In need of a new hobby, feeling a little deflated or just want to get out of the house? Well, look no further. We have searched for the best Arts, Crafts and Makers courses out there. Courses that could help you unveil new passions, discover exciting talents or just get you on your feet!
Chelsea Textiles showcases the skills of their master craftspeople with daily demonstrations of hand-carving and paint effects, featuring furniture from their Gustavian and Faux Bamboo collections. Enjoy captivating live demonstrations of the intricate and skilful work of one of their master carvers, while a painter demonstrates the traditional paint effects that achieve their authentic worn antique finish.
This course, run by Ingrid Chen, is suitable for beginners and you should have time to complete a small caning project, for example, a dining chair seat or stool. Some larger projects (within reason) may be started but may need to be finished at home. Small items can be stored for the duration of the course.
Price: £350
At this workshop, learn how to make your own candlestick, a truly unique design that has a story to tell. Choose from a range of wooden offcuts before Goldfinger’s makers walk you through the process of shaping and finishing the timber, turning it into an elegant, stacked candlestick design.
All materials are provided, and each attendee takes home their finished candlestick.
Price: £75
During this demonstration, artist and tutor Scott Pohlschmidt will introduce you to his work and techniques. Scott will demonstrate the process of sculpting from life, exploring how to build armatures and handle clay, before progressing to work with a life model with a strong emphasis on gesture, anatomical precision and scale.
Price: £15
You will go through each stage of the block printing process. You will have the chance to carve your own linoleum block design, which you will use to explore and develop your own pattern repeat. You will have a chance to twist and turn the block to play with your repeat before finally printing. This workshop provides a creative approach to patterns. You will come away from this session with knowledge of the fabrics and inks involved in the block printing process and a length of your very own hand block printed design onto a natural linen fabric.
Price: £145
Award-winning author and illustrator Rob Biddulph became a part of lockdown households across the country with his hit #DrawWithRob videos. Now’s your chance to draw along with him live in this event for all the family that will bring to life characters from his award-winning picture books, activity books and novels starring Peanut Jones. Please bring your own pencils, paper and something to lean on.
Price: £10
Whether you’re experienced at sketching the figure and want to hone your skills, or you’re trying life drawing for the first time, join them for drawing and drinks in the John Madejski Fine Rooms in a supportive and friendly environment. Led by expert teacher and practising artist Mick Kirkbride, you will explore the joys of drawing the human figure, while working directly from two life models.
Price: £65
This course covers all skills from hand-building and wheel-throwing, to surface decoration and glazing, and is suitable for beginner-level makers. The course is structured so that each week focuses on a different technique, but they also place a lot of emphasis on time for practice and experimenting with clay.
Price £250 Plus £5 Per Kg Clay You Want Fired
House Manager and textile artist, Helen Entwistle will show you how to master the basics. Using traditional indigo-dyed fabric and sashiko thread from Japan, you will practise your technique on a mini sampler, and then progress to a larger one, which you can then turn into a wall hanging, bag front or cushion when it is completed. This workshop is suitable for stitchers of all levels of experience, even if you only know how to thread a needle.
Price: £50
Gilding Course, Paint School, 27th + 28th May, 9am - 4:30pm, Jo Poulton Studios, 66 Thames Road, Chiswick, London, W4 3RE
On this course you will learn about all the different types of metal leaf (And the pros and cons of each one), surface preparation, how to apply the leaf, which gold size (type of glue) to use, and varnishing and antiquing techniques. Students will then apply the gold, silver and copper leaf to sample boards, mouldings and a small flat mirror frame.
Price: £360
This one-day course will introduce you to the basics of metal fabrication processes, including MIG welding and tube bending, to create a contemporary piece of furniture. Cut lengths of mild steel tubing using the cold saw, then with the metal bender you will create the curves to form the stool shape.
Price: £160
The drop-in session will be led by artists Lucy Ribeiro and Terence Wilde who can give you tips and tricks for improving your drawing. All abilities are welcome. You will be provided with basic drawing materials but feel free to bring your own dry materials too.
Price: Free
Textile Screen Printing, Ellie Way, The Art House, 3rd June, 11:00am - 4pm, The Art House, Drury Lane, Wakefield, WF1 2TE
Their expert teaching artist will guide you through the printing process; from creating your textile designs, to printing them onto fabric using their high-quality equipment, while learning each step of the way. Finish the day with your very own series of printed cloth pieces; perfect for wall hangings, incorporating into your sewing projects, or as framed artworks!
Price: £60
At the end of this course, even without any previous experience, you will get to take home a beautiful assortment of finished hardwood objects. Session 1: You will learn the structure and safe use of the lathes with a variety of turning tools. Session 2: You will learn about materials, how to prepare and mount them, how to realise your own designs and apply finishes by turning hardwood bowls through face turning.
Price: £265
Inspired by the methods of Dame Paula Rego RA (1935-2022), during this summer school, participants work with professional models dressed in costume and set within a series of imaginative and changing sets. Develop your compositional language by orchestrating the movement, gesture, colour and symbolism of your subject, focusing on the creative process involved in producing a finished narrative painting.
Price: £1,900
You will spend the morning with florist and gardener, Isobel How, learning about growing flowers for cutting, and picking armfuls of gorgeous, seasonal flowers in the Victorian walled garden she tends at Mountfield Court and learning much more. Following a delicious lunch created from the Walled Garden’s own home-grown produce, you will spend the afternoon with Caroline Kent, founder of Scribble & Daub who will introduce you to working with a traditional dip pen and ink. You’ll then use your new found skills to create a collection of simple, illustrated note cards inspired by the flowers collected earlier in the day.
Price: £185
Get up-close with objects from the collections of the V&A and the British Museum through object-handling sessions and gallery tours. Participate in group discussions and receive individual contact time with course tutors. Enjoy in-depth lectures with expert speakers. Led by V&A Course Director Dr Helen Glaister and V&A curator Ricarda Brosch, guest lecturers include Chinese ceramic specialists Rose Kerr, Rosemary Scott and Ivy Chan.
Price: £395
Join artist Luke Hannam for an intensive day of pure drawing. You will learn and explore techniques to improve your line drawing, such as exploring how line creates form, delve into the meaning of ‘lyricism’ – and how to apply this philosophical idea to make more expressive drawings.
Price: £150
The Two Day Workshop will guide you through the basics of handbuilding. Over the two days, the instructor will show multiple techniques for you to explore an array of forms. On Saturday, you will be introduced to the material and will begin to build with soft clay cups, bowls or vases form with a selection of techniques that will be demonstrated to you by the instructor. On the second day, once the pieces have had a chance to firm up, you will have a chance to further refine your work and the instructor will introduce you how to apply texture, as well as exploring coloured slips.
Price: £220
Cushion Making, Master The Art, 21st June, Leighton Lodge, Leighton, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY5 6RN
Master the art of cushion making with renowned seamstress Mary Bullock, join for this one-day course. By the end of the session you will take home a beautiful 20” feather filled cushion. If possible, please bring in your own special fabric so you leave with a cushion perfect for your home. No prior experience necessary and never more than 4 people in the class. Course fee includes all equipment (except main fabric) and locally sourced, seasonal lunch and tea.
Price: £130
Working from a life model and inspired by the interiors at the Royal Academy, artist Adele Wagstaff will teach you how to draw people and contextualise them in their environment. Not only will you draw the human form, but you will also learn how to draw the background around them to create a seamless composition.
Price: £10
Explore the different ways of creating sculptural ceramic forms using hand-building methods; from plastic to leather-hard clay. Be guided through the process of using templates, freehand forms, fettling, slab building and joining using slip, gaining confidence while working with clay. Adding colour and surface patterns through methods such as mono printing and slip designs will mean you create a sculpture unique to you.
Price: £60
Summer Block Printing Workshop, Hosted by Speronella Marsh from Hare’s Tale, 26th June, 10am - 4pm, Daylesford Farm Near Kingham, Cotswolds, GL56 OYG
You will spend the day learning essential printing techniques to create your own unique designs on paper and fabric. After you have mastered printing onto wrapping paper, the group will break for a delicious organic lunch prepared by our Daylesford chefs. You will then have the afternoon to finalise your designs and apply your newfound block printing skill onto on four placemats to keep. By the end of the workshop you will have an understanding of how to create block printing designs that can be applied to a range of homeware including cushions, napkins and tablecloths.
Price: £175
Join florist Sarah Whiting for this colourful workshop, celebrating the glorious colours of the flora found in Charleston’s walled garden. Using locally-grown flowers and sustainable methods of floristry, Sarah will guide you to create a beautiful arrangement considering colour, texture and movement. This day-long workshop will begin with a private tour of the house as well as the garden with Charleston’s head gardener Harry Hoblyn. It includes all materials, refreshments and a delicious lunch.
Price: £150
During the course, you will become knowledgeable in preparing ‘gesso’, and laying and burnishing gold leaf. You will master the art of both traditional water gilding and the more simple technique of oil gilding as well as learning how to distress and tone your work. They provide a beautifully made frame for you to work on and take home.
Price: £480