Creative papermaking with natural colours with Jane Ponsford

Ref: S3D37544

Book now

Places available

About this course

Explore colour in papermaking using natural dyes and pigments, including some from the gardens at West Dean. Use traditional and accessible papermaking techniques with cotton pulp, then dye and stain your papers to make simple books or handmade paper artworks.

Course Description

Jane Ponsford will lead an exploration of colour in papermaking using natural inks/ dyes and pigments, including subtle colours from the beautiful autumn/ winter gardens at West Dean.

After an initial practical day running through traditional papermaking techniques, use of Hollander beater, moulds and deckles, etc., we will take a short walk to draw inspiration and materials from the gardens.

The second day will focus on colour and using the paper made on the previous day, although there will be further opportunities to make paper throughout the three days.

The course will be taught by means of demonstrations and practical work, as well as individual attention to support your project. There will be information and handouts to allow you to take these skills further independently after the course. We will make paper traditionally using a Hollander beater and professional equipment, making and using cotton pulp to form sheets, but we will also explore more easily accessible techniques before experimenting with dyeing and dip-dyeing and making natural inks to mark and stain our paper.

At the end of the course, you will have made some beautiful sheets of paper, carefully considered artist books responding to natural colour and other two and three-dimensional handmade paper artworks. You will have experimented with papermaking and making and using natural dyes using a range of techniques and you will have gained and built upon skills to take further in your own work.

This course is particularly suitable for those with an interest in papermaking and fibre crafts.

Course Materials

Included

Materials provided:

  • Cotton rag to be beaten in the Hollander beater
  • Prepared cotton rag pulp which can be beaten using blenders
  • Local plant material -Clay
  • Chalk, etc.
  • Adhesives and binders where necessary
  • Linen bookbinding thread and other thread and yarn

Equipment provided by tutor and/ or West Dean:

  • Blenders
  • Moulds and deckles of various sizes
  • Vats
  • Felts
  • Pelion
  • J-cloths
  • Bookbinding tools: awls, needles, nip press, etc.
  • Hollander beater (tutor’s own)

What students need to bring

  • clean lidded containers: jars or empty milk containers or similar for inks/ dyes
  • plastic bags to take home work or for collecting materials
  • Sketchbook/ Notebook
  • Pens, pencils

Available to buy

Available from shop: As required: ink, paper, thread, scalpel and blades

Available from tutor: Additional dry cotton rag pulp sheets, pelion, prepared paper making additives, wire mesh sheets

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Timetable

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 7.15pm for registration. Students arriving earlier are welcome to purchase dinner in the College Dining Room from 6pm.
Students meet their tutor in the Bar at 7.30pm prompt to go to studios.
First Teaching session: 7.30pm - 9pm (attendance is essential)

Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am - 5pm
Morning session: 9.15am - 12.45pm including coffee/tea break
Lunch break: 12.45pm - 2pm*
Afternoon session: 2pm - 5pm including coffee/tea break
Teaching finishes: 5pm
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm
Teaching finishes: 3pm

Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am. Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.

*Lunch can be purchased on campus, view options

General Information

Tutors

Jane Ponsford

Jane is an experienced tutor who teaches papermaking workshops in a variety of settings from museums and galleries to schools and in the landscape. Recently she has run workshops for Stroud International Textiles and The British Museum. She is a member of IAPMA and has exhibited nationally and internationally.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

Courses of interest

Paper folding: skills and techniques

20 to 21 Sep 2025 | London
Places available
Tutor: Kate Colin |
Beginners
£275

An introduction to fan making

23 Nov 2025 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Caroline Allington |
Beginners
£213

Wallpaper printing masterclass

5 to 9 Oct 2025 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Justyna Medon |
Beginners/Intermediate
£646

Traditional Turkish Ebru (paper marbling) techniques

3 Nov 2025 | London
Places available
Tutor: Dilara Karaagac |
Beginners/Intermediate
£135
Further study options for art craft and design short courses

Further study options

Take the next step in your creative practice, with foundation level to Masters in Fine Art study. 

Depending on your experience, start with an Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (one year, part-time), a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design made up of 10 short courses taken over two years (part-time) or advance your learning with our BA (Hons) Art and Contemporary Craft: Materials, Making, and Place (six years part-time). All will help you develop core skills, find direction in your practice and build an impressive portfolio in preparation for artist opportunities or higher-level study. See all degree and diploma courses.