James Willis Lecture Series : Primavera 2/5/24

Tutor: James Willis
Thursday 2nd May from 19:30 to 21:30
Cost £10

Botticelli’s famous painting epitomises the High Renaissance in Florence. His distinctive style was influential at the time and beyond. Taking his story as a starting point this talk will consider those artists who change the course of art in the society they represented and inspire those who followed them. Amongst artists discussed in this context are Pontormo, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, Henri Matisse and Henry Moore. Each in their own way bring a Renaissance Primavera to their time.

Get Writing for All – Taster Workshop 22/6/24

Tutor: Elizabeth Barber
Saturday 22nd Jun from 10:30 to 12:00
Cost £10

Not sure if joining a creative writing class is for you? Come along to this introductory workshop to find out what it’s all about and have a go. No experience needed. Please bring Pen, paper or device. Elizabeth trained as a primary school teacher in the 1970s. After a long gap doing voluntary work, she returned to teaching as a supply teacher. She has always loved writing and has found going on writing courses a valuable way of learning about the craft. After some success writing stories for a comic, she moved on to writing fiction and non-fiction for county and national magazines. Since 2006 she has run ’Get Writing!’ at Letchworth Settlement. Elizabeth holds the Undergraduate Certificate in Creative Writing Part I (Fiction) and Part II (Non-fiction) awarded by Cambridge Institute for Continuing Education.

James Willis Lecture Series : Frank Auerbach 11/7/24

Tutor: James Willis
Thursday 11th Jul from 19:30 to 21:30
Cost £10

One of our most distinguished painters who, at the age of 92 continues to work and develop his distinctive paintings and drawings. He was sent to Britain in 1939 eventually studied at St Martin’s School of Art and the Royal College of Art and associated with the London artists David Bomberg, Francis Bacon and Lucien Freud. His work focuses on portraits and Street Scenes around Camden Town and is intrigued by the little character of familiar things. This talk takes a look at his life and work and his influence on contemporary artists who were taught by him.

Trucks in the Garden of Eden 19/7/24

Tutor: Vitali Vitaliev
Friday 19th Jul from 19:30 to 21:30
Cost £10

Award-winning Ukrainian-born journalist Vitali Vitaliev takes stock of Britain today and investigates the state of the nation’s many disparate attempts to create a utopian community, including the garden city that inspired Lenin; the model villages where alcohol was forbidden; and the rural communities that have sought to disconnect themselves from the chaos and strife of ever encroaching modernity. ‘Trucks in the Garden of Eden’ looks at what remains of these utopian experiments, questioning their success, their purpose and their viability today. Throughout this journey, Vitali also reflects on his own childhood, growing up in the USSR during the Cold War. These reflections are often triggered in the most unlikely of places, and the results are sometimes humorous, sometimes touching – and always interesting. Drawing on these personal experiences, Vitali poses questions about whether the utopian idea has proven to be useful or harmful throughout history, and what, exactly, utopia means in Britain today, as he embarks on a quest for the fragments of his own Soviet past.

Patchwork and Quilting for Absolute Beginners 20/7/24

Tutor: Sheena Roberts
Saturday 20th Jul from 10:00 to 16:00
Cost £42

During this day you will make samples which will give you experience of how to use a rotary cutter and ruler; set up your machine for piecing and quilting; how to piece a quilt, layer it up, quilt it and finish it. You will receive a pack of information sheets to take away with you, and will keep the samples that you will have made, so that you will be able to refer to them for the future. Skill level – Absolute Beginners, though you should know how your sewing machine works. For this course/workshop you will need to bring your sewing machine (don’t forget its power cable and instruction manual!) and sewing kit plus rotary cutter, mat, rulers etc, along with the specific fabric requirements. To be sure of receiving your materials list in a timely manner, once you have booked on to the course/workshop, please email the tutor on sheena@greenmanquilts.co.uk and she will email a copy to you. Please note that £15 additional cash reimbursement, paid direct to the tutor for the supply of a workshop kit, will be required. Don’t forget your lunch! Sheena Roberts has been sewing since she was tiny and creating patchwork quilts for almost as long. She didn’t start off being a confident seamstress. In fact, was all but thrown out of the class at school but she had someone who did not give up on her – and that has influenced her to want to “pass that forward”. Her passion is in sharing skills, and she has been doing that through Green Man Quilts since 2013. Sheena holds a B.Ed., as well as the City & Guilds Certificate and Diploma in Patchwork and Quilting. She is a member of the Quilters’ Guild of Britain and Ireland, and their Modern and Contemporary Special Interest Groups, and a member of the Modern Quilt Guild. She would love to share that passion with you and help you become the best quilter that you can be.

Silk Painting a Square Scarf 20/7/24

Tutor: Shree Desai
Saturday 20th Jul from 13:00 to 16:00
Cost £31

Originating from China, silk painting is an art form with over 2000 years of history that involves applying colour pigment to silk cloth. … Today silk paintings can be found all around the world, using a combination of dyes and techniques developed in Europe and Asia. The ancient art was once known as ‘Bo’ painting, referring to the white silk used as a surface. Compared to wood, stone or bamboo of the time, silk was the ideal canvas for painting. It was luxurious and yet easy to cut to any desired shape and light to carry. Chinese artisans of the old first prepared silk cloths by beating it against stone to smooth the surface before applying colour. Using animal hair paintbrushes, ink mixtures of soot and glue, or mineral pigments of vermilion, azurite and malachite, ancient Chinese artists created works of art that have survived centuries. Today silk paintings can be found all around the world, using a combination of dyes and techniques developed in Europe and Asia. The silk surface is often prepared by stretching and dying silk with a background colour. Because pigments spread freely when applied to silk, the artist relies less on brushes and more on creating boundaries for the pigment through the use of a resist. Gutta (a rubbery cement) and water-based resists are popular for sketching the outlines of designs on the silk.. Once the outlines have dried, dyes are applied to the silk that spread up to the resist borders. Alternatively, the silk surface may be primed to reduce the dyes’ ability to bleed. In this way silk painting differs to painting on cotton canvas or paper. The artist needs not only to consider the placement of pigment but also control its movement. Similar to watercolour, unrestricted, the ink or dyes will flow freely on the silk, creating soft and diffuse artwork. Silk painting process • Stretch the silk fabric on a wooden frame. • prepare the design on a paper • Transfer the design on the fabric • When silk paint or dye is applied to the fabric it will, if left to its own devices, produce a watercolour-like effect. If you want a crisper, harder-edged effect, you’ll need to control where the colour goes. You can do this with a resist medium known as gutta, or a waterbased resist. Applied to the fabric to outline the design and left to dry, the resist acts as a barrier that keeps the colour contained within the outlines. Some resists can be removed once the paint or dye is set, leaving outlines in the base colour of the silk. Coloured guttas and resists are also available that are meant to be left on the fabric and become part of the design. • Once gutta lines are dried then start painting your design. Shree (Shraddha) Desai is a Textile Designer & Textile Art Workshop leader. After studying for MA in Textile Design from the National Institute of Design in India, She established her own textile production business, Kalarshi, creating bespoke art pieces for a range of clients as well as hosting independent exhibitions. She experiments with the construction of fabric to create unique artworks – achieved by altering the fabric texture, colours and designs. Working with textured yarn, unconventional materials and various dying and weaving techniques, she creates fabrics that are truly innovative. Shree is now an active member of the Herts Visual Arts forum in Hertfordshire and is passionate about teaching, running a variety of textile based workshops for adults and children including – Tie & dye, Silk painting, Batik, Weaving, and Block printing.

Exploring Watercolours 21/7/24

Tutor: Vanessa Bryson
21st Jul from 13:00 to 15:00
Cost £28

EXPLORING WATERCOLOURS. You will learn techniques for using a combination of watercolour pencils and paints. You will learn how different colours interact with each other and also how they are affected by different mediums such as salt water. You will learn the different qualities of brands as well as which colours to use for landscapes.You will be able to produce a finished painting from your own photograph by the end of the day. Tutor Biography: I was born in England and went to Art College where I obtained a degree in Fine Art. I moved to the U.S. in the mid-70s. I moved to Miami in 1996 and joined an artists’ community as a studio artist at ArtSouth (a community of up to 40 studio artists) in 2003. I have exhibited throughout the southern United States, as well as in Texas, I have had solo shows in the Capitol Bldg., in Tallahassee, Florida, and Biscayne National Park, as well as participating in multiple group shows. In November 2010 I returned to England permanently in order to be closer to my family who all live in England. I am a member of the Wynd Gallery in Letchworth and have exhibited in the UK at Mill Green Museum, The Brunel Museum in London, as well as Moorfields Eye Hospital. My work is both in water colour, oil, pastel, lino cut, and batik. PLEASE BRING: WATERCOLOUR SUPPLY LIST PAPER Watercolour Art Board – Pad of watercolour paper cold press – preferably 180 lb/300 gm weight – the paper should be glued around each side to prevent buckling once the paper is wet. Alternative : Wood board with at least 2 sheets of 180 lb/300 gm cold press paper BRUSHES – NOT BRISTLE BRUSH Flat brush – 3 cm wide No 12 round brush No 5 round brush No 0 round brush PENCILS Watercolouor pencil – Blue Gray No 68 Watercolouor pencil – Copper Beech No 61 Drawing Pencil – 2B PAINTS. – Minumum WATERCOLOUR Prussian Blue Yellow Ochre Cadmium Red Alizarin Crimson Cerulean Blue Cadmium Yellow Burnt Sienna Lemon Yellow Prussian Blue Raw Umber Cobalt GOUACHE White Plastic Palette

Beginner Sewing Machine Skills Part One – Make a Tote Bag 22/7/24

Tutor: Jane Neesam
Monday 22nd Jul from 09:00 to 12:30
Cost £29

Learn some basic skills on your sewing machine. Total beginners are welcome as well as anyone lacking confidence on a new machine. Understand how to thread up your machine and stitch accurately. Skills will include: understanding the potential of your machine. Straight stitching and zig zag stitching. Please Bring Your sewing machine with footpedal and instruction manual if you have one. Any accessories for your machine. Scissors, tape measure, pins, notebook and pen. If you don’t have a machine but would like to attend, please let us know when booking. Jane Neesam graduated with a degree in Fashion and Textiles from Leicester Polytechnic, specialising in Contour Fashion (corsetry, lingerie and swimwear). Working as a bra designer and later as a garment technologist in the lingerie industry, Jane relished the challenges and new skills that manufacturing presented. Whilst training and qualifying as a tutor in the volunteer sector, Jane realised she could transfer those skills to share her passion and knowledge of making clothes with others. Her goal is to facilitate a sewing session where students can learn and develop at their own pace and where everyone feels valued and at ease.

Beginner Sewing Machine Skills Part Two – Make a zipped pencil case / make up purse 22/7/24

Tutor: Jane Neesam
Monday 22nd Jul from 13:30 to 17:00
Cost £29

Take your skills up a notch and develop your confidence on your sewing machine. Skills to include: • Understanding your machine to achieve new techniques. • Using a lining. • Applying fusible wadding. • Inserting a zip. Please Bring • Your sewing machine with foot pedal and instruction manual if you have one. • Any accessories for your machine. • Scissors, tape measure, pins, notebook, and pen. Materials will be provided, but please bring some fabric for your purse. If you don’t have a machine but would like to attend, please let us know when booking. Jane Neesam graduated with a degree in Fashion and Textiles from Leicester Polytechnic, specialising in Contour Fashion (corsetry, lingerie and swimwear). Working as a bra designer and later as a garment technologist in the lingerie industry, Jane relished the challenges and new skills that manufacturing presented. Whilst training and qualifying as a tutor in the volunteer sector, Jane realised she could transfer those skills to share her passion and knowledge of making clothes with others. Her goal is to facilitate a sewing session where students can learn and develop at their own pace and where everyone feels valued and at ease.

Ringmaster to the Rainbow: Natalie Kalmus, Technicolour’s Forgotten Pioneer 22/7/24

Tutor: Christopher Budd
Monday 22nd Jul from 10:30 to 12:30
Cost £14

With over 400 film credits to her name, Natalie Kalmus is perhaps the most prolific film pioneer youve never heard of. An important part of the development of Technicolor, and a woman in a mans world, she managed to make powerful enemies on both sides of the Atlantic but has largely been forgotten by history and dismissed by film scholars. However her eye for colour influenced the look of every film she was involved with, and her legacy is only now beginning to be appreciated. Christopher Budd is a writer, teacher and musician, with a focus on music for film. His interests range from silent cinema to electronic music via Hollywood from the studio system to the experimental 70s, and British and European film and music of the 1960s and 70s. He studied film music at university (Music Composition for Film and Broadcast Media), followed by a PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education. He then worked at the Bishopsgate Institute in London managing the courses for adults programme there. Since 2012 he has been working freelance; he has written for several music magazines including Music Teacher (and contributes regularly to Shindig!). Christopher works as a moderator and assessor for an international awarding body specialising in vocational music examinations, and in a freelance capacity for Cambridge International Examinations. He also teaches private instrumental lessons and records as a session musician.

Screen Printing on Paper 22/7/24

Tutor: Carly Simmons
Monday 22nd Jul from 13:00 to 15:30
Cost £26

Come and enjoy a fun and inspiring workshop where we will be using silk screen printing techniques on paper. We will experiment with hand drawn images and cut paper collage to create artwork to print onto paper in a range of colours. All materials supplied. You may wish to bring an apron. Carly is an award-winning textile artist with a BA (Hons) in Textile Design. She has exhibited at THOS, the James Hockey & Foyer Galleries as well as The Mall Gallery, London. She recently won the Applied Arts Award at Letchworth Broadway Gallery at their Summer Open Exhibition. Threads / Instagram @imcarlyann

Linocut – Cut and Print your own designs from linoleum 22/7/24

Tutor: Kim Raymont
Monday 22nd Jul from 10:00 to 12:00
Cost £24

Learn how to use linocut tools to create and carve an image in lino, and produce a range of limited-edition prints and cards. Looking at inspiration as diverse as work by artists such as Picasso, pattern design and botanical prints, you will be guided into the exciting world of printmaking, developing the skills and knowledge to start your journey into relief printing. All equipment and materials supplied. You are welcome to bring an image that you might like to refer to. You may wish to bring an apron.

Katherine of Aragon

Tutor: Andrew Bamford
Monday 22nd Jul from 19:00 to 21:00
Cost £14

Katherine of Aragon is depicted as a passive victim of an ambitious and heartless ruler. This talk will focus on the positive and strong character of Katherine as an intelligent and forceful Queen as well as exploring the more local aspects of her final months at Kimbolton Castle, Cambridgeshire. Andrew Bamford read History at Selwyn College Cambridge, graduating in 1983. He taught a variety of historical periods during his time at Kimbolton School, Cambridgeshire where he was Head of History from 1990-2021 and Head of Sixth Form 2005-2019, as well as teaching A level Politics. Since retirement, Andrew has lectured at the Rothsay Education Centre in Bedford on a wide range of subjects from the Unification of Italy to the English Civil War. He is Curator of Kimbolton Castle and a keen Crystal Palace fan!

Patchwork and Quilting: Techniques to take you Quilting Skills further 23/7/24

Tutor: Sheena Roberts
Tuesday 23rd Jul from 10:00 to 16:00
Cost £42

During this day you can choose to focus on one of the following – Free Motion Quilting – Quilting our projects is often the most challenging part of making a quilt. During this day you will learn about caring for yourself and your machine, setting up your machine for successful free motion quilting, different quilting designs, needles and threads. You will explore the different possibilities that your machine offers and you will build your confidence through play. Binding, Labels and Hanging Devices – All those techniques that complete and compliment your quilt. During this day you will learn about different bindings and facings, creating labels and ways of getting your quilts ready to decorate your walls or hang in a show. You will explore the different options and create a set of reference samples for the future. Get that quilt finished! – Just need a day to focus on your quilt in a friendly, supportive environment? Join us, pick my brains and get solutions to anything that is holding you back! Skill level – Confident Beginners & Improvers. For this workshop you will need to bring your sewing machine (don’t forget its power cable and instruction manual!) and sewing kit plus rotary cutter, mat, rulers etc, along with the specific requirements for your chosen option. When you have booked onto the course/workshop, please email the tutor on sheena@greenmanquilts.co.uk to let her know your chosen option and she will send full requirements to you and answer any of your queries. Don’t forget your lunch! Sheena Roberts has been sewing since she was tiny and creating patchwork quilts for almost as long. She didn’t start off being a confident seamstress. In fact, was all but thrown out of the class at school but she had someone who did not give up on her – and that has influenced her to want to “pass that forward”. Her passion is in sharing skills, and she has been doing that through Green Man Quilts since 2013. Sheena holds a B.Ed., as well as the City & Guilds Certificate and Diploma in Patchwork and Quilting. She is a member of the Quilters’ Guild of Britain and Ireland, and their Modern and Contemporary Special Interest Groups, and a member of the Modern Quilt Guild. She would love to share that passion with you and help you become the best quilter that you can be.

Botanical Art 23/7/24

Tutor: Jill Winch
Tuesday 23rd Jul from 13:00 to 16:00
Cost £26

Painting larger.. Using the flowers on offer at this abundant time of year Jill will show, how to, increase the size of your flower in order to paint it much much larger… This will enable everyone to see more of the detail of a flower, to study the stamens in detail and observe the intricacies of the veins or imperfections that may occur.. Everyone will use coloured pencils… and will need larger paper which Jill will provide. Please feel free to bring your own watercolour pencils. Jill Winch initially trained as a Graphic Artist but in later years studied Botanical Painting. She attended the Chelsea Physic Garden where she gained her Diploma in Botanical Painting. Jill is a member of the Society of Botanical Artists and was recently made a Fellow of the Society. In 2012 Jill was awarded the Daler Rowney choice award for her painting of the Medinilla-Magnifica. Jill has held painting holidays in Tuscany and Galway. She regularly tutors for Missenden Abbey in Buckinghamshire which offers weekend and summer school programmes, and at different Art Societies. She also holds courses from her studio at home on the borders of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. In 2013 Jill was asked to illustrate and write a book on Drawing Flowers. The book was published in 2014. This book was followed by her second book Painting Flowers. web site: www.jillwinch.com

Mug Rugs 23/7/24

Tutor: Lucy Sugden
Tuesday 23rd Jul from 19:00 to 21:00
Cost £18

A two-hour workshop to create a rug for your mug! Choose from a selection of designs and colours and learn a few woven tapestry techniques to give you a taster of the process in this mindful workshop. All materials provided. Lucy is a woven tapestry artist from Letchworth Garden City, who graduated from Middlesex University in 1997 with a Constructed Textiles degree specialising in tapestry weaving, and a commendation from the Simon Jersey Tapestry Award. After spending most of her career developing and delivering art education to the community, schools, and colleges she fully returned to tapestry weaving in 2017. A member of The British Tapestry Group, The Wynd Gallery and various textiles associations Lucy regularly exhibits locally and nationally, along with delivering talks, workshops, and courses. In her work Lucy explores a fascination of light play with a love of wildlife and beneficial flowers found in local habitats and is often inspired by her garden and walks around the fields of Letchworth. She creates flowers on circle looms before embedding them in the tapestry backgrounds as they are woven. It is important to Lucy to maintain a sustainable art practice by recycling and upcycling fibres where possible which has become an integral part of how she works and often has a direct effect on design and size of a piece, along with an exploration of combining fibres. Lucy sources British wools and recycled yarns wherever possible for students to weave with when attending her workshops. To find out more about me and my work visit https://lucysugden.co.uk

Paint a Monet Landscape in Acrylic 24/7/24

Tutor: Mike Rollins
Wednesday 24th Jul from 10:00 to 12:30
Cost £23

If you’d like to learn how to paint with acrylics, refresh your skills or would like to paint in the style of the French Impressionists, then this workshop is for you. Join Mike Rollins as he shows you, step by step, how to paint one of Claude Monet’s most famous works, Poppy Field at Argenteuil. All materials and equipment will be provided. This includes paint and acrylic paper. However, should you wish to bring your own painting equipment, that’s absolutely fine, but please make sure that your brushes are synthetic and for use with acrylics. Please also make sure that you wear ‘painting’ clothes or/ and an apron in case of splashes! Mike is an award-winning artist living in Hitchin. His expressive style of painting has its origins in the stark landscapes of West Yorkshire, where he grew up, and in subsequent years as an attraction designer. Mike is also an art tutor, demonstrating and holding workshops for regional art societies. He has featured in various publications, including Leisure Painter magazine, to which he is a regular contributor of articles on how to paint in acrylics. Mike has exhibited in London, Nottingham (Patchings Festival) and throughout Hertfordshire. He is a member of Herts Visual Arts, the Wynd Gallery, a co-operative group of artists in Letchworth G.C, and a Professional Associate of the Society of All Artists. In 2022, Mike was a finalist in the British Art Prize run by Artists & Illustrators magazine. His work can be found at www.rollinsart.com.

Making notebooks from waste materials 24/7/24

Tutor: Andrea Burden
Wednesday 24th Jul from 13:00 to 16:00
Cost £23

In this hands on session you will create your own notebooks out of waste materials. We will explore how cardboard boxes, packaging paper and other waste can be turned into something useful. During the session we will create notebooks using two simple bookmaking technqiues. There will also be time to see how these can be adapted and combined together to make more experimental book structures. The materials and equipment will be provided, but if you would like to bring along any of your own please feel free to do so. Andrea studied Photography at the University of Derby, graduating in 1994. She has worked as a professional photographer and photographic printer. Andrea started teaching photography 25 years ago and currently tutors for Open College of the Arts. She made her first book during her degree and has never stopped experimenting with folding paper.

A Changing Silhouette: the idealised body throughout art history 24/7/24

Tutor: Anna McNay
Wednesday 24th Jul from 19:00 to 21:00
Cost £14

While many feel pressure to achieve and maintain the perfect body, the ideal shape for woman is in constant flux. From Marilyn Monroe curves in the 1950s to heroin chic in the 90s, the ideal has evolved almost as frequently as fashion trends throughout the decades. If we look to the history of art, these changing parameters can be seen dating right back to the earliest-known, voluptuous and fertile Venus figurines from 25,000 BC. This lecture will trace the evolution of the sought-after silhouette as depicted by artists through the centuries. Please bring a Notebook and pen Anna McNay is a writer, editor and international curator, who contributes regularly to a variety of print and online art and photography journals, including Studio International, Art Quarterly and The Flux Review. She writes catalogue essays, hosts panels and in conversation events at galleries, art schools and online, and has judged numerous art prizes, both nationally and internationally. McNay originally worked in academia as an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow in linguistics at the Humboldt University in Berlin and a Heath Harrison Teaching Fellow at the University of Oxford, where she lectured and gave tutorials and seminars in undergraduate and postgraduate linguistics and German translation. annamcnay.art @annamcnay #TheCriticWithTheDog

Make a Country Frame Basket 24/7/24

Tutor: Hazel Godfrey
Wednesday 24th Jul from 10:00 to 16:00
Cost £62

Create a beautiful organic willow basket perfect for harvesting fruit and garden produce, foraging or collecting eggs. During this full day workshop you will discover the techniques and principles used to make this ancient form of basket. You will learn how to construct a frame using willow hoops and traditional binding methods and explore shaping options as ribs are introduced before and during the weaving process. Hazel will demonstrate each process and explain the principles of strength, balance and tension required to achieve a good shape for your basket. By the end of the course you will have made a useful frame basket approximately 25cms in diameter. Please bring Secateurs, if possible. About Hazel.. I am a contemporary basket-maker and willow artist. My inspiration comes from nature, landscape, and the human condition. I graduated in 2004 with a degree in Applied Arts 3D Media and began working professionally in 2008. My willow is locally grown in North Herts; this provides for the mainstay of my weaving. I also love working with various other natural materials including cane, bark, leaves, found items, and more recently beeswax. I make commissioned work for a variety of settings, clients include the Forestry Commission, Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust, J.D. Wetherspoons, and Mammoth Screen Productions. My work is exhibited in galleries, art/craft shows and community events across the Home Counties, I have also exhibited work on a Gold Award winning stand at Chelsea Flower Show. For over 15 years, I have taught willow weaving and basketry skills in Herts and Bucks, as well as from my studio near Hitchin.

Capturing the Common – 2 day workshop (25/7/24 & 26/7/24)

Tutor: Chantelle Stephenson
Thursday 25th Jul from 10:00 to 13:00
Cost £42

2-day workshop: Thursday 25th and Friday 26th August. Day 1 – Outdoor drawing. Day 2 – In the classroom. Have you ever been interested in en plein air sketching and watercolour landscape studies? The Letchworth Common nature reserve provides the perfect serene backdrop to inspire and create. This short course explores the idea of capturing loose studies that will be developed into paintings in the following session. An ideal opportunity to discover how to make a series of studies that can inform a larger scale painting thereafter. The course will also allow you to build confidence on going out collecting informative studies to then develop further in the future. Weather dependent: the workshop will revert to the studio in the case of bad weather. Please bring suitable clothing, and a chosen field kit, pencil, portable watercolour set, and paper or sketchbook. You are of course invited to bring a folding chair; there are various seating points located around the common also. The tutor will provide basic materials on the day. Chantelle Stephenson is a practising artist and educator that graduated from the Cambridge School of Art in 2007. During and since then she has tutored Fine Art on the Foundation Art and Design course at Hitchin College, Hertfordshire. In 2016 she was invited to run workshops at the Camden Arts Centre and The South London Gallery, London. She is currently running courses in Sculpture and Oil Painting at Milton Keynes Arts Centre. Chantelle has a diverse range of technical disciplines including Oil painting, Abstract Painting, Alternative Photography, Printmaking and Sculpture. In 2016 she was commissioned to make an art piece in response to the early Letchworth Garden City which was displayed at the Broadway Gallery. Chantelle has taught at The Settlement since 2014.

Watercolour & Ink: Abstract Floral Designs 25/7/24

Tutor: Komathy Cumarasamy
Thursday 25th Jul from 10:00 to 12:30
Cost £23

In this workshop I will be showing some modern techniques to paint florals and leaves combining watercolour and ink. It is suitable for all levels. Watercolour is one of my favourite mediums. You dont need to be too precise and each painting has a unique look. If you are a beginner Im thrilled to introduce you to this medium and hope that Im opening the door to a world of pleasure and creativity for you. If you already have experience then I hope you will learn some new techniques that will enhance your skills and find renewed inspiration. Tutor Bio. I completed my art degree in Sri Lanka. Although I specialise in portraiture I love creating work using watercolour and ink. My other passion is painting florals, nature, elephants in this soft subtle medium. I can handle a variety of mediums and have studied colour and skin-tone techniques at City Lit College, London. I have been invited to exhibit at various private exhibitions including within our local community. In 2021, one of my oil paintings was selected for inclusion in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and sold before the event opened to the public. Earlier this year, 2023, my work was named Publics Choice at an exhibition in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, and, separately, Critics Choice, at a show in Holborn, Central London. komathy@komathysartgallery.co.uk

How to Think Like a Geopolitician (Lecture) 26/7/24

Tutor: Michael Williams
Friday 26th Jul from 19:00 to 21:00
Cost £14

Geopolitics involves the study of international relations from a geographical perspective. It views the world as an inter-connected whole and treats geography as the most fundamental factor shaping foreign policy precisely because it is the most permanent. Michael will explain the thinking of leading theorists since the geopolitical perspective emerged in the run-up to the First World War. He will lead discussion of specific cases designed to show how these ideas can be used to explain current conflicts. Michael Williams has an undergraduate degree in History and an MSc in Politics. For 21 years he worked as a ministerial adviser in Whitehall before leaving for academic life in 1995. He spent another 26 years teaching a great variety of courses in different universities until retiring in 2021. Hes been teaching courses on politics and history at the Settlement for several years. He published a book on Britain since 1867 in 2000 and a family memoir in 2022. Hes currently working on a sequel.

Fused Glass: Make a Garden Panel 26/7/24

Tutor: Jane Ducarreaux
Friday 26th Jul from 10:00 to 15:00
Cost £69

Looking for that unique piece to add to your garden – something that will give you colour all year round? On this course you will learn a little about the basic types of fusing and the finishes that can be achieved with each, before trying your hand at cutting glass. Once you are confident in your cutting, you will get the opportunity to design, cut and prepare your garden panel, choosing from a wide range of sheet, frit and accessory glass. Once completed, your panel will be fired ready for collection at a later date or posted on to you at cost. Please note: the course fee does not include stand. You are required to wear closed in shoes and bring safety glasses. Janes passion for glass has been a lifelong one, having been surrounded by glass since birth. Both parents worked in the glass industry, her father as a master glass blower, her mother as a glass finisher. Having tried many crafts before finally finding fused or kiln-formed glass, Jane is passionate about the versatility of glass and the uplifting nature of what can be produced.

Under the microscope: weave a tapestry designed from detail 26/7/24

Tutor: Lucy Sugden
Friday 26th Jul from 10:00 to 15:00
Cost £44

Create a woven tapestry from an enlarged image. Maybe you love lichen and the natural world or wish to interpret rust and man-made pattern into a woven design. We will begin the workshop with a selection of images (under the microscope) from which you can choose an area or idea to create a design before choosing from a selection of fibres and creating a small woven tapestry. Lucy will have a large selection of samples with her for you to choose the techniques and effects you wish to use in your piece and will help you plan and weave a small tapestry. All materials provided. Lucy is a woven tapestry artist from Letchworth Garden City, who graduated from Middlesex University in 1997 with a Constructed Textiles degree specialising in tapestry weaving, and a commendation from the Simon Jersey Tapestry Award. After spending most of her career developing and delivering art education to the community, schools, and colleges she fully returned to tapestry weaving in 2017. A member of The British Tapestry Group, The Wynd Gallery and various textiles associations Lucy regularly exhibits locally and nationally, along with delivering talks, workshops, and courses. In her work Lucy explores a fascination of light play with a love of wildlife and beneficial flowers found in local habitats and is often inspired by her garden and walks around the fields of Letchworth. She creates flowers on circle looms before embedding them in the tapestry backgrounds as they are woven. It is important to Lucy to maintain a sustainable art practice by recycling and upcycling fibres where possible which has become an integral part of how she works and often has a direct effect on design and size of a piece, along with an exploration of combining fibres. Lucy sources British wools and recycled yarns wherever possible for students to weave with when attending her workshops. To find out more about me and my work visit https://lucysugden.co.uk

Cabaret on Stage & Screen 27/07/24

Tutor: Stephen Barnard
Saturday 27th Jul from 10:00 to 12:00
Cost £10

Cabaret is one of the most challenging musicals ever developed for the stage. Currently enjoying a successful revival in the West End, it has something to say to each new generation. In this illustrated lecture, we trace the origins of the show in Christopher Isherwoods Berlin stories and the film I Am a Camera. How did director Hal Prince and his team create a concept musical which, though very much of its time, has lent itself to many different kinds of restaging over the years? We will consider the ground-breaking score by John Kander and Fred Ebb, and how Bob Fosse re-envisioned the show for the 1972 film. What, finally, is the message of Cabaret and why do its themes and characters resonate so forcefully in the 21st century? Stephen spent 21 years as a specialist writer with Readers Digest before going freelance in 1999. He has been writing and lecturing on broadcasting, film and popular music on a part-time basis for over 30 years. He has run courses for the WEA, De Montfort University, the City University, and a number of Hertfordshire arts groups, His five published books include Studying Radio, the standard academic textbook on the subject.

Gelli Plate Printing 27/07/24

Tutor: Carly Simmons
Saturday 27th Jul from 10:00 to 12:30
Cost £26

Lets get printing! Gelli printing is a very fun and simple way of monoprinting with acrylic paint without a press. This will be a very informal relaxed workshop where we can share ideas and find inspiration for our gel printing projects. Suitable for beginners as well as the more experienced gelli printers! We will experiment with different types of materials, colours and paper, creating different marks and patterns. Be warned..Gelli printing is very addicitive and the possibilities are endless! All materials are supplied, but you are very welcome to bring anything along which you may wish to print on – old books, speciality paper or anything of an interesting texture that you may want to experiment with. You may wish to bring an apron. Carly is an award-winning textile artist with a BA (Hons) in Textile Design. She has exhibited at THOS, the James Hockey & Foyer Galleries as well as The Mall Gallery, London. She recently won the Applied Arts Award at Letchworth Broadway Gallery at their Summer Open Exhibition. Threads / Instagram @imcarlyann

Introduction to the Rigid Heddle Loom 27/07/24

Tutor: Amy Wilson
Saturday 27th Jul from 10:00 to 13:00
Cost £41

An introduction to weaving on the rigid heddle loom, Handwoven mats with rags, rope, twine and cotton. In this class we will use a variety of materials and look at ways of making your own yarns to enhance your weaving. There are so many ways in which you can explore your creativity on the rigid heddle loom! This class will introduce the construction of hardwearing fabrics suitable for making mats and table runners for your home. We will be working with rags from recycled materials, rope of various weights, twine and cottons to create woven mats and table runners. The workshop will cover: Several colour methods to use in your weaving, fading from dark to light and using shading to create visual effects. Using textured yarns and pick up sticks to make different woven structures, such as Rib, Basket and twills. Many ways to make your own yarns with recycled fabrics. Making practical items for your home edging and finishing your project. The loom will be set up for your arrival so you can get straight to the weaving. Join Amy for this fun creative weaving workshop make a wonderful item. To treasure for your home Amy Wilson Liliane textiles. Amy has over 25 years experience in fabric design and has been weaving for the past 16 years. After graduating from an embroidered textiles for Fashion degree at the London College of Fashion (2003) she then went on to establish her own design practice. She returned to education (2008) to complete a woven textile design BA (hons) degree at Norwich University of the Arts and has since completed a five year fellowship with the Digswell Arts Trust based in Hertfordshire. Amy has been running Textile courses, classes and workshops in Colleges, Arts centres, at Digswell Arts and for local groups since 2012 as well as working on woven sample designs and her own ranges of hand woven cloth. She regularly exhibits her work in galleries and at events across Hertfordshire and beyond.

Writing with Style 28/7/24

Tutor: Elizabeth Barber
28th Jul from 10:00 to 15:30
Cost £42

Would you like to add sparkle to your writing? What is that certain something that makes a reader want to read on? To find out, we’ll look at published works, try fun exercises and interact with other writers. Whether you’re new to writing, or have a fiction or non-fiction project on the go, this is an opportunity to add style to your writing and go home with new ideas and enthusiasm for your next project. Bring a packed lunch Elizabeth trained as a primary school teacher in the 1970s. After a long gap doing voluntary work, she returned to teaching as a supply teacher. She has always loved writing and has found going on writing courses a valuable way of learning about the craft. After some success writing stories for a comic, she moved on to writing fiction and non-fiction for county and national magazines. Since 2006 she has run ’Get Writing!’ at Letchworth Settlement. Elizabeth holds the Undergraduate Certificate in Creative Writing Part I (Fiction) and Part II (Non fiction) awarded by Cambridge Institute for Continuing Education.

A Mid Century Modern Textile Art Piece 28/7/24

Tutor: Nade Simmons
28th Jul from 10:00 to 14:00
Cost £34

Join Nade in creating a fun felt textile artwork in a mid century modern style! Choose from a 6 inch flower, bird or abstract design. We will cut and lay the felt then attach using Sashiko stitching and embellish with some simple embroidered stitches. All materials are included for you to take home a bright gorgeous piece of textile art! Please bring lunch with you. Tea, coffee and biscuits provided! Nade is an award-winning contemporary textile artist who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Arts. In 2020 Nade won a bursary with The School of Stitched Textiles studying Hand Embroidery and was accepted into the prestigious Society for Embroidered Work. Her work has been featured by Mr X Stitch, Hand & Lock and toured the UK with Madeira Threads. She was also a winner of the Wraptious prize, is an artist at The Wynd Gallery and a current Fellow at Digswell Arts Trust. Website whatnademade.co.uk Instagram / Threads account @whatnademade

Introduction to Watercolours 29/7/24

Tutor: Sally Taylor
Monday 29th Jul from 10:00 to 13:00
Cost £26

This is an opportunity for complete beginners to gain an insight into watercolours under the guidance of a skilled artist. Please bring whatever art materials and equipment you have. Essential starter items for beginners: Winsor & Newton tubes if possible, or half pans of the 3 primary colours of Red, Yellow and Blue, plus two earthy tones and a black: Winsor Yellow Cerulean Blue (Red Shade) Quinacridone Red Raw Sienna Burnt Umber Ivory Black 3 Brushes Flat 1 inch for washes, size 6 Round and a smaller brush for details Cheap practice paper (Hobbycraft sell packs), or use the backs of old paintings and A4 146lb Not or Rough Over time, you are advised to build the following kit: Brushes Round (size 12, 6 and 1) , Flat Wash or Hake (1 inch), Rigger (size 6), Fan (2 or 6) A paints pallet of coloured pans, or individual tubes. Buy Winsor & Newton which are a great mid-point manufacturer. Avoid the Works or cheap unbranded paints. Include Winsor Lemon, Yellow Ochre, Winsor Red, Alizarin Crimson, French Ultramarine, Winsor Blue, Winsor Green, Venetian Red, Burnt Umber, and Ivory Black. Pallet for mixing colours Watercolour paper; Not and Rough papers are textured. Hot press is smooth and better for detailed work and can handle wet washes well. Cheap practice paper (Hobbycraft sell packs), or use the backs of old paintings A3 Bockingford 146lb Not or Rough Saunders Waterford 140lbs, Hi White, Not or Rough for working very wet-in-wet. Board to fit easily accommodate A4 paper Pipette & small spray bottle Watercolour pencils Water pot Paper towels Masking tape If you have these, bring along: Cling film Salt Sponge Old toothbrush Water activated gummer paper An apron if you are worried about your clothing Sally graduated from the Central School of Art & Design in 1979 with a BA (Hons) in Textile Design, initially working as a knitwear designer and later as a designer and marketer, becoming a freelance artist and illustrator in 2017. More recently, Sally graduated from the University of Hertfordshire with a Master of Arts (Distinction) in Children’s Book Illustration and has created her own picture book for children featuring critically endangered animals incorporating AI technology. This book can be purchased directly from Sally via her website or from Amazon. Animals have featured a lot in Sallys work in recent years, with the childrens picture book, but also through painting in a realistic style, animals and birds which live in our beautiful world. Plus, Sally makes use of Brusho Pigment Crystals to create paintings as well as backgrounds for her illustration work. These pigments explode with colour when coming into contact with water, they are fun to use, sometimes creating unexpected results. Sallys work can be viewed at a variety of exhibitions around Hertfordshire including Open Studios and the Big Art Fair which provide an opportunity to show her paintings of the countryside she loves with realistic representations of animals and birds. Sally currently works closely with other artists as the Chair of Herts Visual Arts Forum, the Animal Alphabets illustration team and is a member of SG1 Business Club, Herts Visual Arts and the Society of Art for All Artists.

Flower Girl Beginners Embroidery Hoop

Tutor: Nade Simmons
Monday 29th Jul from 19:00 to 21:30
Cost £25

In this fun beginners class we will create a 6 inch hoop flower girl with chunky wool hair and flower embellishments using polymer clay, beads, sequins & simple embroidery stitches. You will be provided with a hoop with a simple minimalist face pre embroidered so that you can add your own jumper, hair and flowers! All materials are provided for you to take home a fun flower girl textile hoop! Nade is an award-winning contemporary textile artist who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Arts. In 2020 Nade won a bursary with The School of Stitched Textiles studying Hand Embroidery and was accepted into the prestigious Society for Embroidered Work. Her work has been featured by Mr X Stitch, Hand & Lock and toured the UK with Madeira Threads. She was also a winner of the Wraptious prize, is an artist at The Wynd Gallery and a current Fellow at Digswell Arts Trust. Website whatnademade.co.uk Instagram / Threads account @whatnademade