book tickets
Life Drawing
Led by Mick McNicholas
Explore the complexities of the human form by working from a professional life model. With a variety of short and long poses. Learn both traditional charcoal drawing methods and new experimental techniques.
Half day sessions comprise of a variety of short and long poses.
Any mediums can be used in these sessions. Materials will be provided, although participants are very welcome to bring their own if you have something you like to work with.
Summer
Sat 12 Jul
11am - 2pm
£30 per session
Age guidance: 18+ years
other events you may be interested in
Mindfulness
Led by Kate Hughes
Join Kate Hughes of Kate Hughes Meditation for an hour of mindfulness, designed to promote calm and awareness.
During the session we will explore breathing techniques, different kinds of meditation, and various mindfulness exercises including some gentle movement (this can be adapted to suit all mobility levels).
No experience of meditation or mindfulness is required, and these sessions are suitable for you if you are an absolute beginner or have done some kind of mindfulness practice before.
Please wear comfortable clothing. The session will end with a relaxation exercise and you may wish to bring your own mat and blanket, although these will be provided.
Summer
Fri 27 Jun, 25 Jul and 8 Aug
6.30pm - 7.30pm
£14 per session
Portrait Drawing
Led by Mick McNicholas
Learn about the stages of portraiture, drawing with charcoal from a live model.
Suitable for all levels of experience.
Age guidance: 18+ years.
Summer
Sat 28 Jun
11am – 4pm
£42 per session
Crafternoons - Wednesdays
Led by Creative Eye
Norden Farm's Crafternoons are relaxed crafting sessions for older people.
Get crafty with a range of activities, or bring along your own projects to work on with support from tutor Kayleigh Robinson.
You can learn new skills, meet new people and try something new, a cup of tea is included with the ticket price. Come either Tuesday or Wednesday and join in that week's craft. If you are unable to attend in person you can log on from home to chat and join in the session.
Summer Season
Wed 4 Jun - Glass Magnets
Wed 11 Jun - Mini Decoupage Sign
Wed 18 Jun - Quilling
Wed 25 Jun - Yarn Wrapped Vases / Jars
Wed 2 Jul - Dotty Tote Bags
Wed 9 Jul - Dried Flower Art
Wed 16 Jul - Wood Slice Nail Art
Wed 23 Jul - No Session
Wed 30 Jul - Bird Seed Ornaments
Wed 6 Aug - Yarn Canvas Art
Wed 13 Aug - Air Dry Clay Candle Holder
Social Arts Crafternoons is a partially funded project run by Norden Farm with support from The Berkshire Community Foundation.
Local transport can be provided as part of the ticket price for those attending on a Wednesday.
If you need transport to Norden Farm for the Wednesday sessions please contact Jess Thompson at jess.thompson@nordenfarm.org / 01628 682563 to talk through your requirements.
Suitable for ages 60+ years.
2pm - 3pm
£6.50 per session, including a cup of tea
Weathered and Derelict
Led by Jo Hall
This course explores the textures of natural and man-made structures which have been weathered or abandoned and fallen into disuse. We’ll take a mixed media approach to using watercolour and pastel. The first week we’ll use watercolour with charcoal and ink to create some textures in a weathered or crumbling wall or rockface. Other subjects to include; abandoned houses, stone circles or dolmens, discarded machinery or disused industrial sites etc.
Please bring your own materials as indicated in the list below:
- Watercolours
- Brushes and palette
- Charcoal, a few pastels, ink and a pen or brush
- Natural sponge
- Old toothbrush
- Paper towel
- Watercolour paper (300gsm cold pressed)
- Water pots
- Drawing board and block of wood or table easel
- Clips or tape to attach paper
For some sessions tinted paper either heavy pastel or watercolour paper would be good.
Some paper will be available from the tutor at cost.
Summer
Tues 17 Jun - 22 Jul (6 weeks)
12.30pm - 3.30pm
£126 for 6 week course
- 24 Jun
- 1 Jul
- 3 more dates...
Recording the Everyday
Drawings by Alex Dewart and Cally Trench
Alex Dewart
Alex Dewart spent October 2024 on Vancouver Island on an Art Residency. Every day she recorded birdsong. She used the sound waves from these recordings with colours and textures from the birds’ plumages to produce the artworks, digitally printed onto fabric.
Cally Trench
Cally Trench draws her hands every day from life, life-size, using both hands. She alters the position of her hands slightly each day, suggesting the possibility of movement. Every drawing is recognisably the same but different, like daily life itself. She draws with a fine black pigment ink pen on smooth watercolour paper.
The sequence of drawings exhibited here were made in February this year.
Tuesdays - Saturdays
5pm - 10pm
Learn from the artists first hand at their:
Drawing Workshops with Alex Dewart and Cally Trench
- 1 Jul FREE
- 2 Jul FREE
- 8 more dates...
Salsa
Led by SalsaStyle
Specialising for twenty years in providing individual attention to help you develop dance techniques and grow in confidence. SalsaStyle will ensure everyone feels welcome no matter what level.
Summer
Fri 2 May - 6 Jun (6 weeks)
Fri 13 Jun - 11 Jul (5 weeks)
Fri 18 Jul - 15 Aug (5 weeks)
8.15pm - 9.15pm
£12 per session | £50 per 5 week course
Don't forget to stay for the Salsa Social from 9.15pm - 10pm: stay after the class for a dance and drink!
Box Office closes at 8pm but online booking is still available.
Studio Art Sessions
Led by Sue Bridge
These sessions are suitable for those with some prior experience of drawing and painting (either previous study or art course participation).
As with the preceding course Transform your Sketchpad these 3 hour studio sessions will be wide ranging both in terms of media and subject matter. Over the duration of the course you will gain experience in a range of media, acrylic / watercolour, pen and ink and collage. Some sessions will be one off activities other topics may spread over a couple of weeks.
Students to provide their own materials.
General materials required:
- A good set of quality watercolours, Daler Rowney / Galleria small tubes are best.
- Set of acrylics basic colours (DR System 3 original Galleria) and a varied collection of brushes.
- Large paint palettes, water jar etc.
- A4 hard bound or spiral sketchpad with 140 weight paper in.
For any new bookers: it’s best not to buy anything new (other than sketchpad) until you have been to the first session.
Summer
Wed 28 May - 18 Jun (4 weeks)
Wed 2 Jul - 23 Jul (4 weeks)
11am - 2pm
£100 per 4 week course
Age guidance: 18+ years
Kite Making Workshops
Get involved at Kite Making Workshops this summer, then see your creation take to the sky!
The workshops are led by specialist kite makers Community Kite Project.
Make and decorate your kite to stand out in the sky at the Kite Festival which takes place in Boyn Grove Park on Sunday 31 August between 12pm - 4pm.
Workshops are suitable for all the family.
Norden Farm
Sat 26 Jul 1.30pm and 3.30pm | £6 per personFri 29 Aug 1.30pm and 3.30pm | £6 per person
Sat 30 Aug 1.30pm and 3.30pm | £6 per person
Pre booking for Kite Workshops is highly recommended. Please arrive at the start time of the session, it will take the full 90 minutes to make your kite. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult at these sessions.
Nicholson Centre (drop in sessions)
Sat 16 Aug 10.30am - 4pm | £6 per kiteSat 23 Aug 10.30am - 4pm | £6 per kite
Drop In Sessions
At these relaxed sessions you can make a kite in around 20 – 30 minutes with a bit of adult support! You can turn up at any time during the session. But do make sure you leave enough time to get here, get parked and get into the session to make your kite!
If you have tickets for a workshop you are guaranteed to make a kite at the session. During each session we may have a small number of tickets available on the door but to avoid disappointment please pre book.
These workshops have been kindly subsidised by funding from Shanly Foundation, Cyril Taylor Trust and Spoore, Merry and Rixman Foundation.
have your say