LeisureCourses.net – short courses & residential study breaks in great locations

Understanding Greek Tragedy and Greek Comedy

Some amazing plays were performed in Athens in the 5th century BC. This course traces the origins and development of Greek drama and provides an opportunity to participate in two play readings: Euripides 'Bacchae' in which King Pentheus recklessly rejects the worship of Dionysus and Aristophanes 'The Frogs', in which Dionysus, dressed as Heracles, enters...

Drawing Skills for Garden Designers

This one day workshop is for those who wish to improve their presentational skills for illustrating garden designs. It would suit anyone who has an interest in or has studied garden design and wants to make more of their drawing skills. You do not need to be good at drawing to find this course interesting...

Illustrations from the Edge – The Art of Exploration’

A sumptuously illustrated talk about the work of six British ‘expedition artists’ who travelled with some of the world’s great explorers from the C18th to C20th. You will see wonderful illustrations by William Hodges, David Roberts, Edward Wilson, Thomas Moran, Thomas Baines and Conrad Martens, accompanied by Brian’s stunning images from 5 continents. A true...

Restoration to Revolution England 1660 – 1688

After twenty years of civil war most people looked to a return to ‘normalcy’ after the Restoration of Charles II in May 1660, yet the ‘Restoration Settlement’ settled very little. This course will explore this exciting period in English history. We will consider such topics as the Popish Plot and the Exclusion Crisis, the emergence...

Silk Painting Big & Bold

Silk painting is an accessible and hugely enjoyable medium, which is suitable for all levels of ability. This course is suitable for experienced silk painters and for complete beginners. It starts with an introduction to the basic techniques including; gutta, wet-in-wet and salt effects. However most of the course will be devoted to participants own...

Britain & Ireland After The Romans

What happened to Britain after the Romans left? Was there genocide, ethnic cleansing or cultural assimilation? ‘Britain and Ireland after the Romans’ will examine the tumultuous changes that occurred from the fifth century onwards that ultimately gave birth to the separate English and British speaking communities of Britain and Ireland.

Gold, Amber & Bronze: The Meaning of Objects

When precious metals and materials are discovered, archaeologists have to interpret their meaning and context. This course focuses on the variety of Prehistoric objects that are found in funerary contexts, in hoards and isolated chance finds. It will explore how archaeologists explain and give meaning to objects. Do grave goods reflect a person’s status in...

Intermediate Acoustic Guitar Day

This course gives acoustic guitar players the encouragement to explore more challenging material and techniques using a wide range of musical genres. Add blues to your Bach? Or Bach to your blues? Then join the many who have enjoyed playing and learning in a relaxed atmosphere. Our comprehensive study pack contains material in standard notation...

Coleridge and His Circle in Somerset

This study day will explore the emerging Romantic sensibility and the poetry and politics of the 1790s. The focus is on Samuel Taylor Coleridge, particularly the inspiration he drew from the local landscape and from his friendship with Dorothy and William Wordsworth during their shared years in Somerset. We shall look at the four ‘conversation...

Honiton Lace

This is a practical course designed for bobbin lacemakers of all abilities. For those who have knowledge of basic bobbin stitches there is the opportunity to be introduced to the techniques of this classic English lace. Those experienced in Honiton lacemaking can expand their skills and understanding of this lace and gain inspiration and guidance...

A334 Literature from Shakespeare to Austen

This weekend course is aimed at Open University A334 students. The course will cover the study of prose, poetry and drama from Shakespeare to Austen. We will consolidate what you have learned on the module so far and help you gain new insights. We will be considering texts from a variety of genres in their...

Free-Machine Embroidery for Improvers

An inspiring and fun course aimed at those with experience in the technique who have grasped the basics and now want to develop and improve on their existing skills. Working from your own design motif or the tutors you will build a collection of samples in a variety of threads and stitches and learn how...

Alignment Therapy

Do you have back (or other) pain and want to relieve it? The Evans Technique of Alignment Therapy, officially recognised in 2011 by the Independent Professional Therapists International (IPTI), is an extremely gentle and painless way of relieving back and other joint pain. During the day we will look at ways of using simple body...

Looking Good Feeling Good

Our style needs to evolve as we age so if it’s been a while since you took an honest look at your colours and styles, this is the perfect opportunity to spend a relaxing day gaining input into what suits you and why. Realise your true potential with colours that suit your natural colouring and...

Ukulele Workshop – Beginners

Always wanted to play an instrument but thought you never could? – Yes Uke Can! This workshop will introduce you to the ukulele from scratch. You will learn how to: hold it, tune it, strum it, play 5 simple chords and put them all together in a few familiar songs. This one day course is...

Book Club: Jane Erye

The Romantic Ballet – Sylphs, Wilis & Other Spirits

The first Romantic ballet – La Sylphide (1832) – turned ballerinas into stars, soon eclipsing their male counterparts. This fascinating story of passions and intrigues brings to life the stories behind famous ballets such as La Sylphide, Giselle, Ondine, Le Papillon and more, and introduces the famous ballerinas whose rivalries and jealousies caused many a...

An Exploration Weekend

A weekend course with Brian Anderson, photographer and adventurer, looking at some of the great explorers and their expeditions into the unknown world, or the ‘terra incognita’ of their centuries. We will travel the routes of Magellan, Drake, Cook, Weddell and others, and see the landscapes, wildlife & peoples they encountered on their expeditions. This...

Flappers, Vamps & All That Jazz: The Roaring Twenties

The 1920s were a time of great upheaval, as society was torn between a desire to return to the certainties of the past and rejection of the old certainties of the Edwardian era. The result was a creative tension that led to new developments in society, politics and the arts, including daring new plays, modern...

Still Life & The Landscape

This is a practical course using acrylic paint, drawing materials and collage. Artists as varied as Frances Hodgkins, Edward Wadsworth, Winifred Nicholson and Mary Fedden have been fascinated by the imaginative possibilities of still life in or against the landscape. Using mixed media in a variety of ways we will examine the contrasts and interesting...

Getting Beyond the Census – Bringing Your Family History Alive

This course will bring your family history to life. Where did they live? What did they do? Did they move? We will see how social history affected their lives, looking at the bigger picture. There will be a chance for you all to participate, share research and learning experiences with each other, get updated on...

Hadrian’s Wall and Imperial Rome’s Frontiers

From Augustus’ creation of an organised empire in the first century B.C., the limits were established and (apart from one or two extensions!) remained largely unaltered through four centuries. We will look at the early frontiers, how different provinces adopted different solutions, and the gradual increase in scale and complexity as external threats came to...

What’s in a word: An introduction to English Etymology

The course aims to illustrate the English language through the development of its words. Tracing the antecedents and relatives of words from a dictionary and specialist sources will demonstrate contributions to the modern English vocabulary. The existence, development, and usage of English words will be examined through directed and assisted participant presentations and group discussions...

The Johann Strauss Family – A Tour of Britain

The Strauss (Waltz King) family were so numerous that it is sometimes impossible to be certain which one wrote which tunes. Father Johann was sufficiently astute to tour England with his orchestra cashing in on Queen Victoria's coronation celebrations. They gave concerts in a different location every night (except s) from August to November. We...

Pattern Draft a Skirt and Sew

During this two day course you will learn how to make a block, then a pattern, followed by making up the skirt on day two. A very useful course for students who would like to learn how to make a pattern to fit themselves in order to create their own designs which will fit correctly...

An Ordinary Czech Musician: The Musical & Personal Friendship of Antonin Dvorák with Johannes Brahms

‘An Ordinary Czech Musician’ - that is how Antonín Dvorák described himself, an attitude reflected in the awe in which he held his older contemporary Johannes Brahms. The two composers eventually became good friends, and in this course we shall consider how their mutual respect manifested itself in their many masterpieces in all genres of...

Botanical Illustration

Botanical Illustration is precise detailed work, a combination of art and science. This studio based watercolour course is for all ability levels; no experience of art or botany is required, just commitment. We aim to enjoy working in an atmosphere of relaxed industry. Students will work at their own pace on the subject of their...

English Gothic: 600 Years of a Style

Gothic is the most perfect fusion of art and engineering that’s ever been devised: it looks good because it’s structurally sound! Twelfth century France made the breakthrough but such was Gothic’s flexibility that England soon developed its own version – flowery and wayward to start with, grand and dignified later on. The course will follow...

Bookbinding

This course is intended for all levels from the complete beginner to the more experienced and will take place in a studio that is well equipped for general bookbinding. Beginners will be introduced to the basic theory and techniques of bookbinding, while advanced students will be assisted in pursuing particular projects. All aspects of bookbinding...

Musical Impressionism – From Dawn Till Dusk

During this weekend we will try to get inside the ‘feel’ as well as the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the Impressionism label in search of what it means in music. It’s not as easy to pin down as is the Impressionist Painting Movement. Debussy initially scoffed at the tag, but what did he and Ravel...