GHISLAINE HOWARD
Be inspired!
Creative residential weekends in the Peak District
We would like to invite you to be our guest for the weekend, sharing with a small group of like-minded people a mix of informal illustrated lectures, practical workshops, beautiful scenery and home-cooked food.

The activities will take place in Ghislaine's studio and gallery and our home, both of which are situated in the centre of Glossop. Glossop is situated on the edge of the Peak District National Park within easy reach of Manchester, Sheffield, Chatsworth and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Glossop market arcade It is a town that developed in the nineteenth century; it's centre is dominated by proud civic and industrial architecture of that period. The studio gallery is a lovingly restored Victorian stable block and our house - a converted tripe factory – overlooks the River Etherow and recently featured in an article in Home magazine.

Each weekend will be centred upon a particular theme that will be explored in art, music, poetry and literature. You will have the opportunity to become involved in the creation of original artwork. No previous experience is necessary – the activities will accommodate those already competent and those who simply wish to have a go.

Snake Pass after rain You will receive one-to-one encouragement from Ghislaine and Michael to work independently or with others to create exciting and imaginative art works using paint.

Short excursions into the landscape will be followed by illustrated talks on various artists and writers, there will be workshop sessions, music and poetry punctuated by conversation and home-cooked food.

For the 2008 summer season we offer a choice of four weekend courses (each running from drinks early on Friday evening until teatime on Sunday):
Weekend One: April 11 - 13

The Impressionist Figure

Through lectures, practical demonstrations and with the help of a dancer from the Northern Ballet School, we will explore such topics as Degas's breath-taking and audacious experiments in print-making, paint and pastel; Lautrec's incisive improvisations and Rodin's magical dancing line.

Weekend Two: May 9 - 11

Celebrating the Landscape

Be inspired by the light, colours and textures of the dramatic Pennine landscape. Short excursions into the landscape will be followed by illustrated talks on various artists and writers. You can experiment with Japanese paper, inks and assorted materials to explore the techniques of artists such as Turner, Constable, Monet and others.

Weekend Three: June 6 - 8

Exploring the art of Cézanne and Matisse

This weekend will be dedicated to to a celebration of the art, ideas and techniques of these two life-enhancing artists. Through a combination of illustrated talks and practical workshops we will retrace their working methods and sources of inspiration.

Weekend Four: September 5 - 7

From Studio to Table: a Celebration of the Impressionists' Delight in the Pleasures of the Table
 
Enjoy a weekend dedicated to celebrating the role of food in the work of the Impressionists and their associates. Through a programme of informal illustrated talks and studio sessions, learn and experiment with their painting techniques and their recipes: help prepare, cook and eat the food they loved.

Specially tailored short breaks can also be arranged.

For more information please contact Ghislaine or Michael on 01457 852368 or email


Accommodation

You will stay in one of several superbly appointed guesthouses situated in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside a few minutes from the town; each characterised by their own particular charm, comfort and atmosphere.

For an example of the type of accommodation, see Allmans Heath Cottage.

If you wish to extend your stay, this can easily be arranged.

We have limited the numbers attending any one weekend to ten people. Non-participants are welcome – Glossop and the surrounding area supports a wide variety of activities that should be attractive to a broad range of interests.

The cost for a weekend is £295. Non-residential places are £225.

We ask for a deposit of £100 in advance, refundable until four weeks before the weekend.

The cost for each weekend includes accommodation, all meals, one to one tuition; all materials and any transfers to and from the bed and breakfast to the studio or other venues.

All the food is home cooked – Glossop is home to Mettricks butchers, recent winners of the BBC Radio Four Food Programme's best local retailer and numerous other awards; Sowerbutts, our local greengrocer, is a name familiar to many from Gardener’s Question Time and we have an excellent local bakery and fishmonger.
David Bradley Hadfield Bakery Mettricks Sowerbutts

Please let us know if you have any special dietary needs.
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