Short Courses for Spring - West Dean - Chris Ison

Short Courses for Spring
1 March 2026 to 31 May 2026

Spring is a season of renewal, and there’s no better time to awaken your creativity. Immerse yourself in inspiring arts and crafts courses at West Dean this spring.

Whether you're in Sussex or London, we offer the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in art, with our spring courses designed for every skill level.

Our diverse spring course selection includes: painting & drawing, textiles, pottery & ceramics, jewellery & silversmithing, bookbinding, sculpture, photography and many more.

If you have specific months in mind, check out our variety of creative spring short courses in March, April and May.

Why not turn your course into a creative retreat? Book a beautiful period room at our Sussex campus and enjoy an art short break with friends or family. Plus, with West Dean Gardens right on your doorstep, you'll find extra inspiration in the stunning spring colours during your stay.

Give the gift of creativity to someone special this spring with a Short Course gift voucher.  They can be used in full or as part-payment on all of our short courses and make the ideal experience gift for all ages.

Explore our spring art & craft short courses and book your place today!

 

Painting a gentle portrait inspired by Gwen John

1 to 3 May 2026 | London
Places available
Tutor: Louise Rainbow |
Beginners/Intermediate
£430

Basic watercolour techniques

1 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Sandrine Maugy |
Beginners
£204

Stencil printing – nature-inspired patterns on fabric

1 to 4 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Pauline Greuell |
Suitable for all
£662

Drawing trees

1 to 3 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Natasha Lien |
Suitable for all
£411

Still life oil painting – beginners

1 to 3 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: George Popesco |
Beginners
£409

Wood engraving

1 to 3 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Cathryn Kuhfeld |
Suitable for all
£434

Writing poetry – an introduction

2 May 2026 | London
Places available
Tutor: John McCullough |
Beginners
£125
Nowhere Tapestry by Philip Sanderson

Tapestry weaving – an introduction

2 May 2026 | London
Places available
Tutor: Philip Sanderson |
Beginners
£130

Jewellery making for beginners

2 to 3 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Laila Smith |
Beginners
£414

Making jewellery in silver

3 to 8 May 2026 | West Dean
1 place available
Tutor: Sarah Macrae |
Suitable for all
£934

Ink drawing – light and reflection

5 to 8 May 2026 | West Dean
1 place available
Tutor: Maxine Relton |
Suitable for all
£608

Porcelain for beginners – throwing and turning

7 to 10 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Louisa Taylor |
Intermediate
£653

Experimental drawing and collage

8 to 11 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Annabel Tilley |
Suitable for all
£605

Experimental mixed media painting

8 to 11 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Helen Turner |
Intermediate/Advanced
£632

Sculptural textile basketry – inspired by plant structures

8 to 10 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Mary Crabb |
Suitable for all
£421

Printmaking with collage

9 to 10 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Vicky Oldfield |
Beginners
£405

Conservation of Transport & Industrial Collections

11 to 14 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Dave Morris
£1,063

Acrylic painting for beginners

11 to 14 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Brian Smith |
Beginners
£608

Modelling ceramic animals

14 to 17 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Alison Pink |
Suitable for all
£746

Exploring layers – monotype, mixed media, stitched textiles

14 to 17 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Amarjeet Nandhra |
Beginners/Intermediate
£622

Metal sculpture – make a dachshund in a day

15 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Bryony Knox |
Beginners
£213

Chasing and repoussé in copper – introduction to embossing in copper

15 to 18 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Bryony Knox |
Suitable for all
£712

Stroll and draw – interpreting the landscape

15 to 18 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Caroline Wendling |
Suitable for all
£608

Drawing a portrait in charcoal

15 to 17 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Luca Indraccolo |
Suitable for all
£448

Introduction to letterpress

15 to 17 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Tom Boulton |
Beginners
£480

Writing a short story

15 to 17 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Mick Jackson |
Beginners
£399

Bead threading for jewellery

16 May 2026 | London
1 place available
Tutor: Annie Ruthven-Taggart |
Suitable for all
£150

Beginner's basketry – willow roundwork

16 to 17 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Emma Purcell |
Beginners
£399

Tapestry weaving on a backstrap loom

17 May 2026 | London
Places available
Tutor: Alexandra Lucas |
Suitable for all
£140

Portrait painting in oils

17 to 22 May 2026 | West Dean
Full - join waitlist
Tutor: Luca Indraccolo |
Suitable for all
£1,049

Fundamentals of landscape – painting and process

18 to 22 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Nick Bodimeade |
Intermediate/Advanced
£774

Sculptural textile art – paper, wire and stitch

18 to 21 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Priscilla Edwards |
Suitable for all
£621

Metal Mount Making

18 to 20 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Sophie Manhire |
Beginners
£659

Watercolour – landscape

19 May 2026 | London
Places available
Tutor: Natasha Lien |
Beginners
£130
Alison Sandeman

Practical glazing day

20 May 2026 | West Dean
Full - join waitlist
Tutor: Alison Sandeman |
Suitable for all
£201

Practical gardening skills: Seasonal tasks in the kitchen garden

20 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Tom Brown |
Suitable for all
£83

Printmaking – Blind embossing

21 May 2026 | London
Places available
Tutor: Caroline Wendling |
Suitable for all
£135

Jewellery – hollow forms

21 to 24 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Chris Carpenter |
Intermediate/Advanced
£608

Printmaking – multicolour linocut

22 May 2026 | London
Places available
Tutor: Lorenzo Davitti |
Suitable for all
£140

Introduction to egg tempera painting

22 to 24 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Maz Jackson |
Suitable for all
£425

Lino printmaking for beginners

22 to 24 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Mary Dalton |
Beginners
£416

Introduction to sculpture – modelling and carving

22 to 24 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Jon Edgar |
Beginners
£423

Creative in-camera techniques – digital photography

22 to 24 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Roy Matthews |
Intermediate
£399

Upholstery – a two-seater bench stool

22 to 24 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Lucy Thomas |
Beginners/Intermediate
£494

Oil painting for beginners

23 May 2026 | West Dean
Full - join waitlist
Tutor: George Popesco |
Beginners
£201

Cordage and sculptural forms

24 to 28 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Alice Fox |
Suitable for all
£769

Hammer forged silver jewellery

24 to 28 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Syann Van Niftrik |
Beginners/Intermediate
£753

Arts and craft style flat back case binding and slip case making

24 to 28 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Mark Cockram |
Suitable for all
£779
Nowhere Tapestry by Philip Sanderson

Tapestry weaving – the basics plus further techniques

24 to 27 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Philip Sanderson |
Beginners
£600
credit Zoe Burt

Grow your own clothes: flax and nettles

24 to 27 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Allan Brown |
Suitable for all
£605

Conservation of Tile Roofing

26 to 29 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
£1,129

SketchUp and AutoCAD

26 to 30 May 2026 | London
Places available
Tutor: Hitesh Maroo |
Beginners/Intermediate
£650

Introduction to interior design

27 May 2026 | London
Places available
Tutor: Kate Barlow |
Beginners
£160

Working the line with Shibori stitch techniques

27 to 29 May 2026 | London
Places available
Tutor: Rob Jones |
Suitable for all
£385

Throwing and turning – developing technique

28 to 31 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Jo Taylor |
Intermediate
£638

Welding and joining metal ideas

28 to 31 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Andrew Smith |
Beginners/Intermediate
£761

Mixed media – observations in the garden

28 to 31 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Jo Dixon |
Beginners/Intermediate
£620

Introduction to bookbinding

29 May 2026 | London
1 place available
Tutor: Amy Kitcherside |
Beginners
£140

Painting birds in oils

29 to 31 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Jo Shepherd |
Suitable for all
£409

Trace and imprint – gelatine plate, image transfer and frottage

29 to 31 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Jane Fox |
Suitable for all
£436

Taxidermy for beginners

29 to 31 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Tonja Grung |
Beginners
£459

Nature writing

29 to 31 May 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Craig Jordan-Baker |
Beginners/Intermediate
£404

Introduction to Chinese brush painting

30 May 2026 | London
Full - join waitlist
Tutor: Yuet Yean Teo |
Beginners
£145

Introductory-level wallpaper printing masterclass

31 May 2026 to 4 Jun 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Justyna Medon |
Beginners
£799

Stone carving – the goddess

31 May 2026 to 5 Jun 2026 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Paula Haughney |
Suitable for all
£932