Quirky Workshops Art, Craft and Heritage Skill Courses
Quirky Workshops at Greystoke Craft Garden and Barns is a unique creative venue offering an inspiring range of art, craft and heritage workshops from a C17th listed farmhouse in the pretty village of Greystoke. We're placed 5 miles equidistantly from Penrith, Eden Valley & Ullswater, on the northern fringes of the Lake District, west of Penrith, in beautiful Cumbria, north west England. We have been running around 1440 craft courses each year, since 2005.
During the lockdown of May 2020, we renovated an old hay loft and now host the majority our indoor courses and workshops in this wonderful, new, light, airy and spacious studio - 'the Swallow Barn’ ; although some tutors still prefer the cosy atmosphere and ground floor easy access nature of the original studio, 'Squirrel Barn'. Many of the courses (especially art and calligraphy) feature live streaming of tutor demos onto a large screen at the front, allowing students to watch closely, whilst seated at their desks. This practice was started during Covid but has been continued as very helpful with many workshops.
Please see our website https://www.quirkyworkshops.co.uk/quirky-workshops-cumbria for full details of upcoming courses in date order.
Workshop days are relaxing, friendly and informal. They are delivered by hand picked professional and or expert tutors, many leaders in their chosen fields. Students often travel considerable distances to take part, staying in this lovely village of Greystoke or finding somewhere special close by . . .Keswick, Ullswater, Penrith and the Eden Valley are all within easy driving distance.
One, two or three day courses in:
- stone carving (relief or letter carving), wood carving, bird whittling, spoon carving, willow weaving and rush basket making.
- Lino cut printing, Fused glass, Stained Glass panels and Stained Glass mirrors, Sterling Silver jewellery and Silver Ring making courses, Porcelain plates and vases, and inspiring Mosaics
- Many textile courses including weaving, Needle felting Garden Bird pictures (robin/blue tit/wren) , Herdwick sheep and Pet Portraits, Felt art, Paint Print and Stitch, Felt Slippers, Ecoprinting, Leather Bag making, Learn to Spin and Lampshade Making, 'Hole House' bag making,
- Art courses : Introduction to Pen and Wash , Discovering Watercolours , Botanical and Wildlife illustration, Art courses with John Harrison, Frances Winder, Lyn Evans, Margaret Jarvis, Roy Simmons, Lis Bramwell, Calligraphy with Claire of byMoonandTide (our live streamed onto a large screen is especially useful for this course .. no more struggling to see the tutor demo close up from the back of the group!)
All day courses include tasty homemade lunch, fresh coffees and Aga cream teas. Drinks are served at desks do students may continue working Lunches to be taken at desks or in the garden during summer months.
Our workshop days are popular as gifts for special occasions. Quirky Open Vouchers make perfect and original presents and mean a lovely day can be shared together if preferred. Our Christmas Open vouchers are especially popular.
A full list of our courses can be found at https://www.quirkyworkshops.co.uk/quirky-workshops-cumbria or please phone 017684 83984
We look forward to welcoming you here in Greystoke!
Location
We are in the picturesque village of Greystoke, just 5 miles west of Penrith/Junction 40 of the M6 and a few miles north of the A66 and Ullswater. Keswick is approx 15 minutes further west
Greystoke boasts several B B's, as well as self catering options and has its own website greystokevillage.co.uk We have a playing field, an outdoor heated swimming pool open from June through to August, a Castle, a church, a shop and post office and a cosy pub serving evening meals.
Sterling Silver Jewellery 2 days with Melinda Scarborough
Create your own beautiful jewellery with Sterling Silver, Pearls and Semi-Precious Stones
On this popular 2-day workshop you will use a variety of equipment to make as many stunning pieces as you can under Melinda's guidance. The number of items you make will vary according to your pace. Melinda brings all the tools and equipment essential for any proper silver jewellery course.
Once people become familiar with the tools the designs start flowing. Your design will be unique; you will learn cutting, forming, doming, soldering, texturing and polishing. You can work at your own pace and make the most your workshop time. All photos are student pieces from our Greystoke workshop.
Design & Plan your own Garden - 2 days with Shelagh Todd - lecturer, garden designer & plantswoman
"Learn to design your own garden… just the way you want it" with leading Cumbrian Garden Designer, Lecturer and Plantswoman, Shelagh Todd.
Shelagh is widely known and highly respected throughout Cumbria's gardening fraternity. She has been both the familiar face - and 'lead' - of Horticulture at Newton Rigg College for well over 30 years, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our 2025 Quirky programme. She brings a wealth of gardening expertise and teaching experience, which over the years will have gently inspired literally thousands of 'would-be gardeners’ to create and nurture their own individual outdoor spaces. This two-day course is an ideal starting point for beginners, garden enthusiasts and anyone who wants to re-design their garden space.
Day 1 will cover the design process, including surveying, analysing & soil testing your site. Using your own design brief, you will learn to create a functional layout plan that you can apply to your garden, including consideration for hard landscaping materials as required. We can explore both the established and newer areas of the garden at Quirky Workshops which is maintained on a largely organic basis with wildlife at its heart.
Day 2 Shelagh will show you how to design the planting for your garden to achieve colour, interest and atmosphere; how to choose and combine the right plants for your soil conditions, and for best effect. You can decide on the style of planting and the types of plants you wish to grow, and we’ll discuss the pros and cons of different plants, what to look for when you are buying plants and how to source good plants locally.
*In advance of the workshop we'll send you an 'easy to follow' guide on how to measure up your garden. This means you can arrive on the first day of the course with a plan of your plot ready to begin the design process. With illustrated talks & drawing exercises, by the end of the 2 days you will have completed some planting schemes and have the skills to continue designing at home.
'Unfolding Landscapes in Natural Inks' with Tim Watson
'Unfolding Landscapes - in Natural Inks' with Tim Watson Beginners and intermediates.
We're very excited to have chanced upon this talented local artist who not only 'lives, eats and breathes' the Cumbrian fells by running across them at everyone opportunity, but also manages to represent them on paper in many surprising and beautiful ways!
This particular course with Tim is exploring the contours and character of the unfolding Landscape using Tim's own handmade Ink ~ using the Oak Galls he has gathered on his travels!
Oak Gall Ink was historically the earliest ink of choice, used on parchment, vellum, and all things legal. The Magna Carta, the American Declaration of Independence and Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice were all written in Oak Gall Ink.
Tim will introduce this unusual medium, which for him has become a firm favourite over recent years, showing different techniques, effects and ideas on paper. A step by step demonstration will then follow using the camera and screen, meaning students can paint alongside from their desks, altogether. After completion and over the afternoon students can try out all they've learned using other reference material and photos with Tim's support. Several options will be available in both watercolours and acrylics for bursts of colour if required.
'Engraving Sgraffito on Glass' short course with Vicky Boase
Enjoy discovering the art of Sgraffito on Glass, expertly guided by glass artist Vicky Boase.
Sgraffito, meaning 'scratched away' in Italian, is the 'subtractive' art of engraving a design into the top thin layer of black paint to reveal the underlying base colour of the glass. This creates a stunning pattern in silhouette which can be beautifully highlighted when hung at a window.
Vicky will arrive with a selection of pre-painted stained glass pieces, in four vibrant colours, for you to choose from for your piece. After a brief introduction to the history of stained glass and Sgraffito, and learning how your piece has been prepared before the class, students can then start to plan their personal design using specially provided black paper and white pencils, which will mimic the reverse nature of the process.
Then with the help of your own individual lightbox and special tools, you can transfer your design onto your chosen glass, bringing your piece to life by gently engraving your pattern into the paint.
At the end of the day Vicky will take all student work back to her studio near Alston to be glass fired to make the paint permanent and no longer scratchable. If you choose the optional extra leaded surround to your glass piece, Vicky will prepare and add it at this stage (pre-book on the day for £10 please). All pieces will then be posted back to Greystoke for collection. Alternatively she can post the piece directly to your address for an additional charge.
All tools and materials are provided; some confidence in drawing is desirable for this course although tracing is also allowed!!
Nature Journalling with Steve Pardue
Have you wanted to create a nature journal but don’t know where to start or how to do it?
This full day workshop will provide you with all the skills and tools to create a beautiful concertina nature journal. We will begin the day by taking a short nature ramble in and around the gardens at Quirky Workshops - chatting to the hens and exploring the compost heap. We will follow this up with a guided drawing session in the Swallow Barn. Steve will be on hand to offer plenty of tips and tricks so you can develop your own style of drawing and looking at the world. You will spend the day filling in and personalising your nature journal giving you the confidence to go out in the world and capture the beauty of nature in your own way.
I will take you through the process I follow for creating my journals which are really an expression of the joy I feel when out and about in the woods or the river. I will be using my own journals of nature captured over the last 5 years and show how you can create a body of work by simply recording in your own way the things you see every day. I now look back on my earlier journals and can not only see how my artistic style has evolved and changed but more importantly I can look up the dates when I first saw sand martins arrive for the summer, or when the last swift left, or when the first chiff chaff … well chiff chaffed!
And it is so easy - no rules - no great artistic skill required - just observation and a daily habit of drawing. I will show you the materials I use and the techniques I employ. Weather permitting, we can spend some time outdoors looking at the nature around us and we can then come back indoors and draw our observations.
You will be provided with a set of 5 blank nature journals in an optional special leather pouch, plus a few fineliners and a copy of 'My Shortcut to Nature Journalling' guide as reference - all of which are yours to keep.
I will also have a variety of fountain pens and journals available to try and buy.
Urban Landscapes in Oil Pastels - fast & free with Roy Simmons
On this course, we will be working in a fast, fun and intuitive way and will move through this exciting step by step technique to producing a really effective piece of art.
Using oil pastels we will find new ways to work, both as sketches and more finished work. We will work towards producing a painting which includes buildings. At the end of the day you will complete at least 2 paintings, one of which will be mounted. Our first step will be to review the different media we will use, these include: Charcoal, Water Soluble oil pastel, wet wipes, sennelier oil pastel, pencil and white gouache paint. That may seem like a crazy mix, but the results can be surprising! To introduce the materials, we will do a step by step painting of an imaginary still life of a pot or vase on a table. This will help us loosen up and get a feel for this way of working. Next, students will work from the supplied source photos, as I demonstrate each step in turn to make a view of cottages on a harbourside.
After lunch, we wil paint another urban view, step by step from start to finish, using the techniques we have tried and discussed. Students will then do their version using their choice from the supplied reference photos. This way of working is superb for working outdoors ‘en plein-air’. The amount of ‘stuff’ you need is not excessive, and fits in a small bag. You can produce urban sketches with a great sense of light. Or even produce charcoal sketches with written colour notes that can be ‘worked up’ later at home
Hole House Bag making - the 'Forager Bag' with Emma Redfern
The Forager is an outdoorsy, cross body bag that looks great made in oilskin and tweed. The bag has a zipped outer pocket as well as optional pockets in the lining and a long, adjustable strap. The top of the bag is designed to slouch a little, while the main body has more structure, so that the whole bag is practical, comfortable to wear and the perfect day to day bag for chucking everything in! It comes in three sizes too, so you can choose whether you want a large messenger bag look, handbag size or handy dog walking bag!
Suitable for those with a little bag making experience or adventurous beginners, if you can confidently use your sewing machine, you can make this!
Relief Carving in Hardwood with Alister Neville
Join Alister Neville for a focussed day in the outdoors Carving a Design in Hardwood for a decorative plaque, board, bowl, house sign - or another project perhaps!
Arriving in a large van weighed down with 3 massive hand heavy workbenches, Alister brings a full set of really sharp wood carving tools for each student, plenty of resources and some lovely pieces of hardwood to choose from for your piece - including sycamore, ash, oak, birch.
Sometime carvers opt for a house name board, but many other items are carved as well; animals, numbers and sayings. Anything is possible - time allowing - in the day. The workbenches are placed under canopies if it looks like rain. Four people to each bench, plenty of space still and very solid.
A lovely if not rather meditative way to spend a day and end up with something lovely!
Gardening for the Terrified' short course with Shelagh Todd - lecturer, garden designer & plantswoman.
This gardening course is designed for absolute beginners and you will find out all you ever wanted to know about gardening - but were perhaps too embarrassed or afraid to ask.
Shelagh will cover a range of gardening topics to allow you to leave the course feeling confident & inspired to work in your own outdoor space.
Topics covered will include
- Getting to know your space. Every space is different and needs to be treated differently
- Selecting plants for your garden. Commonly referred to by gardeners as “the right plant for the right place”
- The practicallities of creating & maintaining your outdoor space
We will explore the garden created over 20 years at Poplin Dub to gather ideas on successful planting combinations, practical layouts, how you use the garden to fulfil your individual needs and ultimately allow you to take away practical & creative ideas to use in your garden.
And finally you will leave the course discovering gardening is fun & rewarding.
Bring along on the day
- A few photos of your outdoor space
- A small bag or jar of your garden soil
- Please bring along photos or live specimens of ornamental plants in your garden to allow Shelagh to help you identify them
- If you have a weed problem in garden please bring a sample along & Shelagh will give you tips on how to control them
Shelagh is widely known and highly respected throughout Cumbria's gardening fraternity. She has been both the familiar face, and 'lead' of Horticulture at Newton Rigg for well over 30 years, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our 2025 Quirky programme. She brings a wealth of gardening expertise and teaching experience, which over the years, will have gently inspired (literally) thousands of 'would-be gardeners’ to create and nurture their own individual outdoor spaces.
Gardening for the Terrified' short course with Shelagh Todd - lecturer, garden designer & plantswoman.
This gardening course is designed for absolute beginners and you will find out all you ever wanted to know about gardening - but were perhaps too embarrassed or afraid to ask.
Shelagh will cover a range of gardening topics to allow you to leave the course feeling confident & inspired to work in your own outdoor space.
Topics covered will include
- Getting to know your space. Every space is different and needs to be treated differently
- Selecting plants for your garden. Commonly referred to by gardeners as “the right plant for the right place”
- The practicallities of creating & maintaining your outdoor space
We will explore the garden created over 20 years at Poplin Dub to gather ideas on successful planting combinations, practical layouts, how you use the garden to fulfil your individual needs and ultimately allow you to take away practical & creative ideas to use in your garden.
And finally you will leave the course discovering gardening is fun & rewarding.
Bring along on the day
- A few photos of your outdoor space
- A small bag or jar of your garden soil
- Please bring along photos or live specimens of ornamental plants in your garden to allow Shelagh to help you identify them
- If you have a weed problem in garden please bring a sample along & Shelagh will give you tips on how to control them
Shelagh is widely known and highly respected throughout Cumbria's gardening fraternity. She has been both the familiar face, and 'lead' of Horticulture at Newton Rigg for well over 30 years, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our 2025 Quirky programme. She brings a wealth of gardening expertise and teaching experience, which over the years, will have gently inspired (literally) thousands of 'would-be gardeners’ to create and nurture their own individual outdoor spaces.
'Hearts of Flowers' in fused glass with Michelle of 'Lakeshore Arts'
Join Michelle and create your own beautiful fused glass Flower Heart - suitable for all abilities.
Michelle will arrive with her ready prepared heart shapes and will talk you through the various design aspects and techniques of creating the lovely flowes and leaves for your piece to assemble together to create your own beautiful floral heart.
You will learn about different types of glass used in fusing work and also about the all important COE (Coefficient of expansion) – vital to understand in glass fusing as it makes sure the right types of glass are used and fuse together. Your finished heart designs will then be taken away and fired and returned to Greystoke. If there is time you maybe be able to make a second heart for additional materials cost tbc). The flower hearts can be collected from here a few weeks later, once they have been fired and fused. Alternatively Michelle can post these directly to your home for approx £5.50
We first saw Michelle's beautiful fused glass pieces at a local farm show and just loved them. We are absolutely delighted she has agreed to take some workshops here at Greystoke.
You will learn how to cut and trim the flowers and leaves and get an idea of what can be done with glass in a kiln in terms of fusing, stacking, tack fusing and slumping. You will also learn about various inclusions and their different applications, using frits, stringers, glassline pens and sheet glass along with other fragments.
'Hearts of Flowers' in fused glass with Michelle of 'Lakeshore Arts'
Join Michelle and create your own beautiful fused glass Flower Heart - suitable for all abilities.
Michelle will arrive with her ready prepared heart shapes and will talk you through the various design aspects and techniques of creating the lovely flowes and leaves for your piece to assemble together to create your own beautiful floral heart.
You will learn about different types of glass used in fusing work and also about the all important COE (Coefficient of expansion) – vital to understand in glass fusing as it makes sure the right types of glass are used and fuse together. Your finished heart designs will then be taken away and fired and returned to Greystoke. If there is time you maybe be able to make a second heart for additional materials cost tbc). The flower hearts can be collected from here a few weeks later, once they have been fired and fused. Alternatively Michelle can post these directly to your home for approx £5.50
We first saw Michelle's beautiful fused glass pieces at a local farm show and just loved them. We are absolutely delighted she has agreed to take some workshops here at Greystoke.
You will learn how to cut and trim the flowers and leaves and get an idea of what can be done with glass in a kiln in terms of fusing, stacking, tack fusing and slumping. You will also learn about various inclusions and their different applications, using frits, stringers, glassline pens and sheet glass along with other fragments.
Sterling Silver Jewellery 2 days with Melinda Scarborough
Create your own beautiful jewellery with Sterling Silver, Pearls and Semi-Precious Stones
On this popular 2-day workshop you will use a variety of equipment to make as many stunning pieces as you can under Melinda's guidance. The number of items you make will vary according to your pace. Melinda brings all the tools and equipment essential for any proper silver jewellery course.
Once people become familiar with the tools the designs start flowing. Your design will be unique; you will learn cutting, forming, doming, soldering, texturing and polishing. You can work at your own pace and make the most your workshop time. All photos are student pieces from our Greystoke workshop.
Make a Stained Glass Mirror with Lizzy Hippisley-Cox
Join Lizzy Hippisley-Cox for a one day Stained Glass 'taster' ... Design and make a beautiful Leaded Mirror.
An opportunity to dip your toe into and try this intensive one day Stained Glass taster day with Lizzy making a leaded stained glass mirror. All glass, tools, equipment, expertise and enthusiasm is provided by Lizzy, who is highly skilled in preserving these jewels of our heritage and has spent many years advising on and restoring original stained glass windows in our cathedrals and churches countrywide
Lizzy will have some prepared design templates ready for you and there will be a choice of coloured glass along with some pre cut panels mirror as needed. Firstly she will explain the various aspects of creating a stained glass panel, and will then let you have a go at learning the safe glass cutting technique. Once practised, you can then choose your template from a selection supplied, depending on your cutting abilities and at this stage you can decide whether you wish to incorporate a mirrored panel within this or alternatively keep the whole panel as glass. If mirror is required Lizzy can cut this for you.
Once all the pieces are cut , the panel is carefully leading up the mirror according to the design. You will then finish by soldering everything together in your panel and finally cleaning and polishing using demonstrated techniques. You will leave with your own bespoke stained glass (mirrored) panel.
Your enquiry will be sent directly to Quirky Workshops Art, Craft and Heritage Skill Courses. Please fill in as much detail as you can.
Quirky Workshops at Greystoke Craft Garden and Barns is a unique creative venue offering an inspiring range of art, craft and heritage workshops from a C17th listed farmhouse in the pretty village of Greystoke. We're placed 5 miles equidistantly from Penrith, Eden Valley & Ullswater, on the northern fringes of the Lake District, west of Penrith, in beautiful Cumbria, north west England. We have been running around 1440 craft courses each year, since 2005.
During the lockdown of May 2020, we renovated an old hay loft and now host the majority our indoor courses and workshops in this wonderful, new, light, airy and spacious studio - 'the Swallow Barn’ ; although some tutors still prefer the cosy atmosphere and ground floor easy access nature of the original studio, 'Squirrel Barn'. Many of the courses (especially art and calligraphy) feature live streaming of tutor demos onto a large screen at the front, allowing students to watch closely, whilst seated at their desks. This practice was started during Covid but has been continued as very helpful with many workshops.
Please see our website https://www.quirkyworkshops.co.uk/quirky-workshops-cumbria for full details of upcoming courses in date order.
Workshop days are relaxing, friendly and informal. They are delivered by hand picked professional and or expert tutors, many leaders in their chosen fields. Students often travel considerable distances to take part, staying in this lovely village of Greystoke or finding somewhere special close by . . .Keswick, Ullswater, Penrith and the Eden Valley are all within easy driving distance.
One, two or three day courses in:
- stone carving (relief or letter carving), wood carving, bird whittling, spoon carving, willow weaving and rush basket making.
- Lino cut printing, Fused glass, Stained Glass panels and Stained Glass mirrors, Sterling Silver jewellery and Silver Ring making courses, Porcelain plates and vases, and inspiring Mosaics
- Many textile courses including weaving, Needle felting Garden Bird pictures (robin/blue tit/wren) , Herdwick sheep and Pet Portraits, Felt art, Paint Print and Stitch, Felt Slippers, Ecoprinting, Leather Bag making, Learn to Spin and Lampshade Making, 'Hole House' bag making,
- Art courses : Introduction to Pen and Wash , Discovering Watercolours , Botanical and Wildlife illustration, Art courses with John Harrison, Frances Winder, Lyn Evans, Margaret Jarvis, Roy Simmons, Lis Bramwell, Calligraphy with Claire of byMoonandTide (our live streamed onto a large screen is especially useful for this course .. no more struggling to see the tutor demo close up from the back of the group!)
All day courses include tasty homemade lunch, fresh coffees and Aga cream teas. Drinks are served at desks do students may continue working Lunches to be taken at desks or in the garden during summer months.
Our workshop days are popular as gifts for special occasions. Quirky Open Vouchers make perfect and original presents and mean a lovely day can be shared together if preferred. Our Christmas Open vouchers are especially popular.
A full list of our courses can be found at https://www.quirkyworkshops.co.uk/quirky-workshops-cumbria or please phone 017684 83984
We look forward to welcoming you here in Greystoke!
Location
We are in the picturesque village of Greystoke, just 5 miles west of Penrith/Junction 40 of the M6 and a few miles north of the A66 and Ullswater. Keswick is approx 15 minutes further west
Greystoke boasts several B B's, as well as self catering options and has its own website greystokevillage.co.uk We have a playing field, an outdoor heated swimming pool open from June through to August, a Castle, a church, a shop and post office and a cosy pub serving evening meals.
Sterling Silver Jewellery 2 days with Melinda Scarborough
Create your own beautiful jewellery with Sterling Silver, Pearls and Semi-Precious Stones
On this popular 2-day workshop you will use a variety of equipment to make as many stunning pieces as you can under Melinda's guidance. The number of items you make will vary according to your pace. Melinda brings all the tools and equipment essential for any proper silver jewellery course.
Once people become familiar with the tools the designs start flowing. Your design will be unique; you will learn cutting, forming, doming, soldering, texturing and polishing. You can work at your own pace and make the most your workshop time. All photos are student pieces from our Greystoke workshop.
Design & Plan your own Garden - 2 days with Shelagh Todd - lecturer, garden designer & plantswoman
"Learn to design your own garden… just the way you want it" with leading Cumbrian Garden Designer, Lecturer and Plantswoman, Shelagh Todd.
Shelagh is widely known and highly respected throughout Cumbria's gardening fraternity. She has been both the familiar face - and 'lead' - of Horticulture at Newton Rigg College for well over 30 years, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our 2025 Quirky programme. She brings a wealth of gardening expertise and teaching experience, which over the years will have gently inspired literally thousands of 'would-be gardeners’ to create and nurture their own individual outdoor spaces. This two-day course is an ideal starting point for beginners, garden enthusiasts and anyone who wants to re-design their garden space.
Day 1 will cover the design process, including surveying, analysing & soil testing your site. Using your own design brief, you will learn to create a functional layout plan that you can apply to your garden, including consideration for hard landscaping materials as required. We can explore both the established and newer areas of the garden at Quirky Workshops which is maintained on a largely organic basis with wildlife at its heart.
Day 2 Shelagh will show you how to design the planting for your garden to achieve colour, interest and atmosphere; how to choose and combine the right plants for your soil conditions, and for best effect. You can decide on the style of planting and the types of plants you wish to grow, and we’ll discuss the pros and cons of different plants, what to look for when you are buying plants and how to source good plants locally.
*In advance of the workshop we'll send you an 'easy to follow' guide on how to measure up your garden. This means you can arrive on the first day of the course with a plan of your plot ready to begin the design process. With illustrated talks & drawing exercises, by the end of the 2 days you will have completed some planting schemes and have the skills to continue designing at home.
'Unfolding Landscapes in Natural Inks' with Tim Watson
'Unfolding Landscapes - in Natural Inks' with Tim Watson Beginners and intermediates.
We're very excited to have chanced upon this talented local artist who not only 'lives, eats and breathes' the Cumbrian fells by running across them at everyone opportunity, but also manages to represent them on paper in many surprising and beautiful ways!
This particular course with Tim is exploring the contours and character of the unfolding Landscape using Tim's own handmade Ink ~ using the Oak Galls he has gathered on his travels!
Oak Gall Ink was historically the earliest ink of choice, used on parchment, vellum, and all things legal. The Magna Carta, the American Declaration of Independence and Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice were all written in Oak Gall Ink.
Tim will introduce this unusual medium, which for him has become a firm favourite over recent years, showing different techniques, effects and ideas on paper. A step by step demonstration will then follow using the camera and screen, meaning students can paint alongside from their desks, altogether. After completion and over the afternoon students can try out all they've learned using other reference material and photos with Tim's support. Several options will be available in both watercolours and acrylics for bursts of colour if required.
'Engraving Sgraffito on Glass' short course with Vicky Boase
Enjoy discovering the art of Sgraffito on Glass, expertly guided by glass artist Vicky Boase.
Sgraffito, meaning 'scratched away' in Italian, is the 'subtractive' art of engraving a design into the top thin layer of black paint to reveal the underlying base colour of the glass. This creates a stunning pattern in silhouette which can be beautifully highlighted when hung at a window.
Vicky will arrive with a selection of pre-painted stained glass pieces, in four vibrant colours, for you to choose from for your piece. After a brief introduction to the history of stained glass and Sgraffito, and learning how your piece has been prepared before the class, students can then start to plan their personal design using specially provided black paper and white pencils, which will mimic the reverse nature of the process.
Then with the help of your own individual lightbox and special tools, you can transfer your design onto your chosen glass, bringing your piece to life by gently engraving your pattern into the paint.
At the end of the day Vicky will take all student work back to her studio near Alston to be glass fired to make the paint permanent and no longer scratchable. If you choose the optional extra leaded surround to your glass piece, Vicky will prepare and add it at this stage (pre-book on the day for £10 please). All pieces will then be posted back to Greystoke for collection. Alternatively she can post the piece directly to your address for an additional charge.
All tools and materials are provided; some confidence in drawing is desirable for this course although tracing is also allowed!!
Nature Journalling with Steve Pardue
Have you wanted to create a nature journal but don’t know where to start or how to do it?
This full day workshop will provide you with all the skills and tools to create a beautiful concertina nature journal. We will begin the day by taking a short nature ramble in and around the gardens at Quirky Workshops - chatting to the hens and exploring the compost heap. We will follow this up with a guided drawing session in the Swallow Barn. Steve will be on hand to offer plenty of tips and tricks so you can develop your own style of drawing and looking at the world. You will spend the day filling in and personalising your nature journal giving you the confidence to go out in the world and capture the beauty of nature in your own way.
I will take you through the process I follow for creating my journals which are really an expression of the joy I feel when out and about in the woods or the river. I will be using my own journals of nature captured over the last 5 years and show how you can create a body of work by simply recording in your own way the things you see every day. I now look back on my earlier journals and can not only see how my artistic style has evolved and changed but more importantly I can look up the dates when I first saw sand martins arrive for the summer, or when the last swift left, or when the first chiff chaff … well chiff chaffed!
And it is so easy - no rules - no great artistic skill required - just observation and a daily habit of drawing. I will show you the materials I use and the techniques I employ. Weather permitting, we can spend some time outdoors looking at the nature around us and we can then come back indoors and draw our observations.
You will be provided with a set of 5 blank nature journals in an optional special leather pouch, plus a few fineliners and a copy of 'My Shortcut to Nature Journalling' guide as reference - all of which are yours to keep.
I will also have a variety of fountain pens and journals available to try and buy.
Urban Landscapes in Oil Pastels - fast & free with Roy Simmons
On this course, we will be working in a fast, fun and intuitive way and will move through this exciting step by step technique to producing a really effective piece of art.
Using oil pastels we will find new ways to work, both as sketches and more finished work. We will work towards producing a painting which includes buildings. At the end of the day you will complete at least 2 paintings, one of which will be mounted. Our first step will be to review the different media we will use, these include: Charcoal, Water Soluble oil pastel, wet wipes, sennelier oil pastel, pencil and white gouache paint. That may seem like a crazy mix, but the results can be surprising! To introduce the materials, we will do a step by step painting of an imaginary still life of a pot or vase on a table. This will help us loosen up and get a feel for this way of working. Next, students will work from the supplied source photos, as I demonstrate each step in turn to make a view of cottages on a harbourside.
After lunch, we wil paint another urban view, step by step from start to finish, using the techniques we have tried and discussed. Students will then do their version using their choice from the supplied reference photos. This way of working is superb for working outdoors ‘en plein-air’. The amount of ‘stuff’ you need is not excessive, and fits in a small bag. You can produce urban sketches with a great sense of light. Or even produce charcoal sketches with written colour notes that can be ‘worked up’ later at home
Hole House Bag making - the 'Forager Bag' with Emma Redfern
The Forager is an outdoorsy, cross body bag that looks great made in oilskin and tweed. The bag has a zipped outer pocket as well as optional pockets in the lining and a long, adjustable strap. The top of the bag is designed to slouch a little, while the main body has more structure, so that the whole bag is practical, comfortable to wear and the perfect day to day bag for chucking everything in! It comes in three sizes too, so you can choose whether you want a large messenger bag look, handbag size or handy dog walking bag!
Suitable for those with a little bag making experience or adventurous beginners, if you can confidently use your sewing machine, you can make this!
Relief Carving in Hardwood with Alister Neville
Join Alister Neville for a focussed day in the outdoors Carving a Design in Hardwood for a decorative plaque, board, bowl, house sign - or another project perhaps!
Arriving in a large van weighed down with 3 massive hand heavy workbenches, Alister brings a full set of really sharp wood carving tools for each student, plenty of resources and some lovely pieces of hardwood to choose from for your piece - including sycamore, ash, oak, birch.
Sometime carvers opt for a house name board, but many other items are carved as well; animals, numbers and sayings. Anything is possible - time allowing - in the day. The workbenches are placed under canopies if it looks like rain. Four people to each bench, plenty of space still and very solid.
A lovely if not rather meditative way to spend a day and end up with something lovely!
Gardening for the Terrified' short course with Shelagh Todd - lecturer, garden designer & plantswoman.
This gardening course is designed for absolute beginners and you will find out all you ever wanted to know about gardening - but were perhaps too embarrassed or afraid to ask.
Shelagh will cover a range of gardening topics to allow you to leave the course feeling confident & inspired to work in your own outdoor space.
Topics covered will include
- Getting to know your space. Every space is different and needs to be treated differently
- Selecting plants for your garden. Commonly referred to by gardeners as “the right plant for the right place”
- The practicallities of creating & maintaining your outdoor space
We will explore the garden created over 20 years at Poplin Dub to gather ideas on successful planting combinations, practical layouts, how you use the garden to fulfil your individual needs and ultimately allow you to take away practical & creative ideas to use in your garden.
And finally you will leave the course discovering gardening is fun & rewarding.
Bring along on the day
- A few photos of your outdoor space
- A small bag or jar of your garden soil
- Please bring along photos or live specimens of ornamental plants in your garden to allow Shelagh to help you identify them
- If you have a weed problem in garden please bring a sample along & Shelagh will give you tips on how to control them
Shelagh is widely known and highly respected throughout Cumbria's gardening fraternity. She has been both the familiar face, and 'lead' of Horticulture at Newton Rigg for well over 30 years, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our 2025 Quirky programme. She brings a wealth of gardening expertise and teaching experience, which over the years, will have gently inspired (literally) thousands of 'would-be gardeners’ to create and nurture their own individual outdoor spaces.
Gardening for the Terrified' short course with Shelagh Todd - lecturer, garden designer & plantswoman.
This gardening course is designed for absolute beginners and you will find out all you ever wanted to know about gardening - but were perhaps too embarrassed or afraid to ask.
Shelagh will cover a range of gardening topics to allow you to leave the course feeling confident & inspired to work in your own outdoor space.
Topics covered will include
- Getting to know your space. Every space is different and needs to be treated differently
- Selecting plants for your garden. Commonly referred to by gardeners as “the right plant for the right place”
- The practicallities of creating & maintaining your outdoor space
We will explore the garden created over 20 years at Poplin Dub to gather ideas on successful planting combinations, practical layouts, how you use the garden to fulfil your individual needs and ultimately allow you to take away practical & creative ideas to use in your garden.
And finally you will leave the course discovering gardening is fun & rewarding.
Bring along on the day
- A few photos of your outdoor space
- A small bag or jar of your garden soil
- Please bring along photos or live specimens of ornamental plants in your garden to allow Shelagh to help you identify them
- If you have a weed problem in garden please bring a sample along & Shelagh will give you tips on how to control them
Shelagh is widely known and highly respected throughout Cumbria's gardening fraternity. She has been both the familiar face, and 'lead' of Horticulture at Newton Rigg for well over 30 years, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our 2025 Quirky programme. She brings a wealth of gardening expertise and teaching experience, which over the years, will have gently inspired (literally) thousands of 'would-be gardeners’ to create and nurture their own individual outdoor spaces.
'Hearts of Flowers' in fused glass with Michelle of 'Lakeshore Arts'
Join Michelle and create your own beautiful fused glass Flower Heart - suitable for all abilities.
Michelle will arrive with her ready prepared heart shapes and will talk you through the various design aspects and techniques of creating the lovely flowes and leaves for your piece to assemble together to create your own beautiful floral heart.
You will learn about different types of glass used in fusing work and also about the all important COE (Coefficient of expansion) – vital to understand in glass fusing as it makes sure the right types of glass are used and fuse together. Your finished heart designs will then be taken away and fired and returned to Greystoke. If there is time you maybe be able to make a second heart for additional materials cost tbc). The flower hearts can be collected from here a few weeks later, once they have been fired and fused. Alternatively Michelle can post these directly to your home for approx £5.50
We first saw Michelle's beautiful fused glass pieces at a local farm show and just loved them. We are absolutely delighted she has agreed to take some workshops here at Greystoke.
You will learn how to cut and trim the flowers and leaves and get an idea of what can be done with glass in a kiln in terms of fusing, stacking, tack fusing and slumping. You will also learn about various inclusions and their different applications, using frits, stringers, glassline pens and sheet glass along with other fragments.
'Hearts of Flowers' in fused glass with Michelle of 'Lakeshore Arts'
Join Michelle and create your own beautiful fused glass Flower Heart - suitable for all abilities.
Michelle will arrive with her ready prepared heart shapes and will talk you through the various design aspects and techniques of creating the lovely flowes and leaves for your piece to assemble together to create your own beautiful floral heart.
You will learn about different types of glass used in fusing work and also about the all important COE (Coefficient of expansion) – vital to understand in glass fusing as it makes sure the right types of glass are used and fuse together. Your finished heart designs will then be taken away and fired and returned to Greystoke. If there is time you maybe be able to make a second heart for additional materials cost tbc). The flower hearts can be collected from here a few weeks later, once they have been fired and fused. Alternatively Michelle can post these directly to your home for approx £5.50
We first saw Michelle's beautiful fused glass pieces at a local farm show and just loved them. We are absolutely delighted she has agreed to take some workshops here at Greystoke.
You will learn how to cut and trim the flowers and leaves and get an idea of what can be done with glass in a kiln in terms of fusing, stacking, tack fusing and slumping. You will also learn about various inclusions and their different applications, using frits, stringers, glassline pens and sheet glass along with other fragments.
Sterling Silver Jewellery 2 days with Melinda Scarborough
Create your own beautiful jewellery with Sterling Silver, Pearls and Semi-Precious Stones
On this popular 2-day workshop you will use a variety of equipment to make as many stunning pieces as you can under Melinda's guidance. The number of items you make will vary according to your pace. Melinda brings all the tools and equipment essential for any proper silver jewellery course.
Once people become familiar with the tools the designs start flowing. Your design will be unique; you will learn cutting, forming, doming, soldering, texturing and polishing. You can work at your own pace and make the most your workshop time. All photos are student pieces from our Greystoke workshop.
Make a Stained Glass Mirror with Lizzy Hippisley-Cox
Join Lizzy Hippisley-Cox for a one day Stained Glass 'taster' ... Design and make a beautiful Leaded Mirror.
An opportunity to dip your toe into and try this intensive one day Stained Glass taster day with Lizzy making a leaded stained glass mirror. All glass, tools, equipment, expertise and enthusiasm is provided by Lizzy, who is highly skilled in preserving these jewels of our heritage and has spent many years advising on and restoring original stained glass windows in our cathedrals and churches countrywide
Lizzy will have some prepared design templates ready for you and there will be a choice of coloured glass along with some pre cut panels mirror as needed. Firstly she will explain the various aspects of creating a stained glass panel, and will then let you have a go at learning the safe glass cutting technique. Once practised, you can then choose your template from a selection supplied, depending on your cutting abilities and at this stage you can decide whether you wish to incorporate a mirrored panel within this or alternatively keep the whole panel as glass. If mirror is required Lizzy can cut this for you.
Once all the pieces are cut , the panel is carefully leading up the mirror according to the design. You will then finish by soldering everything together in your panel and finally cleaning and polishing using demonstrated techniques. You will leave with your own bespoke stained glass (mirrored) panel.
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