Artist

A Field of Stitches

The aim of this course is to create a textile artist’s journal, full of interest and inspiration garnered from field trips to some of the most magical spots in Assynt.

The week will begin with a day of preparation at the studio, making the journal pages using paper and cloth and creating a kit of tools for taking out into the field. The day’s activities will include designing an imaginative book form and making your own brush out of found materials.

The following three days will involve visiting a different location each morning, to observe, record and ‘make’ whilst out in the field – all from a textile artist’s perspective. Then it will be back to the studio in the afternoons to allow you to develop this work using a wider range of materials and tools, including the sewing machine.

The last day will be spent entirely in the studio, binding and bringing the work together to make the journal a cohesive work of art in itself and to consider which of the contents of your journal might lead towards a more developed piece of textile work in the future.

Please click on an image to see the full picture.

Jan's studio is in Elphin, overlooking the magnificent mountains of Suilven, Canisp, Cul Mor and Cul Beag. This remote location means that accommodation is a little more difficult to find, but the experience of visiting this area makes the search well worthwhile. Many course participants opt to stay in Ullapool, which is 20 minutes drive away. It is a most picturesque fishing village, with a good range of accommodation to suit all budgets. There are many restaurants and takeaways and shops, as well as some evening entertainment, should you have any energy left at the end of that day's workshop. And students often group together and car share for their daily trip up the road, past Stac Pollaidh, to the studio. Please look at the Accommodation links page to find out more.

To read about an innovative community partnership approach to preserving and improving this landscape for the benefit of all, have a look at Coigach and Assynt Living Landscapes. To find out about the fascinating geology of this area go to North West Highland Geopark.