Pottery & Pitfire
Unleash your creativity with
an all-inclusive arts & crafts holiday
Available Dates
DATES 2024
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.
2024
“I was struggling to find residential pottery and pitfire classes near me until I stumbled upon Gartmore House.”
About The Course
After dinner on Sunday night we will meet together and look at examples of ceramics from a range of historical and contemporary potters and ceramic artists to gain an understanding of the range of work that it is possible to make using clay. Carol will bring ceramics you can handle, including some of her own, and we’ll begin to get to know each other. No specific experience is assumed, whatever your prior knowledge you are welcome, as her courses are suitable for all levels of skill.
Inspired by the seasonal theme relevant to your particular retreat, each day we will explore ideas using a range of art materials, and learn how to turn them into designs for your pottery.
Carol will give demonstrations of each pottery making method, and she’ll give you one-to-one guidance and tuition. The group will also learn from each other as the week progresses. Some of this activity will be indoors and, where appropriate, we will also work outside in the beautiful grounds of Gartmore House.
You will learn a different making technique every day so that by the end of the retreat, as well as developing your design ideas, you will also have gained a technical understanding of how to make pottery that has strength, is decorative, and will survive the firing process. As weather allows, we will fire some of the pottery you have made outdoors, in a raku kiln and/or a pitfired kiln. You will end the course with examples of your design artwork and several finished articles of pottery.
Seasonal Workshops
On the week commencing Sunday 28th April 2024: 'Celebrating Spring'
As Spring is in its fullness, we will celebrate this exciting season and take inspiration from nature to design, make and decorate pottery. Traditionally this is a time of bonfires, so a perfect time to fire our work outside in the oldest way of making pots.
On the week commencing Sunday 23rd June 2024: 'Welcoming Summer'
This week is midsummer: we are blessed with light during the longest days of the year. Historically, people have always celebrated this auspicious time, so during this week we will take inspiration from those different traditions to design make and fire pottery.
On the week commencing Sunday 22nd September 2024: 'Honouring Autumn'
This is the time of Harvests and of gathering in. The light and the dark come back into balance, and now is the time to celebrate and give thanks for the surrounding abundance. During this week we will design make and fire pottery using forms and imagery which reflects this time of year.
On the week commencing Sunday 17th November 2024: 'Celebrating Winter'
Time to prepare for the winter months! ‘Hygge’ is a word which in Danish and Norwegian means to create cosiness, winter comforts, fires and winter conviviality. During this week, inspired by this concept, we’ll design make and decorate pottery which we can use to create the feelings of Hygge in our own homes.
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.
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: Carol Newmarch
Carol Newmarch is a practising artist who specializes in ceramics, including Raku and pitfired pottery. Carol runs regular pottery classes and arts workshops with a focus on developing people’s individual creative potential, and of engaging communities in creativity. She says, “I believe creative activity and expression to be essential to our holistic wellness, I love seeing people gain confidence in their own creative skills.” A qualified and experienced teacher, retreat leader and accredited life coach, she is based in North East England and Tuscany. Carol is the North East Regional Co-ordinator for the Northern Potters Association in England, for whom she organises and leads events and curates members exhibitions. Carol is a ceramics graduate of Middlesex University. She holds a PGCE from Lancaster University and a PG Cert in Fine Art Practice from Northumbria University.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolnewmarchartist
and
https://www.facebook.com/TheNewmarchWorkshops/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolnewmarch/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-newmarch/
Web Page: https://www.northern-potters.co.uk/artists/newmarch-carol/
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 acrylic painting.