What's On

Mat Pilates

£90/£87(c) • Friends £88/£85(c)

Work with the brilliantly inspiring Karen Crowcombe from the Great Life Project to develop balance, strength and to improve your posture throughout this fabulous ten-week class in Mat Pilates. Throughout the ten weeks, you’ll learn and build upon the fundamental disciplines of Pilates in a calm and supportive environment which takes place in the beautiful, naturally ventilated gallery here at Prema.

Pilates is great for managing and preventing injury and has several benefits to help improve mental wellbeing and assisting restful sleep. All exercises will be done either standing or lying down.

Alignment Yoga

£90/£87(c) • Friends £88/£85(c)

We’re back for a new term - the perfect time to enrol on our brilliant Thursday evening Alignment Yoga course with Neil Bloodworth. Neil works with you to focus on gentle movement with breathing techniques to complement traditional Yoga postures.

This approach is ideal for beginners to ease into their practice and encourages those with more time on the mat to slow down and apply subtle engagements, resulting in a richly rewarding and deeper yogic experience.

Going Underground at Museum in the Park

Free entry

Prema has joined forces with the brilliant team from the Environmental Science team at UWE Bristol to bring a host of fab facts about the amazing life forms and the critters which live beneath our feet.

This afternoon’s FREE event is all about getting to know a thing or two about moss and soil.

A proper back-to-school treat for all members of the family, bring your granny, bring your neighbours. The more the merrier! See you at Museum in the Park for a 1.30 start!

Beginners' Painting

£70/£67(c) • Friends £68/£65(c)

Our three-week painting course with inspiring artist Caroline Cattermull is ideal for total beginners, for those who have always wanted to explore painting or who haven’t done much of it since school. Alternatively, if you have previous experience but would like to refresh your painting skills, go back to basics and try out acrylics, this course is perfect for you too.

Drawing 101 - Putting Pen to Paper

£60/£57(c) • Friends £58/£55(c)

So many folks tell us that they’re terrified to putting pen to paper and feel totally at sea when it comes to drawing. With this in mind, we’ve created today’s introductory workshop in cahoots with the brilliant Rose-Marie MJ, who many of you will know from her excellent Sketch Out adventures.

In our Drawing 101 workshop Rose leads you gently through the steps of creating a still life (a sketch of objects placed to create structure, shape and shadow), starting with an introduction into drawing and the basic skills needed to get started.

Hand Sewing with Shells

£55/£52(c) • Friends £53/£50(c)

If you’ve been spending your summer holidays collecting shells with no idea what you’re going to do with them then THIS is the workshop just for you!

Join artist Sue Green for today’s one day workshop where you will make beautiful pieces of artwork using a technique of trapping objects such as shells, buttons, even plastic rings or simply 3D stitches between two layers of calico, adding detail with a simple cream-coloured hand stitching. Give it as a gift for a special occasion or keep it for yourself.

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.

Learn how to create vessels by “throwing” on the wheel and discover the limitless possibilities of hand-building while experimenting with a variety of surface decoration, exploring the many slips and glazes to make unique clay work. Here you can work at your own pace at an affordable price.

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. Geg’s Potting Shed is always friendly and relaxed, meaning you’ll be working at your own pace on a personal and distinctive ceramics project.

Enjoyment of Painting through Mini Abstracts

£65/£62(c) • Friends £63/£60(c)

Join painter Christina Sadler to discover the sheer pleasure of painting through mini abstracts.  In today’s session you will be shown the fun of painting, loosening up your style and taking the pressure out of being too focused on the end result. Learn how to enjoy the relaxed process that goes into creating a mini abstract, using acrylic paints and inks to learn a variety of skills and techniques to carry on painting at home.

Light Up Your Space: African Print Lampshade Workshop

£75/£72(c) • Friends £73/£70(c)

We are delighted to welcome back the ever-brilliant Taiwo Adeoti of Ile Darasimi for today’s lampshade workshop. In today’s hands-on session, you will bring the vibrant energy of Africa into your home with this fab and funky workshop.  Learn to create a magnificent drum lampshade using a dazzling selection of bright, bold African print fabrics.

Choose your perfect size:

• MAKE A PAIR - Craft two charming 20cm lampshades, perfect for adding a pop of colour to your nightstands or side tables.
• MAKE A STATEMENT - Create a statement piece with a striking 35cm lampshade sure to be a conversation starter in any room. ideal for a floor lamp or pendant lighting.

Creative Ballet for Adults

£60/£57(c) • Friends £58/£55(c)

We’re delighted to welcome back the ever-brilliant Marie-Louise Flexen and her wonderful creative ballet sessions. Ballet gives the body a terrific workout, helping to build muscle tone and fortify core strength. It assists with joint mobility and ease of movement and is great for improving balance & posture as well as strengthening the body’s nervous system.

ArtBeat

£48(c) • £46(c)

ArtVenture Explorers is back and sure to be a blast, using a variety of materials for painting, drawing, collage and sculpture – and you can bet your bottom dollar that we’ll be fully embracing sustainability and recycled materials.

‘ArtVenters’ blends learning and creativity through playful activities and design challenges. In this engaging 6-week class, kids can dive headlong into the captivating worlds of art history, illustration, and graphic design.

Suitable for budding artists aged 7 and over. 6 week course.

Silver Earrings

£88/£85(c) • Friends £86/£83(c)

Design and make a unique pair of silver earrings with silversmith Charlotte Duckworth. Learn how to pierce, form and texture silver to help you create a unique pair of earrings – a brilliant treat for yourself or a wonderful gift for someone else.

Total Beginner's Crochet: Chunky Beanie Hat

£65/£62(c) • Friends £63/£60(c)

Here’s the most awesome introduction to crochet, working with our wondrous buddy and yarn goddess Emma Leith, author of Mindful Crochet and Colourful Crochet. Emma’s relaxed, playful and informal style of teaching transforms learning this brilliant craft into an utterly joyful experience. Today’s session begins with the basics, where you will learn the chain stitch before progressing to the treble. By lunchtime you’ll be proficient in both stitches and ready to embark on the afternoon’s project; crocheting a hat! 

Owen Spafford & Louis Campbell

£15/£12(c) • Friends £13/£10(c)

Owen Spafford and Louis Campbell met as teenagers, as part of the first cohort of the National Youth Folk Ensemble. Since forming their duo in 2018, they have: supported various acts in venues up and down the land; been nominated for the BBC Young Folk Award and released their 5* rated debut album

Together they create a hypnotic, intricate and intimate sound using just guitar and violin. Their music manages to orbit many different sound-worlds from traditional English dance tune to chamber music to capture an exquisite, gentle beauty – just perfect for losing yourself in thought and contemplation.

Tonight’s an absolute must for lovers of simple, unadorned musical sophistication.

Botanical Watercolour Leaf

£55/£52(c) • Friends £53/£50(c)

Working directly from a selection of colourful autumnal leaves Karen Green, botanical artist, will guide you through observational drawing and watercolour techniques to create an exquisite illustration that reflects a botanical understanding of your subject and captures the beauty of the plant.

Block Printing

£55/£52(c) • Friends £53/£50(c)

With the guidance of Sarah Dennis, discover the art of printing unique designs onto fabric, as you explore the awesome practice of relief printing. This versatile technique is celebrated for its ability to produce stunningly intricate designs with remarkable precision. Rest assured; no prior artistic experience is necessary. During the workshop you’ll print your custom creations on a stylish, functional cotton tea towel or tote bag.

Willow Reindeer

£72/£69(c) • Friends £70/£67(c)

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen? Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. Come along and learn how to create a truly remarkable Rudolph using bundles of locally sourced willow and a whole heap of know-how! Join awesome willow-worker Sarah-Jayne Edwards to discover the wonderful world of willow sculpture. Get ahead of the game and create a festive reindeer from locally sourced willow, learn the basic techniques of how to prepare and manipulate willow to create a super 3D sculpture.

Painting Continued ...

£70/£67(c) • Friends £68/£65(c)

Our follow-on painting course is ideal for both beginners and more experienced artists wanting to explore dynamic new techniques. Artist Caroline Cattermull leads each session with an infectious passion and inspirational flair, offering plenty of individual support and learning with the small group of jolly painters! 

Throughout each unhurried session, Caroline will take time to demonstrate and explain each method with step-by-step guidance as you explore working with acrylics on both paper and canvas. We’ll cover the basics of composition, mark-making techniques and the application of paint – how to layer and blend to beautiful effect.

The Drawing Room

£75/£72(c) • Friends £73/£70(c)

Join artist Rose-Marie MJ for this 4-week crash-course where we’ll explore the various elements of drawing, bringing a newfound confidence in your mark making and a dynamism to your drawing.

Throughout the four weeks, we’ll learn how to make quick sketches in preparation for your drawing, discovering how to record a “scene” so that you’re ready to add depth and detail later on. Rose will cover total basics – how to control your pencil/drawing implement to obtain the very best effect. We’ll look at perspective, vanishing points and proportion to help us capture distance and depth within our work.

Ryan Young with Gillie O'Flaherty

£15/£12(c) • Friends £13/£10(c)

Ryan Young is a Scottish fiddle player and musician from Glasgow; a traditional fiddler playing strathspeys, reels and jigs, a young violinist who brings inventive ideas to traditional Scottish music.

Tonight, he is joined by guitarist and fellow former Scottish Conservatoire graduate Gillie O’Flaherty who shares a passion for bringing a dynamic new perspective to the traditional music of Scotland.

An evening which offers an evocative journey to elevate the soul. Book good and early!

Japanese Cross-Back Aprons

£70/£67(c) • Friends £68/£65(c)

An absolute must for anyone wanting to explore simple dressmaking skills in our Japanese cross-back apron sewing workshop. Known as ‘Maekake’, these practical aprons were traditionally used as a work garment and made from old sails for fishermen to wear whilst out at sea. This fabulous apron is the perfect garment to serve you in your daily household chores, gardening or creative endeavours and features two large front pockets, so your essentials are close at hand. Comfortable, absorbent and easy-to-wear, it is sure to be a wardrobe essential for years to come.

Collage into Drawings

£58/£55(c) • Friends £56/£53(c)

Join us for today’s workshop with collage artist, Rebecca Loweth and explore the exciting potential of combining collage and drawing to create artworks and generate ideas for further work.

With the idea of ‘make and remake’ at the heart of the workshop, Rebecca will guide you through varied approaches and techniques of combining collage and drawing. You will experiment with layering, juxtaposition, mark making and composition using collage as a basis for drawing to grow out from, resulting in a series of unique artworks to take away with you.

Ceramic Bauble Calligraphy

£50/£47(c) • Friends £48/£45(c)

The brilliant Emma Barnes returns to Prema this season with a festive-themed calligraphy extravaganza! For tonight’s workshop we’ll be covering all the usual aspects of Emma’s modern approach to calligraphy but this time we’re working 3D and transferring our designs onto a festive bauble using metallic inks! Steady hands at the ready – you’ll be taking home one completed bauble and further inks and a nib so that you can carry on glorifying those globes back at home. Your tree is gonna be gorge this Christmas. Book good and early. It’s going to be baubilicious!

Christmas Crochet

£65/£62(c) • Friends £63/£60(c)

Fire up the festivities with a fun-filled day of yarny-goodness with the Duchess of the Double Crochet, the magnificent Emma Leith! You’ll be making an assortment of colourful, eye-catching crocheted baubles and adorable hooked holly leaves for the tree!  Today begins with learning how to crochet in the round under the watchful eye of Emma who will teach you everything you need to know before going on to complete an exuberant bauble (or two!) After lunch the afternoon will be dedicated to making the sweetest of holly leaves before going on to embellish them with some surface crochet.  You will leave with a fabulously festive assortment of crochet festive ephemera, ready to adorn your tree together will new skills to continue on your crochet journey!

Eddy Smith & the 507

£17/£14(c) • Friends £15/£12(c)

Join us for a massive night with a BIG sound, courtesy of Eddy Smith with his unique, husky voice and awesome piano accompaniment – in recent years he’s really been really his mark on the UK’s growing Americana scene. Widely recognised as one of the prominent male vocalists on the country soul & blues circuit, Eddy’s infectious melodies and soulful song-writing has drawn comparisons to the likes of Joe Cocker, JJ Grey and Marcus King.

Backed by his long-time friends, they form the multinational five-piece, Eddy Smith & The 507. Their music, engulfed by rich vocal harmonies and gospel-like organ is reminiscent of a sound from way before their time. With an irresistible blend of various Americana styles, such as blues, soul, country and rock, the quintet are sure to take Prema by storm for this awesome autumn gig.

Be sure to book your tickets in plenty of time!

Christmas Wreaths

£50/£47(c) • Friends £48/£45(c)

With just a matter of days before the Feast of St Stephen, join the joyful Jess Spill of Spills and Swirls for today’s fabulously festive Christmas Special. Your decs might already be up by now but in this morning’s workshop you will be creating one of the most important finishing touches!  Is it really Christmas without a wreath to adorn your door?

Christmas Table Pieces

£50/£47(c) • Friends £48/£45(c)

Join Jess Spill of Spills and Swirls for this afternoon’s splendidly lavish table centrepiece workshop. Made using locally sourced logs, foliage, flowers and herbs to evoke and celebrate your favourite Christmas scents. Our festive centrepieces are the perfect finishing touch for every dining table or mantelpiece. It’s sure to be an afternoon of festivities, why not make a full day of it and join Jess for this morning’s Christmas wreath making workshop.

You may wish to bring some lights and your own gardening gloves (some of the foliage can be spiky).

Ashley Hutchings with Blair Dunlop

£22/£19(c) • Friends £20/£17(c)

Ashley Hutchings ‘The Guvnor’ formed Fairport Convention in 1967; a group that went on to invent British folk-rock with the album Liege & Lief - an album that was voted the ‘Most Important Folk Album of All Time' by BBC Radio 2 listeners in 2002.  He subsequently formed Steeleye Span who also had enormous success and then the first of many Albion Bands.

Tonight, Ashley is joined by his son Blair Dunlop for this very special birthday tour. A BBC Folk Award-winning singer-songwriter in his own right, the pair will reflect on a very special musical relationship in chat, music and song. 

Tickets are sure to sell out super-quick, so immediate booking is highly recommended.