Willow Animal Sculpture (2 days) in the Peak District
About the Course
Let your imagination run wild! Join us for this engaging workshop making creatures great and small. Willow is a fun and accessible medium which gives impressive results in a relatively short space of time.
Over the 2 days you can choose to design and construct either one four-legged animal or a pair of bird sculptures. Foxes, pheasants, hares and hens; sheep, deer, cats and dogs all prove popular, although projects have also included a snail, peacock and even a unicorn! Abstract forms are equally possible if you prefer this approach.
Suitable for both beginners and those with some willow or sculpture experience.
Tutor: Caroline Gregson or Emma Parkins
Start time: Join us from 10.00am for tea/coffee and introductions. Tuition starts at 10.30am
End time: Tuition finishes around 4.30pm
There is an hour for lunch and breaks whenever you wish.
• Purpose built studio in beautiful Peak District setting
• Relaxed, creative atmosphere
• 4 - 6 students per workshop
• Open to both beginners and those with experience
• Good fresh food, homemade cakes
• Accommodation on site and nearby if required
• Private groups welcome (minimum 4 people)
For further information or any questions please select the 'Ask a Question' button to be put in touch with the course organiser..
If you will be redeeming a CraftCourses gift voucher on this course, the voucher code must be provided at the point of booking.
What's included in the price?
Course fee includes professional tuition, lunches and refreshments - an additional materials fee applies.
There is a charge of approx. £10 – £15 per person for materials. This covers the willow you will need for the workshop. Tools are provided but feel free to bring your own secateurs if you prefer.
A tasty light lunch is included. Please let us know of any special dietary requirements. Tea, coffee and biscuits are available all day to help yourself and there will be home-made cake mid afternoon.
Accommodation available at extra charge:
'Godfrey Hole Cottage' - On site. 2 bedrooms. Sleeps 3
'The Counting House' - Georgian town house in Wirksworth, 1 mile away. 1 bedroom. Sleeps 2
Contact
Alison Massey at Zantium Studios LtdNear Hopton
Wirksworth, Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 4DF
This craft course provider has been awarded Gold status for receiving 10 or more 5 star ratings from previous students.
The Students' Choice award ensures that course providers get recognised for their efforts in the teaching and practice of UK craft.
They also allow tutors to gain valuable feedback on their courses and for new students to find the course that's right for them.
Suitable for
- Accommodation offered
- Adults
- Corporate days out & team building
- Engagement, birthdays & anniversaries
- Hen dos
- Parking provided
- Pet lovers
- Public transport
- Romantic
- Seniors
- Stag dos
- Suitable for beginners
- Teenagers
- UK Holiday
Available as a gift
Learn about gift vouchersReviews
I had a wonderful time making a willow obelisk then dragonflies and willow wind spinners. Eddie was brilliant as a tutor - really helpful, patient and clear and also very encouraging! The setting was lovely and we were all made to feel very welcome and the food provided was delicious, especially the homemade brownies! Thank you for such a memorable day - I loved it!
Response from Zantium Studios Ltd:
Thankyou, Lucy, for this happy review. Glad to hear you had fun on the course...and liked my brownies (- I have finally discoverer the best recipe!) We are very lucky to have Eddie Glew teach here for us.Excellent tutor , lovely surroundings and hospitality . Was very pleased with my basket
Response from Zantium Studios Ltd:
Thankyou for happy feedback, Marie. So glad you enjoyed the course. Your baskets were superb!A great course and beautiful nourishing environment.
Caroline is a very talented craftswoman and a caring and attentive teacher.
Her step by step guidance and enthusiasm for each of our projects carried us all through the course to produce a menagerie of beautiful animals.
I would highly recommend this course.
Response from Zantium Studios Ltd:
Thankyou so much for your warm and positive comments. You were a buoyant and talented group.Lovely to meet you, Vicki - I hope your willow horse is enjoying pastures new and receiving many admiring glances.
I have just spent 2 wonderful days creating a stargazing hare in willow.
Emma was an excellent tutor.
The studio was lovely to work in and the food was lovely home cooked and delicious.
I would highly recommend this course and Zantium Studios.
Response from Zantium Studios Ltd:
Thankyou so much, Sue, for this lovely review. You were a very hardworking group. Hope your hare sculpture is enjoying his new home and is much admired.Eddie was a great tutor! Patient and explained things really clearly. Lovely venue and Alison very hospitable, good cake!!
We will be back for basket weaving.
Response from Zantium Studios Ltd:
Thanks Carole, We consider ourselves very lucky to have Eddie Glew as our tutor - he is a very busy chap in the World of Willow!Thankyou for joining us and for your happy review.
We look forward to welcoming you back for for Basket Weaving.
I enjoyed this course enormously, I had no idea what to expect but was made to feel capable from the start. The structures we produced were unique, attractive and useful. Eddie was endlessly patient- very relaxed and encouraging throughout. Although the weather did everything it could to dampen our spirits, the course was wonderful. The setting is beautiful, the refreshments and lunch were delicious, and fellow participants were supportive and friendly.
Response from Zantium Studios Ltd:
Thankyou, Margaret, for such positive feedback. You were an excellent group, full of enthusiasm. I will pass on your kind words to Eddie. We are thrilled to have him as a visiting tutor as he does such a good job. Enjoy your garden...and your willow.Best wishes Alison
The days' course of willow weaving was excellent. Patiently instructed by Eddie, who explained techniques easily with practical demonstrations.
I had a great time and learned the basics of a new skill, coming home with useful and decorative items.
Thank you to Alison for providing a tasty lunch and homemade flapjacks and brownies!
A brilliant day course.
Response from Zantium Studios Ltd:
Thankyou, Marina, for this glowing review. I seem to remember this course was given to you as a gift so I am delighted it lived up to expectations. Happy weaving! Alison xFantastic day, thoroughly enjoyed learning new skills from Emma and Alison was a very attentive hostess. We had such a good time we’re booked in for another 2 day course. Well done Zantium and Emma Parkins.
Response from Zantium Studios Ltd:
Thankyou Sue, We loved having you on board. See you again soon!Spent a lovely day making an obelisk for next year's sweet peas which will take pride of place in our garden. Eddie explained everything very simply and was very encouraging. The setting was wonderful and our hostess very welcoming and a lovely lunch and refreshments were provided throughout the day.
Well run , after a brief introduction we quickly got down to creating our own pieces of sculpture which was great. The course tuition was clear and hands on. The willow was easy to use and I was surprised that we all achieved great sculptures in such a short time.
The snacks, lunch and cakes to keet us going and were good as well.
All in all had a very enjoyable and productive two days .
Recently, I was very fortunate to be able to participate in the two day animal willow weaving sculpture course at Zantium studios, needless to say I was awfully excited about the two days, with visions of coming away with a beautiful animal sculpture that I'd made myself.
I can wholeheartedly say that my expectations were more than met, with the help of Caroline I made a beautiful dear that is now sitting proudly on my front lawn, walkers passing by and neighbours comment on it all the time, and I had a fair few "likes" on facebook also.
The two days at zantium were brilliant, the studio was nice and cosy with plenty of space to work, the rest of the group were great fun and we all got on like a house on fire.
Best of all were the delicious home made lunches by Alison, plenty of coffee and tea and certainly the homemade cake in the afternoon went down a treat.
All in all, it was a brilliant couple of days, well worth it, and I can highly recommend the course.
many thanks to all.
I had a great time, and I love the things we made. I will definitely try to have a go myself, and to book further courses with Zantium Studios.
I had a wonderful day creating some striking structures with willow. Our tutor explained everything clearly and was very helpful at every stage. The weather was kind and the setting beautiful and relaxing. Our hostess was welcoming and attentive, providing drinks and delicious food and treats. I've been inspired to have a go at home with the willow from my garden.
An excellent course in wonderful, welcoming surroundings. Very organised, the artist enabled each of us to complete our desired creation, calmly and confidently, when we thought we would run out of time!
Excellent lunches provided, with 'on tap' teas and coffee.
Highly recommended!