Join us for an inspiring summer school exploring the theme of Going Green, where you will create striking tactile artworks with a strong focus on environmental sustainability. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, you will experiment with colour, form, texture, and sculpture, using traditional craft techniques to unlock your creativity.

Evening Day 1: Colour from Nature
Begin with an inspirational talk by Alice about her artistic practice and the techniques you will be learning. Explore natural dyeing to create your own colour palette, foraging botanicals from West Dean Gardens for the hapa-zome technique. Experiment with pigments through bundle dyeing and develop vibrant botanical patterns. Conclude with a meditative exercise, painting with natural dye inks in an observational, reflective session.

Day 2: Stitching Techniques
Learn traditional textile methods including six embroidery stitches, four appliqué techniques, patchwork, and quilting. Begin experimenting with your dyed fabrics, guided by Alice, to generate ideas for your final artwork.

Day 3: Sculptural Creations
Move from 2D into 3D by applying basic pattern-cutting techniques to design a mini sculpture, exploring form and structure hands-on.

Day 4: Rope-Making
Discover rope-making as a tactile skill, enhancing your artwork or creating functional items such as keyrings, coasters, and decorative pieces.

Days 5 and 6: Refining and Showcasing
Refine your ideas and skills under Alice’s guidance, transforming your naturally dyed fabrics into a completed piece of artwork. The week culminates with a celebratory showcase of your creative journey.

Summer School Highlights
The Summer School week is an immersive learning experience with more time to develop your creativity and embrace opportunities for creative development beyond your chosen course. A detailed timetable for your Summer School week will be given to you on arrival. This will include:

• Short inspirational talks by tutors and displays of their work
• A short creative experience session in another discipline/media or course
• An optional evening at the Chichester Festival Theatre (discounted if pre-booked through West Dean)
• An optional lunchtime tour of West Dean Gardens, the historic rooms at West Dean College, or West Dean Tapestry Studio
• A celebration dinner on the last evening themed on ‘Fantasy and Myth’. Feel free to respond to the theme if you wish
• Informal end-of-course group reviews and displays of students' work in studios

All lunches and evening meals are provided for residential and non-residential students during summer school due to planned activities/events in the early evenings.

Included

The tutor will provide a selection of specialist materials. The College will supply most of the remaining course materials.

What students need to bring

• Sketchbook and pencils/pens
• Inspirational objects, books, photographs, or sketches
• Examples of previous work (optional)
• Any sewing equipment you prefer, e.g. embroidery hoops, thimbles, or needles
• Optional - bring your own sewing machine, fabrics, threads, and tools
• Optional - bring fabrics you would like to experiment with dyeing

Additional information

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

Arrival day - first date of course
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration  
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm-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 (lunch included)  
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 - last date of course
Course teaching: 9.15am-3pm (lunch included)  
Teaching finishes: 3pm  

All lunches and evening meals are provided for residential and non-residential students during Summer School due to planned activities/events in the early evenings.  
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.  
Several evening events are planned throughout the week, a detailed timetable for your Summer School will be given to you on arrival.

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