workshops, classes & courses

My workshops and courses are held in The Old Pottery, a converted barn with high ceilings, white walls and natural light and spot lights. It is one of several studios at Bull Mill Arts Wiltshire, a collection of artists’ workspaces and houses established by Lord Bath on the Longleat Estate.  The old mill house is on the banks of the river Wylye surrounded by water meadows and ancient woodland. It is a secluded and peaceful setting easily accessible from the local market town of Warminster in Wiltshire.
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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. ​

​​Sometimes people ask 'if I've attended your printmaking workshop before, can I come again?' -
​Yes, of course! People return to the workshop over and over again. Many use the workshop as an opportunity to develop their ideas further or to practice a new technique (e.g multi block, chine colle etc.) Many book both workshops (Saturday and Sunday) in order to complete more complex printing projects (e.g. reduction method). And some return just for the joy of spending a whole day entirely devoted to creative printmaking.
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NEXT PRINTMAKING WORKSHOPS:
Saturday 20th January 2024, 10am-4.30pm 
Sunday 21st January 2024, 10am-4.30pm 
check availability

£69 for 1-day workshop
£138 for 2-day weekend workshop
All materials are included, and tools are provided.
​
Suitable for complete beginners and experienced artists.
Places are limited to 8 people in each workshop.
​
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.

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. Once a year, I also run a specialist mould making workshop for lost wax bronze casting. 

WAX SCULPTURE WORKSHOP
The Human Figure: anatomy for artists
Spring 2024: date to be confirmed
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​£150: ​2-day workshop, 10am-4pm daily at Bull Mill Arts
​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.
Mould Making for Sculptors
4-day workshop, 10am - 4pm daily at Bull Mill Arts
Autumn 2023 Dates TBC
This is a comprehensive and intensive 4-day course, packed with valuable information for all artists. 
Bring your own sculpture (made in any material e.g. clay, wax, paper mâché) or an object with a maximum dimension of about 30cm (larger objects may be possible - but may have a larger materials fee - contact Olivia for details).
Receive full technical instruction and supervision by an expert foundry man to create a re-usable mould (suitable for casting into e.g. plaster, wax, cement, resin) and a wax copy ready for lost wax bronze casting.
​This workshop is suitable for all levels of experience, from beginners to practicing artists.
​Numbers are limited to 8 participants to ensure plenty of one-to-one tuition.

£500 tuition + £125 materials  for 4-day workshop (materials are supplied, 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.
Where to stay
Some suggestions for lovely local accommodation:
Olivia Clifton-Bligh © 2020