy-Evans (Aberdeenshire highamhall.com/marion-boddy-evans) Residential: £520 Non-residential: £350
PIANO WORKSHOP
For up to ten players* of Grade 7 and above. Prepare a 20-minute programme to be played and discussed; if possible, bring along spare copies of pieces for others. Suggestions for improvement, style, technique and presentation will be offered. Non-competitive with a joint recital on the last morning. *Non-performing Listeners also welcome. John Gough (Chester
4 events,
EASTER CREATIONS (MATERIALS PROVIDED)
Arrangements will include an Easter wreath, a decorated tree, a Spring bowl, a candlelit Easter pot and a caged Easter egg. Just bring scissors and/or secateurs – all materials provided. Come and enjoy creating at Higham in the Spring! Karen Neville (N Yorks highamhall.com/karen-neville) Residential: £302 Non-residential: £222 (incl. materials)
CREATIVE STITCHING – FOR THE TERRIFIED!
A fun way to get serious with stitching little creative projects using a stash of bits and pieces. Basic materials provided, but feel free to bring some of your own if you wish. Ann will guide you with professional tips to see what you can end up with. Relaxed and absorbing, a course to inspire
4 events,
WATERLOO ASSOCIATION WEEKEND
The French Revolution and the worldwide conflict that ensued, which was only brought to an end by The Battle of Waterloo, retains a continuing fascination to this day. It was arguably the first modern global war, involving huge armies, and fought on land and sea. During this weekend we will cover a range of subjects
1 event,
3 events,
SOLWAY FIELD TRIPS: PEOPLE, WILDLIFE AND TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED
*NEW* Uncover some local culture, wildlife habitats and places on the Solway with unusual stories to tell: The Solway Spaceman, Ghost horses and the day Red Rum came to visit. Sorry, no dogs. Fiona Stoddart (Solway Connections highamhall.com/fiona-stoddart) Residential: £410 Non-residential: £300 (incl. field trips and lunches out)
HIGHAM HALL CHOIR – EXPERIENCED
A Taste of Ancient and Modern: a hop through the centuries! Explore pieces from as early as the 7th century (by the Byzantine nun Kasia), moving through the 12th century (Hildegard von Bingen) and following on to the 15th century (Pycard and Dufay). Tallis’ Mass for Four Voices will feature and then we will jump
3 events,
CALICO GARDENS EMBROIDERY
Hand stitches in neutral shades with subtle enhancements creating texture and 3D effects. Beginners or experienced welcome, work on either a Calico Garden Sampler to frame, or your own project. Angie Burt (Lancashire highamhall.com/angie-burt) Residential: £355 Non-residential: £230
5 events,
FULLY BOOKED: BREAKING THE RULES OF WATERCOLOUR
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. Jason
PIANO KEYBOARD IMPROVISATION MADE SIMPLE
Bring ‘keys’ and ‘cans’ (keyboard and headphones, darling) to develop your improvisational skills based on well-known pop songs. Play tunes you know and like in the way you want to play them. Convert a melody into different styles. Don’t let dots get in the way. If this doesn’t get you tickling the ivories with more
6 events,
FULLY BOOKED: EASTER EMBROIDERY EXTRAVAGANZA (SPECIAL PRICE)
Enjoy trying different hand embroideries, whether you’re a newbie or oldie, on this seasonal escape. Choose from a selection of kits to include techniques in Crewel work, Calico Gardens and counted thread works. Can become addictive! Materials available from Angie. Angie Burt (Lancashire highamhall.com/angie-burt) SPECIAL PRICE 3 Nights for the price of 2: Residential: £280
FULLY BOOKED: 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 highamhall.com/chris-barnes) Residential: £575 Non-residential: £405
CEILIDH BAND FOLK ENSEMBLE EASTER JAM(BOREE)
For musicians of any standard with a concert pitch instrument such as violin (fiddle), viola, cello, mandolin, mandola, banjo, ukulele, guitar, flute whistle, piano accordion, melodeon, concertina etc. Parts for transposing instruments in Bb, Eb and bass clef will be available. Play a wide range of traditional and contemporary folk music from the British Isles,