Inspiring Art and Craft Courses in the Lake District at Cowshed Creative 

 - something for everyone

We are so proud to receive this award for excellent 5 star provision from student recommendation & verified by Craft Courses after running art & craft workshops in the Lake District for only 12 months 

★★★★★   The place was amazing – a beautifully converted barn in stunning surroundings.                                                                 Michelle, Student feedback on Craft Courses website

★★★★★    'Another great art course at Cowshed!  The venue is terrific, with a great welcome,                        tasty food & excellent facilities.' Steve Student Feedback on Craft Courses website

You can BOOK our courses directly through our secure payment system, but if you prefer to use a cheque or Bacs please 

Welcome to Our 2022 Workshop Programme

 We are delighted to offer a wide range of workshops  

with our talented team of artists and craft tutors 

 Please get in touch if you would like any information about our courses or vouchers 

March

Mosaic in a Day Workshop

Join us for a fun and relaxing day learning the art of mosaic on this craft course.  Create a colourful plaque to hang on a wall, a trivet for those hot pots on your table or brighten up coffee breaks with your own mosaic tray.  You will learn about different materials and how to use mosaic tools, with lots of tips on design and pattern. Treat yourself to a great day out and take home an original mosaic of your own

24 March   10 - 4

£75 including lunch

Spring Lakeland Landscape

Enjoy the stunning views of the Kentmere valley and capture the natural beauty of the Lake District landscape and the early spring colour and light, using water colour and mixed media.  The course will combine practical painting and drawing exercises in the art studio with opportunities to work directly outdoors focusing on creating exciting textural foregrounds.  A great opportunity to develop painting skills and explore a variety of mixed media techniques

26 March   10 - 4

£75 including lunch

March Hare : Needle Felt

With spring in the air, what a great time to celebrate by creating your own March hare in wool.   This workshop is a great introduction to needle felting. Learn how to sculpt with fleece to create the limbs of the hare and how to attach them all together. As you work through the process you can choose the pose for your hare to create a characterful and sculptural figure. Once you have created a hare you will be able to make other woodland animals which Gill will talk you through & show samples.

31 March   10 - 4

£70 including lunch

April

Seaglass Jewellery Course

Early summer is a great time to comb the coast for sea glass, that's been tumbled smoothe by the waves. Transform and recycle the subtle coloured pieces into jewellery that is perfect for summer.  On this workshop you will learn to use a range of tools and develop jewellery making skills, working with sterling silver alongside your sea glass, to create beautiful finished pieces of  jewellery.

23 April    10 - 4

£75  including lunch  

Spinner Ring – Silver Jewellery

Spinning rings are both contemporary and mystical. Created from two silver rings; the small middle ring spins around the wider inner band encircling the finger. The spinning motion is perfect for meditation and reducing stress. Join us to create a unique piece of silver jewellery that will be a joy to wear or make a perfect gift and learn a range of jewellery techniques in one day.  This workshop is suitable for beginners and more experienced makers 

24 April   10 - 4

£75 including lunch

Indigo Dye & Shibori Techniques

Shibori is the Japanese art of indigo resist dyeing. In this hands-on craft course you will learn the basics of Shibori inspired folding, binding, clamping and stitching techniques.  Dipped in Indigo, you will create your own stunning patterns on fabric. Create a stash of samples, working up to a Shibori cushion or cotton scarf.  Perfect for the summer!

26 April  10 - 4

£75  including lunch

Wildlife and Hedgerow in Lino Printing

Be inspired by the wildlife and hedgerows of the Kentmere valley and learn the skills you will need to cut and print your own unique lino design, creating a small edition of stunning prints to take home. 

With expert guidance, explore the importance of mark making and texture. Enjoy the rhythm of cutting and interpreting your own design into the lino plate.

You will learn hand printing and burnishing techniques and produce both one colour and multicolour designs by varying the inking up. 

An ideal introduction to printmaking for beginners and improvers.

28 April   10 - 4

£75 including lunch 

Willow Garden Structures

On this craft course, learn the skills to create your own willow ‘tipi’ garden supports that will stand you proud in your borders. 

These beautiful willow structures are the perfect natural addition to the garden providing support for a wide variety of flowering plants and veg; roses, sweet peas, runner beans, peas and miniature squash. Create your own contemporary look using traditional rural crafts skills.  No previous experience is required.

29 April 10 - 4

£75 including lunch

May

Drawing Local Wildlife in Mixed Media

Join us on a traditional Lakeland farm to develop the basic drawing skills you need to draw animals confidently and to observe animals in their natural environment.   You will have plenty of opportunities to observe, sketch and photograph animals on the farm and experiment with water-  soluble brush pens. 

7 May   10 - 4

£75  including lunch

Hand Building and Raku Firing

2 day course

Raku is a really amazing process that includes firing your own pots outside in a custom made ‘open’ kiln to create unique patterns and designs on your pieces. Raku firing is one of the most dramatic and daring ways to fire pottery. It was developed in Japan in the early 1550s by Zen Buddhists to create ceramics for the Japanese tea ceremony.

The first day you will develop hand-building skills to create a range of pots or models that will exploit raku glaze effects.  These will be dried and biscuit fired ready for you to experiment with glazes and oxides the following week. Chris will guide you through the stages

The following week, prepare for an exciting workshop working with an outdoor kiln with controlled use of fire and smoke!  ‘Raku’ loosely means ‘happiness in the unexpected’.  The effects you can achieve can be stunning. 

8 & 15 May 10 - 4

£160 including lunch on both days 

Understanding Your Camera Workshop

Take charge of your camera! This course is ideal for a budding photographer who is bewildered by the array of settings, tends to set the camera on Auto or simply needs a refresher. Learn how to use the controls, discover the elements for strong composition and how to review your photos effectively, to ensure superb results.  There will be plenty of opportunity to practice, explore the area and enjoy the amazing views.

12 May  10 - 4

£75 including lunch  

Portraiture

A fantastic opportunity to create a portrait of some one special. With expert tuition from Sky TV Portrait artist Catherine MacDiarmid explore some different methods of using photographs as source material for portraits, culminating in a final portrait of a loved one or a fellow course member.  Any media can be used for your final portrait and expert advice and individual guidance will be given throughout.  

19 May  10 - 4

£75 including lunch 

Kantha Lavender Bag

Kantha is a meditative rhythmic sewing technique that enables the mind to rest whilst creating a beautiful design. During this relaxing wellness session you will stitch either a hare or tree of life, using simple stitches on linen.   At the end of the session, you will be familiar with basic kantha techniques and stitches and leave rested with a design for a scented lavender bag 

20 May  10 - 4

£70 including lunch 

June

Summer Lakeland Landscape

- Watercolour & Pastel

Enjoy the stunning views of the Kentmere Valley and capture the natural beauty of the area.  You will explore approaches to drawing and painting with soft pastel, using water colour as a base and a clear summer day in the landscape as inspiration.  The day will start indoors developing skills and then we will go outdoors, weather permitting to work directly from observation in a beautiful landscape. A great opportunity to develop your painting skills and explore a variety of mixed media techniques.  

4 June   10 - 4

£75 including lunch

Creative Applique Journals

Create a unique journal to keep notes, photos and drawings in.  Explore how to select and bond fabrics together and draw or copy an image onto the cover.  The theme on the cover is up to you: flowers, animals a seascape, a meadow. skills and explore a variety of mixed media techniques.  This journal is the perfect way to make something personal to you but could also make the perfect gift for someone else. 

9 June  10 - 4

£75  including lunch

Wildlife and Hedgerow in Lino Printing

Be inspired by the wildlife and hedgerows of the Kentmere valley and learn the skills you will need to cut and print your own unique lino design, creating a small edition of stunning prints to take home. 

With expert guidance, explore the importance of mark making and texture. Enjoy the rhythm of cutting and interpreting your own design into the lino plate.

You will learn hand printing and burnishing techniques and produce both one colour and multicolour designs by varying the inking up. 

An ideal introduction to printmaking for beginners and improvers.

18 June  10 - 4

£75 including lunch 

Mosaic in a Day Workshop

Join us for a fun and relaxing day learning the art of mosaic on this craft course.  Create a colourful plaque to hang on a wall, a trivet for those hot pots on your table or brighten up coffee breaks with your own mosaic tray.  You will learn about different materials and how to use mosaic tools, with lots of tips on design and pattern. Treat yourself to a great day out and take home an original mosaic of your own

19 June     10 - 4

£75 including lunch

Indigo Dye & Shibori Techniques

Shibori is the Japanese art of indigo resist dyeing. In this hands-on craft course you will learn the basics of Shibori inspired folding, binding, clamping and stitching techniques.  Dipped in Indigo, you will create your own stunning patterns on fabric. Create a stash of samples, working up to a Shibori cushion or cotton scarf.  Perfect for the summer!

23 June  10 - 4

£75  including lunch

July

Arranging Flowers : 2 in 1 day

Pressed Flowers and a Hand tied Fresh Bouquet

Enjoy using local & seasonal flowers to create a stunning bouquet. Learn how to choose materials, consider more unusual ‘ingredients’ and discover how to bring different elements together to achieve a natural look, considering colour, texture and shape.

After lunch learn how to select and prepare fresh flowers for pressing throughout the seasons.  You will perfect this fresh and updated art using a flower press which is yours to keep. An abundance of local pre-pressed flowers, hand-made papers and materials will be available so you can create a range of pressed flower art-work including pictures, cards and gift tags A great workshop to celebrate the Lake District!

30 June     10 - 4

£70 including lunch

Bountiful Baskets

 2 Day Craft Course

Learn a traditional rural craft and make your own timeless round basket with a handle. A course for anyone who likes to use their hands, enjoys the smell and creaking of willow as they work on their woven basket and wants the satisfaction of creating something unique with lots of practical uses. 

This two day course will equip you with the skills to make a truly original basket and provide you with the confidence and ability to work on further baskets at home.  No previous experience required

2 & 3 July   10 - 4.30

£155 including lunch both days

Hand Building and Raku Firing

2 day course

Raku is a really amazing process that includes firing your own pots outside in an ‘open’ kiln to create unique patterns and designs on your pieces. Raku firing is one of the most dramatic and daring ways to fire pottery, developed in Japan in the 16th century 

Day one is dedicated to making, with an emphasis on clay forms that exploit raku glaze effects like crazing, copper flashing and contrast of clay body to glaze. Students will be guided through hand building methods, developing slab, pinch and coil techniques so they can complete large pieces as well as bird and animal forms.  These will be biscuit fired ready for you to glazing the following week.

The following week, prepare for an exciting workshop working with an outdoor kiln with controlled use of fire and smoke!  ‘Raku’ loosely means ‘happiness in the unexpected’.  The effects you can achieve can be stunning. 

5  & 12 July  10 - 4

£150 including lunch on both days 

Weave a Scarf or Pattern Sampler 

Warps will be set up and ready to go leaving you to focus on weaving.  Follow simple instructions to create a pattern sampler, or you might prefer to make up your own design, experimenting with colour and/or texture using a variety of yarns.  Either way, you'll have plenty of time to weave a scarf.

Suitable for complete beginners or improvers.  If you have some previous experience using a 4 shaft loom and would like to progress to 8 shafts, please email info@farmpods.co.uk when you make your booking.

8 & 9 July    10 - 4

£150 including lunch on both days

Stacker Ring – Silver Jewellery

Stacking rings are ideal to mix and match with your existing jewellery. On this course you will practice in brass or copper and then, move onto silver.  You will explore various ways to texture the metal and learn different jewellery making techniques, including shaping, forming, soldering and basic stone setting.  You will then learn to measure and make at least three rings. You should leave at the end of the day with a set of shiny new rings proud in the knowledge that you made them yourself.

16 July  10 - 4

£75 including lunch

Seaglass Jewellery Workshop

Early summer is a great time to comb the coast for sea glass, that's been tumbled smoothe by the waves. Transform and recycle the subtle coloured pieces into jewellery that is perfect for summer.  On this workshop you will learn to use a range of tools and develop jewellery making skills, working with sterling silver alongside your sea glass, to create beautiful finished pieces of  jewellery.

17 July   10 - 4

£75  including lunch  

August

Drawing Local Wildlife in Mixed Media

Join us on a traditional Lakeland farm to develop the basic drawing skills you need to draw animals confidently and to observe animals in their natural environment.   You will have plenty of opportunities to observe, sketch and photograph animals on the farm and experiment with water-  soluble brush pens.  The workshop will cover steps on how to draw animals using simple shapes and lines, the concept of gesture drawing combined with observation and some basic animal anatomy.

26 Aug 10 - 4

£75  including lunch

September

Expressive Portraits in Oil Paint

Learn to paint quick and lively oil portraits in this one day workshop that focuses on expressive oil portrait painting techniques.  With expert tuition from Sky TV Portrait artist Catherine MacDiarmid, you will be guided through a series of exercises exploring a variety of oil painting techniques, use of different painting brushes/tools and different colour palettes.  It is designed to challenge your practice and broaden your approaches to portrait painting. 

Working from a model in the afternoon will enable you to put those skills into practice with a portrait from life. 

3 Sept 10 - 4

£85 including lunch and model in the afternoon

Mosaic in a Day Workshop

Join us for a fun and relaxing day learning the art of mosaic on this craft course.  Create a colourful plaque to hang on a wall, a trivet for those hot pots on your table or brighten up coffee breaks with your own mosaic tray.  You will learn about different materials and how to use mosaic tools, with lots of tips on design and pattern. Treat yourself to a great day out and take home an original mosaic of your own.

8 Sept      10 - 4

£75 including lunch

Earrings and Pendants

Silver Jewellery 

Focusing on a range of jewellery making techniques, the workshop is designed to develop your skills, explore surface pattern and textural possibilities and encourage you to create your own silver jewellery designs. Expect to make pendants or earrings that are tactile and unique as every pass through the rolling mill is different, and every hammer blow brings exciting changes to your piece. This workshop is perfect for complete beginners and those with some experience.

£75 including lunch