Enjoy making your own decorated and gilded capital letter, which can be used to enhance your calligraphy or to create a vibrant decorative letter, using line, colour and gold (the “real” stuff or gold gouache). You will be very busy on the day and you may wish to research an idea and bring your own exciting letter design to the workshop or perhaps select from the designed resources that will be provided. Further letters can be drawn with a pencil or created with a pen and illuminated and painted.

A day aimed at those who are new to calligraphy, this day will cover the basics of using a dip pen and ink and learning the letter forms of the Uncial script, which was used most between the 4th and 8th centuries across Europe, but is still popular with calligraphers today.  After gaining familiarity with the letter forms students will write out a short quote of their choice, producing a simple layout ready for the piece to be completed.

A crash course in painting the beautiful historic buildings of the Museum using the comparatively modern medium of acrylic paints. In the morning we will look at different styles and methods of using acrylic paints with brushes and palette knives before making preparatory sketches outdoors. After lunch you will have time to continue with your painting. Suitable for beginners and those with some experience.

This is a wonderful opportunity to explore and study nature’s harvest here at the Museum. Discover the beautiful colours, patterns and textures of a variety of fruits and berries, seed pods, hips and haws on this fascinating one-day course. Enjoy creating realistic botanical illustrations by drawing and painting with precision and accuracy with plenty of help and guidance from your tutor. This course is suitable for all abilities and allows you the opportunity to work at your own pace with help and guidance from your tutor. 

History is the story of the past. Novels, short stories and plays give us scope to explore history. Whatever your level, come and enjoy imagining your own stories in the amazing authentic buildings of the Weald & Downland Museum …

In the workshop we will concentrate on 18th century smuggling, thinking about life outside of the Law. We will develop stories of families and friends for whom smuggling became a way of life and who lived in the landscape and buildings on display at the Weald & Downland …