Four Day Batik Retreat on Bodmin Moor

Inspiration from Nature - Design for Batik
leader Robin Paris

Saturday 12 - Tuesday 15 June 2004
South Penquite Farm, Blisland, North Cornwall, UK
10 am - 5 pm

£ 255
includes camping and meals, materials extra

non-residential £ 200, day rate £ 50
includes lunch, materials extra

concessions, £ 5 reduction per day.

Four wonderful days for artists working in batik or with experience of batik and who love nature and walking. The retreat will combine inspiration from moorland landscape and nature with creative batik making in a spacious barn. Numbers are limited to ten.

South Penquite Farm, high on Bodmin Moor, is an 80 hectare working organic hill farm with lovely views across the moor and to the coast, a half mile stretch of the De Lank river with surrounding broadleaf woodland (a European Special Area of Conservation for its biodiversity and purity), a SSSI ancient woodland (for its lichens and mosses), views into two historic granite quarries, and Bronze Age settlement remains. There's a lot to be inspired by on the farm, but we may also wander off on to nearby moorland.

Mornings will include walks around the farm - along the river bank, on historic stone-strewn moorland or through ancient oak woodlands - sketching, gathering ideas and enjoying the peace. Afternoons in the barn will be spent developing designs for batik through analysis, abstraction and composition, incorporating some unusual methods of wax application. Alongside these and while they are drying, participants can work on a single larger batik. Evenings will be free for discussion and relaxing in the farm's yurt, and the barn and batik equipment will be available for those who wish to continue working.

The farm has camping facilities though bed and breakfast accommodation is available nearby if preferred. The large and cosy yurt is available to participants as a communal space throughout the retreat. Delicious home-cooked meals will be provided by the farm (mostly organic and local food). Participants are invited to arrive on Friday evening to meet others over dinner.

The aim of the four days is to give artists time for spending peacefully and inspirationally in nature, alone and together, in order to indulge in creativity and batik.

Please email me to book or register interest for this or a future batik retreat. All suggestions and thoughts for the four days are very welcome, whether or not you wish to join.

More pictures from South Penquite Farm

All images and text copyright of the artist © 1998-2008 Robin Paris All Rights Reserved