Following a lot of interest I will be trialling my first residential course during 2026 at my home studio in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, UK. The dates are now set as Tuesday 13th, Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th October 2026 inclusive.
* Please note that the October 2026 course has just one space available so please get in touch if you wish to book. I am currently looking into dates to re-run the course in early 2027 so please keep an eye out for announcements about this over the coming weeks.
“EMBROIDERY TECHNIQUES FOR FINE BINDINGS”
ABOUT THE COURSE:
The “Embroidery Techniques for Fine Bindings” course will give students a good understanding of how to utilise different embroidery stitches to build up designs on fine bindings. Different stitches can be used to great effect to add colour and texture to bookbinding work. Over the course of three days, students will be shown how to combine embroidery techniques with covering leather and leather onlays to create striking cover designs.
I will demonstrate the use of different thread types, including: embroidery skeins; machine sewing thread; metallic threads; and some goldwork thread techniques, in order to build up texture and shapes to help illustrate book covers.
For each of the bindings I work on, I first create a sample board to test out colour combinations and ideas. Students will be working on their own leather panels during this course, which will be pared and then decorated with a design of their choice, before being stuck down onto laminated boards. Participants will end the course with their own sample board and with the skills to utilise embroidery techniques on future fine bindings.
SCHEDULE:
DAY ONE, Tuesday 13th October: 10:30am – 5:30pm with an 3/4 hr lunch break
DAY TWO, Wednesday 14th October: 9:30am – 4:30pm with a 3/4 hr lunch break
DAY THREE, Thursday 15th October: 9:30am – 4:30pm with a 3/4 hr lunch break
On each of the days there will be the opportunity to carry on working independently into the evenings if you wish. The studio is directly accessible from the accommodation below so you can come and go as you please outside of the hours of tuition.
I am planning for the course to begin at the slightly later time of 10:30am on the first day, this will give those that need it the time to travel to Shepton Mallet that morning. Alternatively it will be possible to arrive the day before as the accommodation will also be available on the Monday night.
THE COST:
The cost for the class will be £130 per day, totalling £390 for the three days. I require a 1/3 deposit of £130 in order to secure a place, with the balance being due one month ahead of the course starting. The course will only go ahead if at least four places are booked, with five being the maximum number of places possible. Refreshments, handouts and materials are included in the fee unless otherwise specified.
LOCATION
The course will take place in my bookbinding studio in the hamlet of Bowlish on the outskirts of Shepton Mallet. This is an equipped studio on the top floor of my house, with two flights of stairs to climb to get up to it. The full address will be given out closer to the time of the course.
If you wish to travel to me by public transport the options are as follows:
- The nearest airport in Bristol (40 minutes away by taxi)
- The nearest rail stations are Castle Cary (16 minutes by taxi), or Bath (45 minutes by taxi or 1hr 15mins by bus)
- It is also possible to get to Shepton Mallet from Hammersmith bus station using Berrys Bus coach service (one service each direction each day)
THE ACCOMMODATION
- The on-site accommodation, which is attached to the main house, will be available for booking for a minimum of two nights, with a 1/3 deposit due to secure a room.
- The cost will be £190 for two nights (£95 per night). A continental breakfast is included in the price along with coffee and tea.
- If you wish to stay for more than three nights (for example to arrive on the Monday night ahead of the course starting or staying the night on the last day of the course) then this can be arranged as required. Additional nights are charged at an extra £95/night.
- There are four bedrooms and two shared bathrooms available in Grange Cottage. All of these are either double or king sized rooms, directly accessible to the studio space and would be allocated on a first come first served basis and also depending upon the number of nights required.
- The accommodation is self-catering so you can buy and prepare your own lunches and dinners.
- Please see the following link to our property.
- We also have holiday let accommodation in the city of Wells, which is just a ten minute drive from my studio in Bowlish. Please visit our ‘Stay Wells and Somerset’ website for more details.
CANCELLATION
Course and accommodation deposits will be refunded in full if the reservation is cancelled at least three months before the commencement of the course.
No refunds (including deposit and final balance) are provided for cancellations made less than a month before the commencement of the course.