Mosaics
Available Dates
All of our craft or activity holidays run for 5-nights from Sunday to Friday and start from £879 per person.
The above is based on single occupancy. A £100 per person discount is applied for art, craft and activity guests on a shared occupancy basis.
TESTIMONIAL
"I was searching for the perfect Mosaics tutorial online when I stumbled upon Gartmore House's Mixed Media Textile courses. What a fantastic discovery!"
Guest
About The Course
If you’re having trouble finding Mixed Media Textiles courses near you then why not come on holiday to Gartmore House and learn with the best?
Discover the timeless art of mosaics in this four-day workshop designed for participants of all skill levels. This workshop will guide you through the fundamentals of traditional mosaic-making and is fully accessible to beginners as well as those with some mosaic experience. Over the course of four days, you will learn about the classical secrets of laying your mosaic tiles to create harmonious work and come away with the knowledge you need to continue making mosaics at home. You will learn about mosaic tools and materials as well as how to prepare your base, cut, shape and lay your tiles and how to grout and finish your completed work.
Mosaic is an immersive medium renowned for its slow, meditative qualities. Helen has more than twenty years of experience of working with mosaics and is known for bringing together students of diverse abilities, inspiring enthusiasm in the process and pride in the results.
By the end of the workshop, you will have a beautiful, handmade mosaic to take home, along with a deeper appreciation for this ancient art form. All materials are provided, and no prior experience is required.
Mosaics – 3rd – 9th May 2026
Focusing on the reuse of pre-loved materials, artist and mosaicist, Katy Galbraith, will guide you through the various techniques in this four-day mosaic workshop. The mosaics made during the week will be suitable for outdoors and indoors.
The course looks at diverse types of reclaimed materials and how we can use them to express our creativity in mosaic. Furthermore, the participants will learn how to transport their ideas from paper to a finished piece to take home. The various substrates, appropriateness of suitable tiles and glass and the tools used will be explored throughout the week.
Working with mosaics is not a quick process but one that is very meditative. It is rewarding and surprising when viewed as a finished piece as all the elements play an important role: lines created by cut-up tiles and their interaction with grout, the way the light plays with tiles and reflects different colours, and how we can create clear shapes by placing the tiles in a defined order.
The course is suitable for everyone, including complete beginners
Participants will:
- create their main mosaic from glass tiles and discarded ceramics, creating the design, choosing the correct materials for each project and how to make defined shapes from your tile pieces. This could be a house sign, a steppingstone, bird table or small shrine.
- Create a small bird which can be incorporated into their main project or as part of a small second mosaic
- Learn how to determine which materials to use for their projects when home
- Learn the basic techniques needed in mosaic: prepping materials and suitable bases, applying adhesives, glass and ceramic tile cutting and grouting.
Course Inclusions And Coverage
This course is an all-in-one package which includes the following:
Tuition
Booking for this course includes 4 days of specialist tuition from Helen Miles.
Equipment
All specialist equipment will be supplied but there will be a few essential items that you will need to bring. Please see our terms and detailed information section below.
Food & Accommodation
Full board catering and 5-nights accommodation are included when you book.
Transfers
Complimentary transfers are included when you book - subject to certain conditions.*
* Transfers from Stirling train station are available on the arrival and departure days (pick-up from the station at 15:30, departs Gartmore House at 9:15). Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh Airports are available at an additional cost.
Picture Gallery
tERMS & DETAILED INFORMATION
If you’re coming on one of our holidays and would like to bring a friend, partner, or member of your family, then we have you (and them!) covered. Accompanying guests will enjoy full board catering and shared accommodation with you. We also have a full programme of day trips and activities on offer for them. Please add them and day trips at the checkout stage.
How to book
To book online, please click on your preferred date above.
For any questions or to book direct please call 01877 382 991 or email mail@gartmorehouse.com
If you have any questions, you may like to take a look at our FAQs but if you have any further queries, please contact our team directly.
TERMS & CONDITIONS OF BOOKING
To confirm your holiday:
A non-refundable 25% deposit is required to secure your booking.
Payment of your holiday:
The balance of your payment must be received no later than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement of your holiday. In the case of non-payment, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and any cancellation fees will apply.
If you cancel your booking:
All deposits are non-refundable. Should you need to cancel your booking up to 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, we will refund any monies paid, less your deposit. If you cancel less than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, no refund will be given.
We do advise you to take out holiday insurance for this reason.
Your Course Tutor: Helen Miles
Helen Miles is a highly skilled mosaic artist and teacher, known for her beautifully crafted contemporary mosaics inspired by ancient techniques. Her fascination with mosaic making began during her time in Thessaloniki, Greece, where she trained under master craftsmen in Byzantine methods, working extensively with stone and marble .
Now based at Abbeymount Studios in Edinburgh, Helen creates mosaic commissions for both interiors and exteriors, explores innovative materials—including found, recycled objects and single-use plastics—and leads both local and residential workshops in Scotland and Greece .
Her first book, Mosaics: Ancient Techniques to Contemporary Art, was released in March 2023, reinforcing her role as a respected educator and writer on mosaic practic
Your Course Tutor: Katy Galbraith
Katy is a British mosaicist living in Perthshire, Scotland.
Flowers in abundance feature in most of her exhibition pieces, as well as in private commissions. Her mosaics are found in the National Museum of Scotland, at the Bield Centre, near Perth and in many private collections. While many of her pieces are considered ‘decorative art,’ she also enjoys making mosaics with a more practical purpose such as kitchen and bathroom splashbacks, mirrors, tabletops, and garden items.
She has taken part in international projects in Cyprus, Germany, Italy, and Tunisia, and taught mosaics in Cyprus and Spain.
In producing her mosaics, she aims to be true to herself and her interest in recycling and sustainability by incorporating many recycled materials, including those representing her and her local area in Perthshire or pieces donated for use by friends and family, like a traditional patchwork concept.
Katy believes that the true magic about mosaic and especially the reuse of alternative materials is the ability to play with different colours and then observe how the tiles reflect and play with the light.
Faq
Where can I find out more about the course?
If you need any further information about your course that is not on our website, please get in contact with us and we can provide you with the tutor’s contact details who can assist with your query.
What do I need to bring on my art, craft and activity break?
Your required kit list for your specific break is shown on each course’s webpage. Your tutor will also be in contact with you, prior to your course to confirm kit lists and questions you have.
Should you have any queries, then please feel free to contact us.
What is the art, craft and activity holiday booking terms and conditions?
To confirm your holiday a non-refundable 25% deposit is required to secure your booking.
The balance of your payment must be received no later than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement of your holiday. In the case of non-payment, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and any cancellation fees will apply.
All deposits are non-refundable. Should you need to cancel your booking up to 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, we will refund any monies paid, less your deposit. If you cancel less than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, no refund will be given.
Holidays are subject to availability and subject to change. There is a minimum number of guests required to run each course. If a course is cancelled due to low numbers, you may transfer any monies paid to an alternative date or a full refund will be issued. We do advise you to take out holiday insurance for this reason.
What time do your transfer services for the art, craft & activity holidays operate?
We offer a complimentary transfer services to and from Stirling train station. Collection is at 3:30pm from the station on the day of arrival, and our drop-off service departs from Gartmore House at 9:15 am on day of departure.
The closest airports to us are Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. If you require a transfer to and/or from either airport, please select this option at the time of booking. Transfers to/from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports are available at an additional cost. After booking your flights, please update your Customer Portal with the time you wish to be collected from the airport on the day of arrival and the time of collection at Gartmore House, returning to the airport, on the day of departure. Please allow 60 minutes for your transfer between Gartmore House and Glasgow Airport, or 90 minutes for your transfer between Gartmore House and Edinburgh Airport.
Can I bring a partner/friend to stay with me while I am on an art, craft or activity break?
If you’re coming on one of our art, craft or activity holidays and would like to bring a friend, partner, or member of your family, then we have you (and them!) covered. Accompanying guests will enjoy full board catering and shared accommodation with you. Please add them at the checkout stage.
Spots on this course are limited!
Book your spot now and join us at Gartmore House. We are confident it will deepen your understanding of doll making.