The Brecon Beacons National Park

Brecon Beacons National Park one of Britains breathing spaces

Art & Craft Weekend Breaks

@ The Hill Education & Conference Centre

Set in four acres of countryside and overlooking the town of Abergavenny and the Blorenge Mountain, The Hill is a delightful place for a weekend activity break.

The Hill offers a range of day, weekend and week-long breaks covering a variety of subjects, there is something to suit everyone.

AUGUST COURSES

18 – 22 August
Watercolour Landscapes on Location
Tutor: Diana Mead
Starting on Monday afternoon with a Studio session to prepare and practise for painting on location. The course offers three full days of landscape painting in the beautiful countryside around Abergavenny, Locations include ancient builidings, canals and spectacular scenes. Evening sessions will focus on evaluation and discussion with demonstration as needed.

SEPTEMBER COURSES

26 – 28 September
Woodcarving Weekend
Tutor: Sharon Littley
This weekend will introduce you to the craft of woodcarving. Your tutor will guide you through the techniques and skills required to enjoy this fascinating hobby.

26 – 28 September
Canals, Boats & Buildings & Other Waterway Themes
Tutor: Patrick Oates
Painting Canals, Barges, Maritime & Navigational Life using Gouache, Pastel and Coloured Pencil is an unfamiliar challenge to new and experienced artists given the diversity of our coastline and inherited network of early industrial waterways. We find ever changing seasons and weather, combined with the subtle shapes of watercraft and curious architectural structures, a compelling subject to draw, but don't they seem a daunting prospect to draw? Patrick's demonstrations and illustrated slide lectures encourage accessible techniques to help you achieve satisfying results in this approach to picture making. The media we use is fresh and forgiving compared to acrylics, and you are supported through easy to follow exercises in a way that accomplishes proud results through visits and practical sessions.

OCTOBER COURSES

3 – 5 October
Calligraphy and Illumination
Tutor: Jan Mehigan
This weekend workshop is suitable for students with some knowledge of calligraphy or lettering who wish to learn the techniques of decoration and illumination using real gold and colour. Enjoy learning more than the basic principles of gilding, which can be used to enhance your calligraphy or just on its own. Illuminate your calligraphic text or a small miniature, create a vibrant decorative letter or design a delightful gilded border. Students can bring their own original designs or select from the resources provided. You may add decoration to a piece of calligraphy that you have already designed.With Christmas just around the corner why not use the designs to decorate Christmas cards or to give as personalised Christmas presents.

3 – 5 October
Silver Jewellery Weekend
Tutor: Stephen O’Keeffe
This distinctive approach to the craft of jewellery making has been developed over many years of teaching. The practical course will provide beginners with an invaluable introduction to the basic skills and techniques and those with some experience of jewellery making with much to interest and inspire them. Rings, pendants, chokers, hair ornaments, bracelets and bangles can be made of silver, bronze and other materials. Techniques covered include fitting, filing, silver soldering, melting, fusing, forging, planishing, drilling stone setting and polishing. Use of the rolling mill, the punch and die and the doming block will also be experienced. Jewellery making is a highly skilled craft. This course is about how to gain success by concentrating on the simple things, finding alternative ways of doing the difficult things, and if possible, avoiding them altogether.


10 – 12 October
Swift Jackets
Tutor: Ann Runacres
Why not make yourself a unique jacket for the Autumn? Maybe to match the bag you made earlier in the year? An original fabric is made up with a variety of small squares, using the strip piecing method, and then the jacket is very simple to assemble. It will look wonderful in a kaleidoscope of colour or just a small range of shaded colours.

24 – 26 October
Chinese Brush Painting
Tutor: Pauline Cherrett
This Autumn course will include some of the colours associated with the season, and the fruits harvested at this time of the year. Students of all abilities will be shown strokes and compositions to assist in starting and developing their work through a wide range of subjects. Cultural background will be discussed.

24 – 26 October
Textile Landscapes
Tutor: Chris Gray
During this course we will be designing and producing a small landscape-inspired tapestry. Beginning with collage and stitch, we will make an abstract landscape which will then be used as a design-base for a "cartoon" for the woven tapestry.
With exciting yarns, threads and fibres, a beautiful "landscape" will be produced using very simple techniques.
No previous experience is necessary, all materials will be supplied at an additional cost of £10 per person.

NOVEMBER COURSES

1 November
Flower Arranging – Rustic with a touch of Sparkle
Tutor: Katherine Kear
Get ready for the Festive Season. Join Katherine, for a hands on workshop suitable for both beginners and experienced florists. During the worskshop you will be give the oppurtunity to create a lovely table setting and pick up some interesting ideas on how to decorate your house for Christmas. The emphasis will be on natural designs but you won’t keep the sparkle out completely. All materials will be provided at cost, approximately £20-£30. Don’t forget your scissors & note book and pencil

7 – 9 November
Picture Framing
Tutor: Aza Adlam
Learn how to frame your favourite pictures. Tutor Aza, has over tweny years experience as a picture framer, she will guide you through the techniques and provide you with a mass of tips and advice on the best colours and combinations of frames and mounts. You will come away from the weekend with the skills and knowledge to frame your favourite pictures to their best advantage.


7 – 9 November
Learn to work with Mosaics
Tutor: Priscilla Wheater
This mosaic course has been designed to introduce and develop the two methods of working with mosaics. We will look at the historical use of this fascinating and practical craft and work on two projects using a variety of materials, including glass, ceramics and ‘found’ objects . This is very much a ‘hands on’ course, and suitable for all abilities, and above all, it should be fun and we learn a lot!


7 – 9 November
Putting Punch in your Watercolour
Tutor: Arnold Lowrey
This weekend will explore ways to put punch into your watercolour. Bring a failed watercolour with you and Arnold will illustrate ways to turn it into a winner.

14 – 16 November
Bobbin Lace Weekend
Tutor: Glenna Paynter
This weekend is suitable for those who wish to improve their lacemaking skills in pleasant surroundings. Suitable for all levels of ability you will join a friendly group of lacemakers and experienced tutor Glenna for the weekend.


14 – 16 November
Beginners Oil Painting
Tutor: Diana Mead
Oil painting is enjoying a revival of interest. This course will establish good painting practice for beginners or act as a refresher course for continuing or returning students. Experience the excitement of oil painting and discover the boundless possibilities of creativity it can inspire.

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Art & Craft Weekend Breaks is in Abergavenny Monmouthshire

The Brecon Beacons National Park

The Brecon Beacons National Park