Calendar of Courses
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1 event,
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,
1 event,
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
4 events,
STOICISM: CULTIVATING RESILIENCE AND TRANQUILITY WITHIN
Embark on a transformative journey into Stoicism and delve into the profound teachings of Stoic philosophers such as Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus. This course goes beyond positive thinking, offering practical insights to navigate challenges with inner strength and serenity. Explore the timeless wisdom of Stoicism through immersive discussions, reflective activities, meditations and literary explorations,
4 events,
GEOLOGY OF THE LAKES: AN INTRODUCTION
Have you ever wondered why the topography and geology of the Lake District and wider Cumbria area varies so much? Find out why when you travel through 500 million years of geological history on this course. There will be stories of ancient oceans, volcanoes, Himalayan-scale mountain ranges, tropical seas and swamps, deserts and ice ages.
5 events,
A WEEKEND FOR FLUTES WITH PIANO
A relaxed weekend of flute playing for players at Grade 3 and above, to build confidence and improve performing skills. Ask questions about tone and technique; play in a flute ensemble and have the chance to play your favourite pieces with piano accompaniment (bring along a piece for flute and piano that you know well
FULLY BOOKED: SILVER JEWELLERY: RINGS, BANGLES AND EARRINGS
This is a practical course aimed at beginners, but more experienced students are most welcome. Over the course of a weekend, students will work on 3 different projects, guided step-by-step by a professional jewellery designer and maker through the processes of designing and working with silver to create simple hand-crafted pieces. Students should feel comfortable
TALK & TEA: A PHILOSOPHER’S GUIDE TO PLEASURE
TALK & TEA: A PHILOSOPHER’S GUIDE TO PLEASURE
Ever contemplated the intricacies of pleasure? Can John Stuart Mill’s philosophy distinguish between higher and lower pleasures guide us toward a more fulfilling life? How does Epicurus’ pursuit of tranquil pleasure challenge modern hedonism, encouraging a more thoughtful approach to gratification? Join us as we explore these questions and others, allowing pleasure to be our guide through
4 events,
SUNDAY LECTURE: ‘THE LADY OF THE LAKES’: CLARE ISOBEL FELL AND THE ROLE OF LOCAL SOCIETIES FOR WOMEN WORKING IN PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY
SUNDAY LECTURE: ‘THE LADY OF THE LAKES’: CLARE ISOBEL FELL AND THE ROLE OF LOCAL SOCIETIES FOR WOMEN WORKING IN PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY
New research is beginning to reveal that women contributed far more to the story of archaeology than previously understood. Traditionally, narrators focussed on centres of academia and used publishing prowess to gauge professional distinction. If, however, we delve into the archives of local societies, we can paint a much fuller picture – one in which
0 events,
2 events,
ESSENTIAL ART SKILLS: EXPERIMENTAL DRAWING
Expand your ideas about drawing with exciting projects using a variety of drawing media on this fun course with inspiration from work by modern and contemporary artists. Ceri Allen (Carlisle www.highamhall.com/ceri-allen) Residential: £290 Non-residential: £210
VIOL AND RECORDER CONSORT PLAYING
Two parallel, friendly courses offering a variety of music for players at any level except beginners. For those who wish, there are opportunities to mix and match between the two courses and we usually join together for the final session. Elizabeth Dodd (VIOLS) (Cumbria www.highamhall.com/elizabeth-dodd) with Philip Gruar (RECORDERS) (Cumbria www.highamhall.com/philip-gruar) Residential: £320 Non-residential: £240
3 events,
LANDSCAPE DRAWING FOR BEGINNERS
Many people dream of sitting in the landscape and sketching with some skill. This course will help to demystify the journey from framing a view to understanding line and perspective, light and colour. Jason will teach you how to make a relatively small range of simple yet versatile marks, then begin to explore where and
5 events,
FRENCH MUSIC FROM RAMEAU TO RAVEL
This weekend will uncover the great wealth of French music from the Baroque (1600-1750) through to the 20th century. Composers will include Berlioz, Gounod, Saint-Saëns, Fauré and many others. We will explore a wide range of forms and genres, including symphonic music, operas and choral works, songs and piano music. Chris Rodwell (Lancashire highamhall.com/chris-rodwell) Residential: £290
FULLY BOOKED: RUSKIN LACE
A Lake District speciality since the late nineteenth century, Ruskin lace was made from hand-spun and woven linen produced by cottagers around Coniston. Karen is a leading exponent of this heritage craft who brings extensive knowledge to support and guide you in traditional needlepoint lace techniques along with drawn thread and cut linen work to
6 events,
SKETCHING AND PAINTING THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Join Lionel for expert guidance and advice on working ‘en plein air.’ Learn about the advantages of this way of working quickly and spontaneously to capture the changing character of weather and light in the landscape, and how to use your sketches, paintings, photographs and other visual notes or materials gathered for reference (a piece
RUSKIN LACE
A Lake District speciality since the late nineteenth century, Ruskin lace was made from hand-spun and woven linen produced by cottagers around Coniston. Karen is a leading exponent of this heritage craft who brings extensive knowledge to support and guide you in traditional needlepoint lace techniques along with drawn thread and cut linen work to
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. A set of yarns (£15) can be purchased from the tutor. Jan Beadle (Cumbria highamhall.com/jan-beadle) Residential: £390 Non-residential: £270
4 events,
THE WOMEN WRITERS OF THE LAKES
The literary landscape of the Lake District has been dominated by men while its female writers of both the 19th and 20th century have been overlooked. The course will look at the lives and work of Dorothy and Dora Wordsworth, Sara Coleridge, Harriet Martineau, Beatrix Potter, Margaret Forster and Sarah Hall. Kathleen Jones Residential: £400 Non-residential:
4 events,
PATCHWORK: APPLIQUE
Appliqué is the process of attaching one piece of fabric to another and this can be done in many ways to create a decorative pattern or picture. You can choose hand or machine-sewing, use just one technique or try several on this intensive appliqué masterclass. Different designs will be available to experiment with. Alternatively, bring
EXPRESSIVE LANDSCAPES: MIXED MEDIA
This practical studio-based course delves into expressionism to explore the emotive and sensual qualities of colour, materials and mark making. Taking landscape as our subject, we will look at ways of working with different media to bring intensity or lightness, mood and meaning to our images. Experiment with sumptuous combinations of acrylic inks, watercolour and
4 events,
REPRESENTING DEITIES IN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ART
Ancient Egyptian gods are immediately recognisable on temple walls and in museum displays. But why did the Egyptians choose their distinctive hybrid human-animals forms, and what was the meaning behind those choices? This course provides an in-depth review of the form, functions and identities of Pharaonic deities and considers how we see them today. Dr.
6 events,
LIFE DRAWING
A traditional skill that increases accuracy within observational drawing, life drawing feeds into all areas of art practice. Expand, refine, and challenge yourself reinforcing all the essential fundamentals in a small group and working direct from a life model. Catherine MacDiarmid (Cumbria www.highamhall.com/catherine-macdiarmid) Residential: £410 Non-residential: £290
FULLY BOOKED: STAINED GLASS WORK
Make a stained glass panel or a Tiffany-style lamp, developing key skills that will enable you to construct more elaborate projects later. Understand and use the techniques of template glass cutting, learn how to use grinding machines, copper foiling, leading application and final soldering. No experience required - be guided in all aspects by the
SPRING FLOWERS IN COLOURED PENCIL AND WATERCOLOUR
Immerse yourself in the delicate beauty of daffodils, bluebells and other spring flowers, drawing directly from flowers in the gardens at Higham. With Margaret's patient, expert guidance you will be encouraged to gently explore the remarkable artistic range of the humble pencil. For all. Margaret Eggleton Residential: £520 Non-residential: £385 (incl. field trips)
4 events,
FULLY BOOKED: FROM WALK TO WALL
This course focuses on developing a piece of work from initial sketches made outdoors to a painting completed in the studio. Students are welcome to work at their own pace with support and feedback from Alex as needed, or follow a structured plan with additional guidance and instruction which breaks down the process into easy, bite-size
BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS AND THE COUNTRYSIDE OF NORTH WEST CUMBRIA
For lovers of natural history and the countryside, and an eye opener for anyone wishing to improve awareness of the natural world. Walk contrasting Cumbrian sites where conservation management has helped the habitats of rare butterflies including the Marsh Fritillary, Mountain Ringlet, Small Blue and The Forester. Lecture presentations in the evening will consider wider
3 events,
RECORDERS IN CONCORD: GRADES VI-XIII
Play music in a recorder ensemble. For recorder players of advanced standard (grade 6 and above). Music will range from Renaissance to the present day, from three to eight or more parts. Technical and stylistic guidance as appropriate. Annemarie Klein (Edinburgh highamhall.com/annemarie-klein) Residential: £295 Non-residential: £215
6 events,
ESSENTIAL ART SKILLS: DRAWING HUMAN FORM
For beginners or a refresher to get to grips with the basics in drawing the Figure. The course includes an introduction to anatomy and proportions, fun quick projects and longer sessions working from a clothed model with guidance from practising artist Ceri Allen. Ceri Allen (Carlisle www.highamhall.com/ceri-allen) Residential: £290 Non-residential: £210
FULLY BOOKED: SUMMER FLOWER COMPOSITION IN COLOURED PENCIL
Guided by award-winning botanical artist Janie Pirie, you will develop a well-balanced composition using a variety of summer flowering plants, fruits, grasses and shrubs to highlight the diverse textures and colours of the season. You will select 3-5 stems to work with, and through a combination of demonstrations and one-to-one support you will learn and
FULLY BOOKED: LAKELAND BIRDS
Magnificent scree-covered slopes, tranquil lakes, hanging oak woodlands and dramatic sea cliffs are just a few of Cumbria's habitats which we will be exploring on this 5-day course. There will be short local trips to sample the best of Cumbria's summer birdlife including Wheatears, Ring Ouzels, Redstarts, Pied Flycatchers Wood Warblers and Ospreys to name