What's On

Viktor Tilson

Free entry

Viktor Tilson is an abstract artist who lives and works in Gloucestershire. As an untrained artist, he brings a unique perspective to his pieces, making him somewhat of an outsider in the art world. His primary source of inspiration comes from music, ranging from rock to classical, and he allows his subconscious to guide the shapes and forms within his paintings.

Viktor has showcased his work online since the late 1990’s. However, this is a rare and exciting opportunity to view his work first-hand and close-up in a public space.

Helen Tarr

Free entry

Helen Tarr is a professional artist, originally from Gloucestershire, currently living in the National Forest area of East Staffordshire.

She specialises in alla prima oil paintings (painted in one session) either out in the landscape or from still-life subjects in the studio. Her larger paintings are inspired by the many photographs taken on her daily walks. She also sketches in the landscape, where she explores ideas and locations for plein air (in the open air) paintings throughout the year.

Dancercise

On the day £8

Dance and stretch to great music - Charleston, pop and Latin rhythms, incorporating easy-to-follow dance routines over this 6-week course. 

Tricia Dunbar leads Dancercise; a sensational movement course which is perfect for all abilities and ideal for anyone looking to improve their general fitness and wellbeing while having heaps of fun along the way!

Dancercise helps develop your flexibility, balance, coordination and general fitness levels as well as providing a welcome reduction to stress levels. Most importantly though, it is brilliant fun and definitely “the happy way to get fit!”

Bring along an exercise mat and dress code is all about comfy and non-restricting.

£8 per session. Pay on the day. Discounts available for block-booking.

To find out more please contact Tricia via email:
triciadunbar2@gmail.com

Claire Baker - the final showcase

Free entry

The ceramic work of artist Claire Baker draws inspiration from the 'aged' & 'distressed beauty' of Miss Haversham's Wedding Table in Dicken’s Great Expectations as well as the darker, more curious elements of Victorian life. A love of theatre and Victorian Gothic combined with a life spent exercising a vivid imagination has encouraged the particular British peculiarity of Claire’s ceramic work.

This showcase exhibition of Claire’s ceramics with the final show of her clay work. During the lockdown of 2020, she began designing cards, created via digital collage, incorporating her trademark themes of eccentric Victoriana. In a similar process to her former ceramic work, Claire’s collages build layer upon layer, exploring and experimenting with pattern, colour and texture.

Nia Dance

On door £10

Nia integrates ancient wisdom and modern science with elements of dance, martial & healing arts to offer physical, mental and emotional conditioning, healing and transformation that is accessible and attainable for every body.

Nia believes in the power and potential of everybody, at any age or level of fitness and that ‘through movement we find health’.

£10 drop-in per session but discounts available for block booking - contact class leader Geri Timmins on 01453 844766 for further info.

** No session on the bank holidays 6 & 27 May **

Life Drawing through Watercolour

£85/£82(c) • Friends £83/£80(c)

Join watercolour artist, Peter Garrard for a series of three life drawing classes but with the gentle added dimension of watercolour to really bring the work to life. Peter will show you the basics of measuring and proportion and then over the course gradually demonstrate increasingly complex wet-on-wet watercolour techniques, starting by using one colour and simple poses until finally using three colours and looking at foreshortening and other more demanding poses. All equipment and tools are provided.

Three week course, Wednesday evennings 17 April to 1 May.

Alignment Yoga

£63/£60(c) • Friends £61/£58(c)

It’s a new term and the perfect time to enrol on our brilliant Thursday evening Alignment Yoga course with Neil Bloodworth. Neil will work with you to focus on gentle movement with breathing techniques to complement traditional Yoga postures.

Ideal for all abilities and levels of experience. Don't forget to bring along your exercise mat to each session.

7 week class

Green Man Masks

£96/£93(c) • Friends £94/£91(c)

Join us for this two day workshop with ceramic sculptor and artist, Peter Garrard to make a ceramic mask of a Green Man. The green man (aka foliate head) is symbol of rebirth, representing the cycle of new growth that occurs every spring. With plenty of demonstrations throughout the day and one-to-one support Pete will guide you through each stage of the task of designing, constructing and then adding colour to your mask.

1^st workshop day 10am-4pm Saturday 20^th April

2^nd workshop half-day 10am-1pm Saturday 18^th May

Sketch Out at Breakheart Quarry

£8 • Friends £6

For the month of April, we’re heading up to the very top of the hill, to the beautiful yet bleak, unforgiving landscape of Breakheart Quarry (atop Stinchcombe Hill).

Following its rich and explosive past, the quarry is now a brilliant community project which focuses on learning, leisure and countryside education. And today, it serves as an uncharacteristic Gloucestershire landscape for us to explore and sketch. Huge skies with dramatic undulations to draw, plenty of perspective to play with and an abundance of natural light. And by just crossing the lane, we can venture into the spectacular woodland, following the paths through the sculpture trails. Oodles of drawing interest and inspo for your sketches!

Our Sketch Out sessions are led by artist Rose-Marie Marsall-Jane, a talented,  enthusiastic artist and dedicated sketcher who is keen to impart tips and techniques to help you brush-up your drawing and observational skills. Suitable for all levels of drawing experience.

Needle Felted Garden Birds

£65/£62(c) • Friends £63/£60(c)

Bring the cheeky chirrup of springtime into your home, with this fun and easy needle felted garden birds workshop. All materials are provided to make not one, not two but THREE mini birds from soft sheep’s wool - choose from a robin, chaffinch, blue tit, bullfinch, long tailed tit or goldfinch.  Sarah Richards from I Felt Fantastic leads you through the process of building your bird body, adding colour, making the wings and tail, and adding eyes and legs.  The completed birds are a fabulous addition to your home decor; as part of a spring wreath, in floral arrangements and potted plants, or even as a bird garland.  This class is suitable for felting beginners, with plenty of advice and support from a very experienced and wonderfully inspiring tutor.

Willow Swan

£75/£72(c) • Friends £73/£70(c)

Join willow sculptor Sarah Jayne Edwards to create the most glorious woven willow swan for your garden. In today’s session, you’ll start off with an introduction to your materials; discovering the potential of willow, how to source it, how to prepare it, the different types and what works best for different projects. And then it's time for hands-on design and weaving your splendid cob or pen. You will be given the choice of whether you want your swan to be standing or sitting in a nest. All willow used in today’s session will be locally sourced. We’re providing all the materials but please bring a good pair of secateurs and an apron.

Mat Pilates

£72/£69(c) • Friends £70/£67(c)

Work with the brilliantly inspiring Karen Crowcombe from the Great Life Project to develop your balance, strength and to improve your posture throughout this fabulous eight-week class in Mat Pilates.

This class is suitable for all abilities as Karen will demonstrate and adapt each exercise to your level. Places limited and sell quickly so instant booking is highly recommended.

Wear comfortable clothing and bring along an exercise mat each time.

8 week class

Tuesday Potting Shed

£125/£122(c) • Friends £123/£120(c)

Hurry, hurry, super-scurry! It’s time to book your place on our friendly and ever-popular ceramics class which allows you to grasp of the foundations of pottery whilst working at your own pace under the expert guidance of ceramic artist Geg Fayle.

Expect to create 6 or 7 medium sized pieces or 3 larger ones throughout the duration of the course due to limited space within the kiln and the soaring costs of clay and firing!

8 week class 

Thursday Potting Shed

£125/£122(c) • Friends £123/£120(c)

Psst … don’t miss your chance to explore the limitless joy of working with ceramics on our super-popular weekly pottery class led by the ever-patient Geg Fayle.

Try-out throwing (working on the wheel) as well as experimenting with a diverse range of making techniques, exploring the various surface textures, slips and glazes to create some truly remarkable ceramic work.

Places are limited so book RIGHT NOW to avoid disappointment! Full details of location will be provided upon booking.

8 week course 

Hazel & Willow Garden Structures

£68/£65(c) • Friends £66/£63(c)

With the prospect of longer days and promise of warmer temperatures drawing ever-nearer, our minds turn towards balmy afternoons in our gardens and borders full of colour (perhaps a large jug of Pimms too). Today’s workshop is just the ticket for all passionate gardeners and plants-people.

Join aritst and willow expert Helen Lomberg who guides you through the principles and techniques to create a variety of 3D structures; obelisks, plant supports, trellises and decorative hurdles - all created using locally grown willow and hazel. The perfect accessory for every garden and the ideal structure for really showing your architectural specimens at their very best.

Head in the Clouds

£55/£52(c) • Friends £53/£50(c)

Join artist Charlotte Aiken for today’s workshop which focuses on all things sky high! You may have recently seen Charlotte’s breathtaking works in her exhibition “Elysian” over at Studio 18 in Brimscombe? If you caught the show, you’ll know for sure that you're in for a treat today!

During today’s course, Charlotte will take you through her cloud-scaping process, where you’ll learn about the materials you will be using throughout the day and how to use them to optimum effect. And then it’s time to work on the composition of your painting, creating watercolour studies to start with before moving on to the main feature - an acrylic painted cloudscape on a wooden tondo. This is going to be the most exquisite day; full of celestial cirrus and cumulus clouds with mackerel skies.

All materials are provided.

The Irish House Party

£20/£17(c) • Friends £18/£15(c)

The renowned Irish music and dance show, The Irish House Party, comes to Prema for a rare and splendid Thursday evening music-and-dance extravaganza. Their captivating show transports audiences to the very heart of Ireland, offering a unique blend of traditional Irish music, dance, and just a smidgeon of comedy.

The original show was set up in Dublin by a group of musicians who wanted visitors to the city to experience what a real Irish house party is like. Don’t miss tonight’s performative pyrotechnics - from the lightning-fast footwork of the dancers to the infectious energy and humour of the musicians, tonight’s show promises the most wonderful night out. Book good and early to avoid missing your tickets!

Spring Wreath Making

£62/£59(c) • Friends £60/£57(c)

Spring is finally here and it’s time to celebrate all the vibrancy of the season by creating an exquisite wreath using a feast of plants and flowers foraged from the countryside surrounding Prema. Join artist and forager Ella Daniel-Lowe (aka @lunalotusuk) for today’s mindful workshop that will leave you feeling connected to the Earth.

Still Life Flowers

£75/£72(c) • Friends £73/£70(c)

Join exhibiting artist Helen Tarr for today’s wonderful Still Life Flowers painting workshop.  Throughout today’s session you will develop the portfolio of skills required to create a beautiful acrylic painting.  Learn how to prepare the paper for using acrylics, observe a short demonstration of ‘notan’ painting. Using a tonal guide paint a small ‘notan’ study identifying different tonal groupings, learning about the ratio of dark to medium and light tonal areas and discover how to achieve the optimum composition for your painting.  By the end of the day you will have created your own beautiful, still life floral painting to proudly hang on your wall at home.

Monique Clare

£14/£11(c) • Friends £12/£9(c)

With just a single cello underpinning her strikingly-crafted vocals, multi award-winning songwriter Monique Clare delivers impactful indie-folk. From tears to belly laughs, she weaves a cathartic story of grief and love through driving rhythms, heart-tugging harmonies and intricate cello lines.

Rarely (if ever) will you experience a single cello singlehandedly creating the sound of a full-band line up; including percussion!

Tonight is an absolute must for all players and lovers of stringed instruments and those with a passion for world-class indie-folk. Don’t miss Monique at Prema for tonight’s dazzling musical spectacle!

Get to know your Sewing Machine

£52/£49(c) • Friends £50/£47(c)

Calling all wannabe sewing bees! Today’s workshop is just the tickets for those who have an old sewing machine gathering dust. Maybe you’ve inherited a sewing machine and want to learn to use it? Or perhaps you simply want to get started on your sewing journey, to brush up on a few skills. Claire Parry leads today’s session, during which we’ll be working with simple pattern cutting skills; our end goal is a fabulous, lined make-up bag with zip. All those brilliant skills executed by you on your machine!

Firelight Trio

£16/£13(c) • Friends £14/£11(c)

Meet Firelight Trio. Three 'musical giants' collaborate to explore and celebrate European music that is evocative, inventive, and endlessly exciting.

Ruth’s resonant nyckelharpa (a bowed instrument, originally built & played by farmers and craftspeople in the northern Uppland in Sweden) is matched by Gavin’s powerhouse fiddle, all backed up by Phil’s splendidly inventive accordion and piano, to create a rich, resonant tapestry of lively Swedish polskas and Scottish reels, lilting French waltzes, toe-tapping klezmer, dazzling original tunes and more.

A Day of Weaving

£70/£67(c) • Friends £68/£65(c)

Enjoy a mindful and richly rewarding day of working in “slow textiles” with the ever-brilliant textile artist Rebecca Connolly.

As you learn the key skills of weaving, design and use of colour in weave, you’ll create a handful of pieces of woven fabric; the outcome being an experimental sampler, some ‘conventional’ cloth or a decorative hanging to adorn your home.

Glass Bouquet

£72/£69(c) • Friends £70/£67(c)

In today’s mixed media workshop led by glass artist Caroline Lambert, you will be using wire, copper and glass to learn a variety of great techniques. Learn how to hand-shape wire and all about copper-foiling, soldering and the use of patina as you create your bouquet of flowers and foliage. We’ll be taking our inspiration from the natural forms found in UK hedgerows, flower gardens and the landscape. By the end of the session, you will have created a wonderful display of beautiful everlasting flowers.

Summer Botanical Watercolours

£55/£52(c) • Friends £53/£50(c)

Taking inspiration from seasonal summer flowers, botanical artist Karen Green guides you through observational drawing, pen work and watercolour techniques to create a finished illustration that reflects a botanical understanding of your subject and captures the beauty of the plant.