2026
UK Workshops
January 24 – 26, 26 – 28 Higham Hall, Cumbria ‘Introduction to Manuscript Illumination’ followed by ‘Further Manuscript Illumination’
April 13 – 15, 15 – 17 Higham Hall, Cumbria ‘Introduction to Manuscript Illumination’ followed by ‘Further Manuscript Illumination’
2025
UK Workshops
Jan 24 – 26, 26 – 28 Two workshops at Higham Hall, Cumbria A beginners workshop (fully booked) followed by ‘Manuscript Illumination: More Challenging Techniques’.
April 13 – 15, 15 – 17 Higham Hall, Cumbria ‘Introduction to Manuscript Illumination’ followed by ‘Further Manuscript Illumination’ (Both fully booked)
Please note – all Higham courses are booked directly with the venue, not through me. Contact details are at the bottom of this page, which also gives course descriptions and cost.
August 3-9 Warwick University, UK I’m delighted to be teaching at the Calligraphy and Lettering Arts Society 30th Festival of Calligraphy – details here.
November 22 St Alban’s Cathedral, UK. A single day workshop in beautiful surroundings with a Christmas theme. Details to follow!
International
July 7-12 IAMPETH, Norfolk, Virginia, USA. I’ll be teaching gilding on gesso – care to join me? Booking and, details of my amazing fellow tutors, are here.
Online
I’ll be running two workshops with Ardington Crafts – one gilding, one painting – in October / November.
2024
UK Workshops
Jan 26 – 28, 28 – 30 Two workshops at Higham Hall, Cumbria A beginners workshop (fully booked) followed by ‘Manuscript Illumination: More Challenging Techniques’.
April 19 – 21, 21 – 23 Higham Hall, Cumbria ‘Introduction to Manuscript Illumination’ followed by ‘Further Manuscript Illumination’
Online
April 27 – May 18 A four week gilding class ‘From Medieval to Modern’ with The Gentle Penman SOLD OUT
November 5 – 26 A re-run of my four week gilding Masterclass with Ardington Crafts SOLD OUT
November 15 – Dec 6 Painting Flowers in Watercolour – A four week class with Ardington Crafts SOLD OUT
2023
My apologies – I’m teaching fewer workshops than normal next year because writing the book is taking a lot of my time!
UK Workshops
Jan 27 – 29, 29 – 31 Two workshops at Higham Hall, Cumbria A beginners workshop followed by ‘Manuscript Illumination: More Challenging Techniques’. Both classes fully booked
April 1 – 2 ‘The Art of Illuminatiion: More Advanced Techniques’ at Ardington Crafts in Oxfordshire, UK. As with all my ‘advanced’ courses, returning students are welcome to work on their own projects with help / advice where needed. Fully Booked
April 21 – 23, 23 – 25 Higham Hall, Cumbria ‘Introduction to Manuscript Illumination’ followed by ‘Further Manuscript Illumination’ Fully Booked
July 7-8-9 Cinque Ports Scribes – Illuminated Borders for Calligraphy. Fully Booked with a waiting list
July 22 Gild and Paint your own Illuminated Letter St Alban’s Cathedral Fully Booked
September 8 – 10, 10 – 12 Higham Hall, Cumbria ‘Introduction to Manuscript Illumination’ followed by ‘Further Manuscript Illumination’ Fully Booked
Online
Nov 22, 29 Dec 6, 13 ‘The Art of Illumination: a Masterclass with Toni Watts’ offered through Ardington Crafts. Fully booked with a waiting list
2022
UK Workshops
Jan 28 – 30, 30 – Feb 1 Higham Hall, Cumbria. A beginners workshop followed by ‘Manuscript Illumination: More Challenging Techniques’. Fully Booked
April 22 – 24, 24 – 26 Higham Hall, Cumbria. ‘Introduction to Manuscript Illumination’ followed by ‘Further Manuscript Illumination’
June 9 and 10 ‘An Introduction to Manuscript Illumination’ hosted by Golden Hinde Goldwork in Warrington, UK
June 11 ‘Illumination Made Easy’ North Wales and North West region of the Society of Bookbinders Fully Booked
September 9 – 11, 11 – 13 Higham Hall, Cumbria. ‘Introduction to Manuscript Illumination’ followed by ‘Further Manuscript Illumination’ Fully Booked
November 30 – Dec 1, Dec 2 – 3 Two in-person workshops at Ardington Crafts, Oxfordshire – one for beginners, with a follow on class for those with some experience. Full details are here. ONLY A FEW PLACES LEFT!
Online Workshops
Feb 8 with a follow up session on Feb 15 – The Art of Illumination Fully Booked
March 1 with a follow up session on March 8 Gilding on Gesso: An Introduction Fully Booked
March 29 with a follow up session on April 5 The Secrets of Shell Gold Fully Booked
2021
International Workshops
Washington DC Cancelled due to Coronavirus
South Korea Cancelled due to Coronavirus
UK Workshops
Jan 29 – 31, Jan 31 – Feb 2 Higham Hall, Cumbria Cancelled due to Coronavirus
Feb 10 The Art of Illumination: An Introduction An ONLINE class with Ardington Academy. Gilding for complete beginners! Fully Booked
March 1 – 2 The Art of Illumination, Medieval and Modern Ardington, Oxfordshire. Now ONLINE. Fully Booked
April 10 – 11 Cinque Port Scribes Cancelled due to Coronavirus
April 17 The Art of Illumination, The Lodge Flower and Craft School. Cancelled due to Coronavirus
April 23 – 25, 25 – 27 Higham Hall, Cumbria. Cancelled due to Coronavirus
June 4 – 5 NEW DATE – THIS IS THE POSTPONED WORKSHOP FROM MARCH 12 – 13 South London Lettering Association. Fully Booked with a ‘reserve’ list
July 17 Illuminated lettering workshop at St Albans Cathedral Fully Booked
Aug 27 – 29, 29 – 31 Higham Hall, Cumbria. To book (or express an interest in) the Higham workshops please contact Higham directly either by email or phone (017687 76276, admin@highamhall.com).
November 13 Oxford Scribes Fully Booked
November 15 – 16 The Art of Illumination: More Advanced Techniques, Ardington, Oxfordshire Fully Booked
November 27 The Art of Illumination The Lodge Flower and Craft School Fully Booked
2020
International Workshops
Feb – Singapore Fully Booked.
March – Verona, Italy Fully Booked – Cancelled due to Coronavirus
October – Seoul, South Korea – Cancelled due to Coronavirus
UK Workshops
Jan 18 Drawing with Silver, Painting with Egg – York Art Gallery. Details and booking here. Fully Booked
Jan 24 An Introduction to Manuscript Illumination, Sutterby (Private Group) Fully Booked
Jan 31 – Feb 2 and Feb 2-4 Manuscript Illumination workshops Higham Hall, Cumbria. Details are here.
Feb 28 – Mar 8 SINGAPORE Three workshops: Making and using shell gold and gesso – Using gesso – beginners workshop – Using gesso – intermediate workshop. All fully boooked.
March 13, 14th The Art of Illumination South London Lettering Association. Fully booked with a long waiting list.
April 17 – 19 and 19- 21 Manuscript Illumination workshops Higham Hall, Cumbria. Cancelled due to Coronavairus.
May 23 An Introduction to Medieval Manuscript Illumination Heritage Skills Centre, Lincoln Castle. Fully Booked Cancelled due to Coronavirus
July 4th Introduction to Medieval Manuscript Illumination, St Albans Cathedral Cancelled due to Coronavirus
Sept 11 – 13, 13 – 15 Manuscript Illumination workshops Higham Hall, Cumbria
Sept 19 The Art of Illumination The Lodge Flower and Craft School Fully Booked Cancelled due to Coronavairus.
Sept 20 Extracting pigments Richmond upon Thames Cancelled due to Coronavirus
Oct 2 Painting for Calligraphers, Ravenshead Calligraphers Cancelled due to Coronavirus
Nov 10, 11 The Art of Illumination, Medieval and Modern Ardington, Oxfordshire. Fully Booked Cancelled due to Coronavirus
2019
International workshops
February Gilding workshops in Hong Kong – gilded monograms and illuminated borders. Fully booked.
October Gilding workshops Australia, hosted by the Australian Society of Calligraphers. All venues fully booked.
UK workshops
Jan. 30 – Feb, 1, Feb 1 – Feb 3 Higham Hall, Cumbria Fully Booked
Mar. 30 An Introduction to Medieval Manuscript Illumination Heritage Skills Centre, Lincoln Castle. Fully Booked
Apr 6, 7 Gilding workshop, Cinque Port Scribes Fully Booked (waiting list in operation).
Apr 14 An Introduction to Medieval Manuscript Illumination Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Fully Booked
Apr. 20 An Introduction to Medieval Manuscript Illumination, Pontefract Castle. Fully Booked.
May 5 Gilding on Gesso, Richmond upon Thames. Fully booked
May 18 Make your own paints from minerals and plants – Gloucestershire Lettering Arts
Sept 13 Combining leaf and shell gold Ravenshead Calligraphers – private group
Sept. 14, 15 Gilding workshop Northwest Calligraphers Association. Fully booked.
Sept. 16 Make your own paints from minerals and plants, The Cabin Crew – private group.
Sept. 20 – 22, 22 – 24 Manuscript Illumination workshops Higham Hall, Cumbria Fully Booked
Dec. 14 Natural Paint Making at York Art Gallery – further details and booking can be found here. Fully Booked.