workshops, classes & courses

My workshops and courses are held at The Old Bank in the beautiful Cornish town of Fowey. The Old Bank studio is spacious and light with large sash windows and high ceilings, and the gallery cafe downstairs serves great coffee and cake. 
​The Old Bank, 2 Trafalgar Square, Fowey, Cornwall, PL23 1AZ

Fowey is a picturesque harbour town steeped in history. Its narrow cobbled lanes are lined by elegant Victorian and Edwardian architecture cascading down to the waterfront, bustling with cafes, restaurants and boutique shops. 
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Known as the Cornish Riviera, this coastline is one of Cornwall's best kept secrets, with rocky coves, sandy beaches,  and an emerald river estuary winding through ancient oak forests. Wildflowers, butterflies and birds thrive in the coastal meadows and dolphins, seals and porpoises can be spotted in the clear summer water. 
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​NEXT LINOCUT PRINTMAKING WORKSHOPS:
​
Saturday 8th November & Sunday 9th November 2025

Saturday 24th January & Sunday 25th January 2026

at The Old Bank Fowey
​
check availability
£75 for 1-day workshop 10am-4.30pm 
£140 for 2-day workshop 10am-4.30pm
All materials are included, and tools are provided.

Linocut Printmaking

Using simple techniques for striking results, these workshops give you all the skills you need for tabletop linocut printmaking. Step by step through the creative printing process, from composing your design to cutting and printing your block, using reduction, multi block or masking techniques for multicoloured or monochrome prints. 
Plenty of reference material is provided to use for inspiration or as templates; of course you may also bring your own preparatory work. Whether you are making a limited edition print series, designing your own card or experimenting with repeat pattern work, this workshop is perfect for complete beginners as well as experienced artists. ​

This workshop is available as a 1-day or a 2-day course.  

In the 1-day workshop, you learn about several different linocut printmaking techniques (monochrome, masking, multi-block), and you design, cut and print your own lino using one of these techniques. 

In the 2-day workshop, you can complete 2 different linocuts using 2 different linocut techniques, or you can learn a more complex technique (reduction) to complete an edition of linocuts over 2 days.
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NEXT PRINTMAKING WORKSHOPS:
​
Saturday 8th November & Sunday 9th November 2025
Saturday 24th January & Sunday 25th January 2026

at The Old Bank Fowey
check availability

£75 for 1-day workshop 10am-4.30pm 
£140 for 2-day workshop 10am-4.30pm
All materials are included, and tools are provided.

Numbers are limited to 8 people in each workshop.
​Read reviews...

Where to Stay

Trethake Barn
My studio is in the lovely Trethake Valley. It is the perfect Cornish retreat for an artist - set in 7 acres of water meadows and woodland in a rural river valley just 1-mile from the south west coast path,  Trethake Barn is a lovely large open plan living space with apex ceilings, flagstone floors and underfloor heating. Endless walking opportunities from the garden gate with footpaths, green lanes, bridle ways and coast paths. To get to Fowey (3 miles away), you can either take your car across the river on the car ferry at Bodinnick, or you can leave your car in Polruan village and take the water bus across the river from the quay.
www.trethakemill.co.uk
More Places to stay
HARBOUR HOTELS:
  • The Old Quay House: riverside boutique hotel in the heart of Fowey with luxury bedrooms and sea views
  • Fowey Hall: Fowey Hall was the inspiration behind Toad Hall in the children's classic Wind in the Willows. Spectacular views, spa and pool
  • Harbour Hotel: elegant Victorian hotel on the esplanade
  • The King of Prussia: boutique hotel on the town quay with excellent restaurant
RURAL RETREATS:
  • Trethake Barn: lovely large open plan barn, with apex ceilings, flag stone floor and underfloor heating set in 7 acres of water meadows and woodland in a rural river valley. Endless walking opportunities from the garden gate with foot paths, green lanes, bridle paths and coast path. The perfect for Cornish retreat for an artist.
  • Yurts Cornwall: idyllic meadow glamping, 18ft Mongolian yurts and converted barn on a family smallholding with wood fired hot tub and sauna
  • Trevedda Shepherds Hut: beautiful shepherds hut with wood fired hot tub in 5 acres of woodland
  • Lombard Mill: lovely converted mill near picture-perfect Pont Quay
  • Pont Pill Farmhouse: picturesque National Trust cottage right on the water at Pont Quay
  • The Watch House: tiny off-grid 19th century coast guards cottage in a spectacular setting perched on the cliff overlooking Lantivet Bay 
  • Highertown Farm Camping: simple National Trust campsite in the pretty village of Lansallos

Sculpture

Develop and refine your practical and creative sculpture skills, exploring a complete creative arc: from preparatory working drawings and anatomy and observation skills, to the development of a three-dimensional composition, and practical methods for constructing, modelling and finishing your sculpture. My courses focus on sculptural techniques using wax modelling and wire armatures. For centuries sculptors have used wax as a successful and versatile sculpting material. Wax sculptures are original works of art in their own right or can be used as an intermediary stage in a sculptural process.

WAX SCULPTURE WORKSHOP
The Human Figure: anatomy for artists
 next date to be confirmed
​
​£150: ​2-day workshop, 10am-4pm daily 
​with Olivia Clifton-Bligh
Numbers are limited to 8 people
​All sculpture tools and materials are provided.

These workshops are designed to be accessible for beginners, and also contain valuable information for experienced practicing artists. Each workshop focuses on a different aspect of the human figure. Workshops can be attended as a one-off or they can be attended as an ongoing course and cumulative study of the human form.

​In this June workshop we will be working with a female life model and an osteopath to understand the structure of the torso, ribcage and shoulder blades and how to incorporate this knowledge into your finished wax sculpture of a full figure or a torso.
Day 1: We begin the day on Saturday by making some preparatory observational sketches from a female life model (no special drawing skills are required for this exercise!) and discussing the proportion of the human body and three dimensional composition taking particular note of the structure and contours of the torso.

Day 2: On Sunday morning, our life model returns with osteopath Daniel Petkoff (M.Ost) to identify the bones, bumps and bulges of the torso and describe the structure of the ribcage, collar bones and shoulder blades. We will discuss how to incorporate this anatomical knowledge into your composition. You'll continue working on your sculpture throughout the afternoon referring to your preparatory drawings and refining the final detail of your sculpture.

This workshop is suitable for all levels of experience, from complete beginners to practicing artists. Numbers are limited to 8 participants to ensure plenty of one-to-one tuition. All tools and materials are provided.

£150  for 2-day workshop (materials are included, tools are provided)

Places are limited to 8 people.
Wear appropriate studio clothes, overalls or aprons.
​Tea/coffee/refreshments are available all day. 
Please bring a packed lunch - weather permitting you may lunch by the river beside the mill or take a walk in the beautiful Southleigh Woods beyond.

Read reviews for this course.
Workshop places are limited, please contact me to book your place.
Olivia Clifton-Bligh © 2020