Get Creative

Join us for a three-hour session of mostly self-guided figure drawing with professional art model The Arty Poser. There will be a variety of poses throughout the session to give you lots of different angles to experiment with and enhance your observation and drawing practice.

These sessions are open to both hobbyists and professional artists. The model will be nude, so this is not open to children, the minimum age is 18+.

Special offer of £60 for block booking of three sessions. Please contact Craft Gallery to book.

Join Agnis Smallwood at The Ropewalk for an absorbing weekend of spinning and weaving. On the Saturday we will learn to make our own yarns using drop spindles as well as explore the Museum and learn more about how rope would have been produced on site.

Then on the Sunday we will use the yarn you have spun as well as having the opportunity to use lots of colourful commercial yarns to create your woven outcome using a table loom. You will be able to incorporate a range of techniques and weave structures as well as combining your hand spun yarn with additional yarns in a range of different colours, textures and fibres.

Participants will be guided throughout the weekend, through group demonstrations as well as one to one support. Please note that some dexterity is required for this weekend. The workshop is suitable for beginners, all equipment and materials are provided for use during the two days. Participants are welcome to bring along additional yarn/fibre to use within their project if they wish but this is not essential as plenty of yarn will be available to use.

Join embroidery artist Jessica Grady for a colourful and creative day exploring fantasy floral designs using embellishments and hand stitch. You will be working on your own fantasy floral artwork which will be framed up in a colourful embroidery hoop at the end of the workshop.

Jessica will show you how you can utilise a range of mixed media materials to create your design including recycled sequins, painted washers and sponges, as well as more traditional beads, buttons and embellishments.

All these elements will be added to your textile background with simple hand embroidery stitches, which will also add some decoration and pattern to your design. Techniques explored within the workshop include folded and pleated sequin petals, beaded flower stamens, twisted wire vines and folded flower buds.

Everyone will create their own unique fantasy floral design, and Jessica will provide lots of 1:1 assistance, inspiration and ideas to help you create your own textile artwork.

This workshop is suitable for all abilities, whether you are a complete beginner to stitch, or someone who would like to explore techniques and try something new!

Learn to make your own chicken or pheasant to roost at home or in your garden. These characterful random weave sculptures are a good introduction to working with willow. Suitable for beginners.

Please wear clothes that you are happy getting a bit grubby and full shoes that cover your toes.

Whatever you’re writing – or would like to write – it’s obviously all down to the words. This workshop will explore how a writer can go about selecting and using the right words for them. When Ernest Hemmingway was asked why it took him thirty-nine attempts before he was satisfied with the last page of Farewell to Arms he said the problem was ‘getting the words right’. It happens to the best! 

The workshop will offer prompts and practical exercises, suitable for absolute beginners and more experienced writers. 

Led by local writer Sue Wilsea, participants will be encouraged and supported in a friendly and informal atmosphere.

Two for £65; Friends and Patrons £30, please book at the Craft Gallery

Do you have an old stool, chair or ottoman that needs some new life breathing into? Here you will learn how to upholster an item of your choice. Lesley will be on hand to help at every stage and will have a full range of upholstery tools and materials for you to use. All you will need to bring is a piece of furniture and the top fabric.

Join artist Holly Capstick in this creative and enjoyable textiles workshop that allows you to explore a range of creative textile processes using dyes, inks, paints, surfaces and stitch. Taking a mixed-media approach, you will be given the opportunity and support to explore unusual creative combinations to create exciting textile artwork.

Experiment with free-motion embroidery - learn how to use a machine in free-motion mode to create simple linear stitch drawings from your own artwork or using some of our template images. You will then stitch your artwork to your background using free-motion embroidery and optional hand embroidery .

All materials and equipment, including sewing machines, are provided.

Learn to make this very useful round basket with a handle, perfect for eggs or fruit. Using traditional techniques and a variety of willows this little basket is a great introduction to further willow work.

Please remember to wear sensible closed toe shoes.

Spend a relaxing day weaving on a table and making your own scarf or snood. Each participant will have their own eight shaft table loom to use for the session. The loom will be threaded up ahead of the workshop, so you can enjoy weaving for a full day. There will be an opportunity to incorporate a range of techniques and weave structures as well as choosing the yarns that you use, from a range of colours, textures and fibres. Participants will learn all the skills needed through group demonstrations as well as one-to-one support throughout the day.

This workshop is suitable for beginners, and all equipment and materials are provided for use during the workshop. Participants are welcome to bring along additional yarn to use within their project if they wish but this is not essential as plenty of yarn will be available to use.

Do you have an old stool, chair or ottoman that needs some new life breathing into? Here you will learn how to upholster an item of your choice. Lesley will be on hand to help at every stage and will have a full range of upholstery tools and materials for you to use. All you will need to bring is a piece of furniture and the top fabric.

Create a striking, full size Stag’s Head in animal-friendly willow for your wall. These also look great with lights. This course is suitable for beginners.

Join punch needle artist Katie Veall of Heritage Punch Needle for a full day of creativity, bursting with colour and texture.  You will be taught the relaxing and highly satisfying craft of punch needle, practicing the basics before punching your very own Folk Hare artwork.   

The finished piece will be mounted onto a round canvas, measuring approximately 30cm across, allowing it to be displayed on a wall or propped on a shelf as you desire.  You will have the option to mount your work either showing the front 'loopy' side or the 'flat' reverse side, according to your preference.   

All materials will be provided.  This workshop is suitable for beginners and those with more punch needle experience, with Katie on hand to offer support and revise the design with you if required.

Do you have an old stool, small dining room/bedroom chair or ottoman that needs some new life breathing into? Here you will learn how to upholster an item of your choice. Lesley will be on hand to help at every stage and will have a full range of upholstery tools for you to use and materials to purchase. All you will need to bring is a piece of furniture and the top fabric.

Please note we advise you have previous upholstery experience as it can be difficult to complete a project in one day.

Learn to make your own seasonal decorations using willow at this workshop.  Decorations will include garlands, large and small stars with little Christmas trees and reindeer if there is time.  You can focus on just a couple of items if you prefer and please bring greenery and ribbons etc for decorating your garlands although there will be some provided. This will be a day filled with a range of ideas for your seasonal decorations.

Experiment with the shapes and colours of the festive season to create your own unique glass artworks using a variety of coloured glasses, wire and solder. This workshop teaches all the basic techniques needed to achieve beautiful and original finished works, including copper foiling, soldering and finishing.

Sometimes having a spark of an idea is the easy part! How can we produce a piece of writing ( prose, poetry or script ) that blazes with originality and life? How can a writer avoid being cliched or just plain ordinary? Through a series of exercises and prompts, this workshop will be exploring answers to the above questions and looking at how established writers respond to these challenges. 

Led by local writer Sue Wilsea, participants will be encouraged and supported in a friendly and informal atmosphere.

Two for £65; Friends and Patrons £30, please book at the Craft Gallery