Exhibition Workshops 2024

The 2024 Festival and Exhibition is now over, but read on for general info about the Workshops we offered in 2024…

We are very pleased to be hosting the following workshops this year:

An Introduction to Chinese Brush Painting

Thursday 1st August and now also Friday 2nd August, 10am-4pm

Led by Leo Donaghy

£70, including materials and refreshments
This workshop is proving to be very popular, and we are pleased to be able the offer the additional Friday option.

Leo works from his studio near Ellesmere in Shropshire, painting in many media and designing for clients. His painting is informed by everything that in some way provokes the senses. He expresses this by drawing and sketching small thumbnails and then likes to ‘grow the work’ in scale.

Chinese Brush Painting is an ancient art and is one of the longest continuous art traditions in the world. The workshop will look at symbols for the four seasons; these are represented by Bamboo, Cherry Blossom, Orchid and Chrysanthemum. Participants will learn how to use the special brushes, made from different materials, and with a few strokes make leaves, flowers, insects and birds. This is quite different from western watercolour where layers are slowly built up.

With Leo’s expert guided tuition participants will complete a piece of work to take home, which will be placed in a circular mount for display.

Previous experience isn’t necessary but a basic understanding of watercolour painting may be useful.

There’s more about Leo on his website:
Leo’s Website

Mixed Media Landscapes with Free Machine Embroidery

Tuesday 6th August, 10am-4pm

Led by Delny Fitrzyk

£70, including materials and refreshments

Delny is a Shropshire-based mixed media textile artist and teacher whose work is inspired by nature and her surroundings, particularly the Shropshire landscape. Her work normally starts life as a mixed media painting with inks, dyes and watercolours. She then develops the work using pens, pencils, collage and sometimes simple printing techniques. The final element is free machine embroidery which she uses to enhance and embellish the image.

This workshop will give participants the chance to create their own mixed media landscape using painting techniques such as inks and bleach, watercolours, salt, wax resist and much more. Participants will then have the opportunity to work onto their paintings using free machine stitching. Delny is an experienced teacher and will guide you through the creative process and respond to individual needs and ideas. No prior experience is therefore necessary.

A sewing machine is required for the workshop but please make contact if this is a problem.

There’s more about Delny on her website:
Delny’s Website

How to Book

Bookings for these workshops are now open. Unfortunately, we do not offer online booking for these. If you wish to attend a workshop, either phone or register your interest via email to , including a contact phone number. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Alternatively, please download a Booking Form using the button below and send this to us with a cheque:
Download Booking Form

Workshop attendees must be a minimum of 18yrs old.

Refreshments will be provided at all workshops. Attendees will be advised nearer the time as to what essentials they may need to bring. Please allow time to browse the exhibition, to which you will have complimentary entry.

Please note that places are limited on these workshops, and so early booking is advised.