By Stream and by Shore: Artists’ Colonies in England, France & Denmark
Apr
22
to 24 Apr

By Stream and by Shore: Artists’ Colonies in England, France & Denmark

Join us for a relaxing residential stay in the stunning setting of Pennard House for a fascinating course, some delicious locally-sourced food and a truly home-from-home atmosphere. Our tutor, art historian Dr Jan Cox, will be taking you on a journey through the birth of arguably the most influential artistic movement of them all - The Impressionists.

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Colour Knitting
Apr
24

Colour Knitting

A beautiful, traditional craft that is centuries old - It’s never too late to start your journey into the wonderful world of crochet! Your tutor, Tracy Chapman, will be on hand to guide you through the basic techniques of this incredible craft.

Our home for the day will be the stunning surroundings of Pennard House, a Grade II listed manor house nestled in the idyllic Somerset countryside.

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100 Great Scandinavian Masterpieces
May
13

100 Great Scandinavian Masterpieces

Join art historian Jan Cox as we look at 100 selected paintings from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, plus Finland and Iceland too. The nineteenth century saw some wonderful pictures from the North that rarely get exhibited in the UK. Paris has been fortunate enough to host three top exhibitions in recent months: Backer, Zorn and Liljefors are household names in Scandinavia but barely known in Britain. We will see landscapes from Sweden and Norway, portraits from Denmark, and beautiful depictions of wildlife and nature. The course will show key paintings by Edvard Munch, Anders Zorn and Wilhelm Hammershøi, successful pictures from the Paris Salon, and carefully chosen works full of character, skill and interest. In an area where female artists are also well represented, this promises to be a wide-ranging feast of Nordic art!

Our home for the day will be the stunning surroundings of Pennard House, a Grade II listed manor house nestled in the idyllic Somerset countryside. The friendly team at Pennard will ensure you are well looked after throughout your visit with a beautiful 2-course lunch and refreshments, not to mention a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.

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The Art of Monochrome Photography
May
14

The Art of Monochrome Photography

This one-day “Art of Monochrome Photography” workshop led by Peter Carter will consider the elements that contribute to strong black & white photographs and pose the question “Why Monochrome?” We will look at why black & white images are still relevant in this digital age despite the evolution of colour photography. Attendees will be encouraged to previsualise images before shooting rather than taking a let’s see what the image looks like in black & white approach after uploading the digital file to the computer. The second part of the workshop will consist of a practical session in and around the grounds of Pennard House (weather permitting) where attendees will put into practice what they have learnt.

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Printing With Leaves
Sept
23

Printing With Leaves

Enjoy a day Printing with Leaves inspired by the Somerset countryside .You will start the day by looking at examples of heat printed fabric and the tutor will demonstrate the technique and explain the sublimation process using disperse dyes and natural leaves .

You will learn how to choose suitable leaves for printing and how to prepare them to print  using disperse dyes and how to prepare dye papers to be used for the background.

We will prepare the leaves and backgrounds in the morning and after lunch print beautiful and often surprising designs onto fabric and there will be an opportunity to print your own bag with a unique design.

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Autumn Watercolours
Oct
22
to 24 Oct

Autumn Watercolours

Join us for a residential stay in the stunning setting of Haselbury Mill for a fascinating practical course, some delicious locally-sourced food and a truly home-from-home atmosphere. Our tutor, artist Shari Arnott, will be leading a seasonal exploration in watercolour.

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Barcelona: history, art and architecture
Mar
13

Barcelona: history, art and architecture

The capital of Catalonia, Barcelona is a lively city with a rich cultural heritage. This Neighbourhood Workshop will begin with an historical survey of Barcelona in which we trace its origins in Roman times when it was known as Barcino through to the present. This will provide the framework for the talks that follow on the art and architecture of Barcelona. We will consider the city's influence on painters including Ramon Casas, Joan Miro and Pablo Picasso. We will also examine in detail the architectural movement known as Catalan Modernism, and the life and work of its best known exponent, Antoni Gaudi.

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Monarchy, Society and Culture in Plantagenet England 1154 - 1399
Mar
12
to 14 Mar

Monarchy, Society and Culture in Plantagenet England 1154 - 1399

Explore the Plantagenet dynasty with historian Mark Cottle as we go on a journey spanning eight generations of English kings from 1154 to 1399. In a period that witnessed much change, and included notable cultural achievements in architecture and art, it produced some of England's greatest kings and some of its less able rulers.

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Between two wars: the music of the 1920s and 30s
Mar
10
to 12 Mar

Between two wars: the music of the 1920s and 30s

The music of the 1920s and 30s is full of excitement and colour. Brilliant talents such as Dimitri Shostakovich, Benjamin Britten, George Gershwin and many more appeared, and novel elements such as jazz and neo-classicism were developed. But it was also a period of tension and anxiety, as the threat of hostilities remain ever-present; that too is reflected in the great music of the time. Gwyn Parry-Jones navigates an amazing journey through the music of this fascinating period and explores is lasting legacy in this Neighbourhood Stay.

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You The Jury
Mar
10
to 12 Mar

You The Jury

Join us in the stunning setting of Haselbury Mill for this fascinating course with Diane Janes where we will be considering three real life cases of murder or suspected murder which occurred in England between 1900-1975, and you the jury will consider the evidence presented, reach your own verdict and then decide whether or not justice was well served by the historical outcome.

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A Masterpiece on your Mantelpiece: Images on Christmas Cards
Dec
4

A Masterpiece on your Mantelpiece: Images on Christmas Cards

Join us in the stunning surroundings of Pennard House for a delicious 2-course lunch prepared using the very best local, seasonal ingredients. After lunch, we’ll be joined by art historian Richard Kay for a lecture about the often overlooked artwork that appears in many of our houses around this time of year - that of the humble Christmas card.

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From Reality to Drama: Puccini and Opera
Dec
2
to 4 Dec

From Reality to Drama: Puccini and Opera

Join us for a relaxing residential stay in the stunning setting of Pennard House for a fascinating course, some delicious locally-sourced food and a truly home-from-home atmosphere. Our tutor, art historian Dr Jan Cox, will be taking you on a journey through the birth of arguably the most influential artistic movement of them all - The Impressionists.

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Art History Mysteries
Nov
27

Art History Mysteries

Join us in the stunning surroundings of Haselbury Mill for a delicious 2-course lunch prepared using the very best local, seasonal ingredients. After lunch, we’ll be joined by art historian Richard Kay for a lecture about some of the art worlds greatest mysteries.

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The Age of Discovery - John Company and India
Nov
26

The Age of Discovery - John Company and India

A beautiful, traditional craft that is centuries old - It’s never too late to start your journey into the wonderful world of crochet! Your tutor, Tracy Chapman, will be on hand to guide you through the basic techniques of this incredible craft.

Our home for the day will be the stunning surroundings of Pennard House, a Grade II listed manor house nestled in the idyllic Somerset countryside.

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Before the Normans Came: The World of Anglo-Saxon England
Oct
22
to 24 Oct

Before the Normans Came: The World of Anglo-Saxon England

Join us for a relaxing residential stay in the stunning setting of Pennard House for a fascinating course, some delicious locally-sourced food and a truly home-from-home atmosphere. Our tutor, art historian Dr Jan Cox, will be taking you on a journey through the birth of arguably the most influential artistic movement of them all - The Impressionists.

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Loose and Lively Watercolour Painting
Sept
24
to 26 Sept

Loose and Lively Watercolour Painting

Join us for a relaxing residential stay in the stunning setting of Pennard House for a fascinating course, some delicious locally-sourced food and a truly home-from-home atmosphere. Our tutor, art historian Dr Jan Cox, will be taking you on a journey through the birth of arguably the most influential artistic movement of them all - The Impressionists.

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Beginners Crochet
Apr
30

Beginners Crochet

A beautiful, traditional craft that is centuries old - It’s never too late to start your journey into the wonderful world of crochet! Your tutor, Tracy Chapman, will be on hand to guide you through the basic techniques of this incredible craft.

Our home for the day will be the stunning surroundings of Pennard House, a Grade II listed manor house nestled in the idyllic Somerset countryside.

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The Birth of the Impressionists
Apr
29
to 1 May

The Birth of the Impressionists

Join us for a relaxing residential stay in the stunning setting of Pennard House for a fascinating course, some delicious locally-sourced food and a truly home-from-home atmosphere. Our tutor, art historian Dr Jan Cox, will be taking you on a journey through the birth of arguably the most influential artistic movement of them all - The Impressionists.

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