Brighten those dull winter days with a winter course

Spokeswoman Penny Smith said: “Learn to make a little black dress in time for Christmas, carve birds in stone, or how to make your own tools to use in furniture making…

The list is endless.

“From the popular one-day Learn A Skill, Make A Gift days, gardening and food talks, to longer courses in art, quilting, pottery, jewellery making and metalwork, there are courses suitable for complete beginners to more advanced artists and makers.”

With 140 new courses amongst the main subject areas (art, basket-making, books, creative writing, food, gardening, glass, metalwork, music, photography, pottery, sculpture, textiles and wood) and 34 new tutors to add to the list of established tutors, highlights from the new winter programme (November 2010 – May 2011) include:

n 12 Learn A Skill, Make A Gift days in the run-up to Christmas.

n An expanded programme of drawing courses, following on from the success of the new foundation diploma in art and design.

n New textiles courses in millinery, dressmaking and vintage knitting and an extensive range of quilting courses for all levels of ability.

n A broad spectrum of painting courses from Japanese ink painting to fantastical painting and working with the dynamics of the imagination.

n Repeat of the popular Winter School with the theme Visual Stories featuring new courses in animation and narrative jewellery.

n New music courses for singers, harpsichord players, jazz players and traditional African drumming, singing and dancing.

n New one-day garden lectures and courses dealing with challenging gardens dominated by damp, shade, coast or rain.

n New food days on edible gifts, a marmalade masterclass and flavour-focused courses on tea, chocolate and beer.

More details on www.westdean.org.uk.