Art Textile Retreat 25- 30 March 2026
Cloth: Where it begins, An art textiles retreat with Matthew Harris
Retreat Details
Dates: 25 - 30 March 2026
Duration: 6 days/ 5 nights
Tutor: Matthew Harris
Hosts: Helen, Mick & CHF team (Victoria, Kirstie, Sophie, Paris)
Venue: Court House Farm, Portishead BS20 6PU, UK
Experience level: Suitable for all levels
Small group for focused tuition and connection
Includes
5 nights’ accommodation, all meals and refreshments, expert tuition, inspiring talks, studio time, activities, and local visitsCost
From £1990 residential (see full pricing below)£990 Non-residential option available (see below)
About the retreat
Join acclaimed textile artist Matthew Harris for six immersive days of making and discovery at Court House Farm. Cloth is a retreat that invites you to work slowly and sensitively with drawing, collage, patching and stitching, to explore how mark-making on paper can evolve into new possibilities in fabric.
Matthew’s workshops are about beginnings rather than endings. Instead of polished outcomes, you’ll leave with a rich body of drawings, samples and ideas that can continue to grow and develop beyond the retreat. Expect to be surprised by chance, serendipity and the unexpected directions your work may take. The retreat is designed to spark new ideas and bring joy to your creative practice — whether you are just beginning or already established.
Costs & Booking
Residential (5 nights, all inclusive)
Arrival: 2pm, Wednesday 25 March 2026 for afternoon tea and gather at 3pm for induction & studio session with Matthew
Farewell: 11.30am, Monday 30 March 2026
£2,550 — Own ensuite room in the historic Manor
£2,350 — Own room, shared bathroom (2 sharing)
£1,990 — Shared twin room (price per guest)
£2,350 — Own ensuite in Court Lodge (Victorian house just across the road- we like to fill the manor first but if you’d like to take a room at the lodge let us know)
Reserve with a £500 non-refundable deposit - see our terms & conditions for details
we welcome non-participating guests to join us with a paying guest - price for room & food will be quoted on request
For those with longer to travel we offer additional nights without catering - price quoted on request
Non- residential option Join us with a 6- day pass - see below
Costs & booking- continued
Non-Residential — 6-Day Studio Pass
For those creatives who live locally and can travel to us daily we offer a 6-day pass. On-site parking available.
Venue: Court House Farm, Portishead BS20 6PU, UK
Cost: £990
Arrival: 2pm, Wednesday 25 March 2026
Daily workshops: 9.30am – 4.30pm + talks
Farewell: 11.30am, Monday 30 March 2026 - we would welcome you to join us for some time to reflect on the experience, share the work created and say farewells
Includes: all tuition & workshops, studio access, and lunches (excludes accommodation, bar and evening meal).
Reserve with a £250 non-refundable deposit - see our terms & conditions for details
what you’ll explore in Matthews workshops/ studio time
‘To Cut On Fold
To ….. To….. To ….. To ….. To ….. To ….. To ….. To….. To ….. ?’
Adventures in drawing and making for textiles
“Play continues to be a big factor in my studio, because that’s how one allows oneself to move in directions which one could not have foreseen.” — Richard Serra
Matthew’s workshops focus on adventurous, playful ways to generate visual and tactile inspiration for textiles. You will explore processes such as drawing, painting, stencilling, collage, and more to create a library of visual material inspired by observation and Serra’s verb list.
Drawing, mark-making and collage as a starting point- workshops with Matthew in the studio
Translating paper studies into cloth through cutting, layering, stitching and repair
Working with accident, play and experimentation in textile construction- workshops with Matthew in the studio
Developing your own visual language through material exploration
Shared discussions, reflective studio time, 1-1 guidance and inspiration from art history and/or exhibition visit
What’s Included
Tutor-led workshops and dedicated studio time to develop your practice
Morning mindful movement or gentle stretching sessions (optional)
Art history/ relevant talks for inspiration
Access to Court House Farm’s gardens, grounds, and communal spaces
Local excursions, seasonal walks, or gallery visits
All meals and refreshments by our wonderful retreat Chef & team
(residential/ day guests join us for Lunch & refreshments)Accommodation in the Historic Manor House or Court Lodge (residential)
Workshop materials list provided; after booking (some materials provided)
About Court House Farm
Set in Portishead, near Bristol, Court House Farm is a historic estate restored as a creative retreat venue. Its medieval & Tudor manor, gardens and converted farmstead buildings create a tranquil, immersive setting where studio time, shared meals and the surrounding gardens all support the creative process. Seasonal food, warm hospitality and inspiring surroundings make Court House Farm a place apart from everyday life.
About Matthew
Matthew Harris is an internationally recognised textile artist whose practice moves fluidly between drawing and cloth. His work embraces imperfection, rhythm and narrative, often using improvisation and chance to disrupt and re-shape his compositions.
As a tutor, Matthew fosters curiosity and openness, encouraging participants to immerse themselves in process and develop their own personal visual voice. His retreats are about creating fertile beginnings, leaving space for each maker to grow their work in unexpected ways
Discover more on Matthew’s website
Love the sound of this retreat but can’t make the dates? Let us know, and we’ll add you to our interest list for future retreats with Matthew — you’ll be the first to hear when new dates are announced.