How the retreat works….and what to expect
A number of years ago, a friend and I had been chatting about how we wanted to book a retreat, as a present to ourselves, but also as a way of inspiring new work, doing something different, and meeting like-minded people. But we couldn’t find a single retreat in the UK that offered what we wanted!
So, I decided to create my own. Because of this, the Beacons Creative Retreat is a different to many others.
Open to both aspiring and established artists and craftspeople, as well as their partners, we have all seen first-hand that trying different disciplines can excite the imagination and feed the soul, with a positive outcome for your own craft.
The workshops have been carefully chosen so that there is something for everyone, and the Retreat offers a range of activities that you may have always thought of trying, as well as some you might never have even considered.
I carefully choose relaxing and unique venues, so you can be confident that all your workshops will be fun, fascinating, and in beautiful settings..
The tutors who join the team are seasoned makers and artists, many of whom I have worked with for many years. They are very experienced in their practice, with many high recommendations, and full of enthusiasm, so you will be assured of workshops with professionals who love to share their skills and facilitate your own.
The Artisan Workshops:
Peg loom weaving, with Helen Hickman
Weave Welsh wool fleece in natural & plant dyed colours using a wooden peg loom to create a soft, comfy, durable sitting mat; peg loom weaving needs no prior experience and is very satisfying!
‘Nellie and Eve’, an indie yarn company based in rural West Wales, UK. Founder & dyer Helen Hickman hand dyes British wool yarns using botanical extracts & natural dyeing methods.
Collograph Printing with Rachel Cadman
Explore the technique of collagraph, printing with texture and tone. It’s very simple, but achieves beautiful results. You can add different textues and papers to the plate and Botanical elements. They are then printed onto damp paper using an etching press. It’s relaxing and very enjoyable and needs no prior experience.
Rachel is an eco printmaker and tutor in the Brecon Beacons in Wales. Her work features pigments in pebbles foraged from the river or beautiful colours from plants processed into light stable and earth friendly oil based inks.
Letterpress printing with Francesca Kay
Francesca Kay shows great it is to make and print words the old fashioned way with printing blocks and and little tabletop printing press. Come and have a go at printing words unchanged for hundreds of years. A hands-on workshop where you can print your name or words important to you. You will take away your own words, and have the opportunity to.print your own poster with wood letters prepared by Francesca. Come and get a little inky, and find out how to make a good impression.
Francesca lives in Hay on Wye, and is a poet, letterpress printer and paper artist.
Painting Workshop with Miriam Vincent
Miriam guides people on a creative journey that will delight & surprises them. The workshops are for absolute beginners & curious creatives that are wanting to releases their inner critic & embrace their artistic intuition! Miriam will help you explore your imagination, so that you enter a state of flow, because when you are in that flow state, that is when the magic really happens!
Miriam is a local artist, who runs many painting and drawing workshops, including complete novices.
Paper making with Amanda Rose
This workshop will take you through the process of hand making paper. You will learn about paper pulp, mould and deckle and ways of adding detail such as thread, pressed flowers or seeds.
This wonderful technique of making handmade paper will connect you with natural materials and offer the opportunity to create your own.
Amanda lives in mid Wales, and is a storyteller through her pottery, poems and printmaking.
Pottery wheel sessions with Melanie Van de Velde
Come along to this intimate pottery wheel session practicing on one of 4 pottery wheels for a closely guided experience with Melanie Made Mud, a local pottery tutor.
You will learn how to prepare your clay, centre it on the wheel and throw simple cups and bowls, up to 4 pieces.
This experience includes everything you need to make and finish your creations ready for firing – you can either choose to take your pots away as they are (unfired for painting at home) or opt to have them glazed, fired and posted (tutor will charge postage fees for this option).
Silver ring making with Jayne Hunt
In this workshop, you will learn how to texture, shape and then form a beautiful wrap ring, using 100% recycled silver, with local silversmith Jayne Hunt.
Jayne runs her business from her solar powered garden studio just a few miles away from the Retreat.
Willow weaving with Anna Stickland
Come and weave your own basket – ready for harvesting berries – in this one day course suitable for beginners.
On this course you will make a traditional stake and strand basket, weaving the circular base, before adding side stakes and learning several weaves on the side, using a mix of colourful willow . A trac border and simple overhandle will complete your basket!
Anna is a professionally qualified basketmaker based in South Wales, where she grows and harvests her own organic willow.
I hope you agree that this list gives amazing scope for choosing to learn something new, develop existing skills, and learn with each other… and take home several creations of traditional artisan crafts.
In order to book your workshops and room, please click HERE to choose your options, and then you will receive an email confirming your choices, followed by an email regarding your deposit.
NB: please note that you need to fill in the workshop choices when booking so we can allocate spaces accordingly.
A Typical Weekend schedule:
Friday:
5:00pm Arrival and Registration.
7:00pm Dinner in the Farmhouse Kitchen
8:30/9:00pm Drinks and chats in the Great Barn, or curl up by the fire with a book
Saturday:
8-9:00am Breakfast in the Farmhouse Kitchen
10:00am – 1:00pm Workshops – there will be Retreat staff and good signage to the workshop rooms
1:00pm Lunch in the Farmhouse Kitchen
2:00pm – 5/6:00pm Workshops
7:15pm Dinner in the Farmhouse Kitchen
After dinner, enjoy a glass of wine of coffee, or curl up by the fire with a book
Sunday:
8-9:00am Breakfast in the Farmhouse Kitchen
10:00am – 1:00pm Workshops – there will be Retreat staff and good signage to the workshop venues
1:00pm Lunch in the Farmhouse Kitchen
2:00pm – 5/6:00pm Workshops
7:15pm Dinner in the Farmhouse Kitchen
After dinner, enjoy a glass of wine of coffee in the Great Barn, and please feel free to bring your creations to share with the group if you wish!
Monday:
8-9:00am Breakfast in the Farmhouse Kitchen
9:30am, Checking out, followed by departure – taking with you your ideas, creations, inspiration and wonderful memories!
Creative Retreats 