Art Textiles Retreat 30th Oct - 4th November 2025
CHAIN REACTION: A Textile Retreat with Matthew Harris
30TH OCT- 4th november 2025 - NEW*
Court House Farm and Gardens, Portishead, somerset, UK
Retreat Summary
6-day immersive retreat with textile artist Matthew Harris
Explore drawing, collage, stitch, and cloth
Residential 5-night stay or 6-day non-residential pass ( details below )
Seasonal meals, inspiring talks, yoga/ mindfulness and time to relax
Creative workshops in studio spaces with cosy fires & gardens to explore
Small group for focused tuition and connection
Booking now open — secure your place with a non- refundable deposit
Watch the testimonial video
Costs & Booking
Residential (5 nights, all inclusive)
Arrival: 2pm, Thursday 30th October
Farewell: 11.30am, Tuesday 4th November
£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)
Reserve with a £500 non-refundable deposit
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
Watch the testimonial video
About the Retreat
This autumn, join Matthew Harris for a 6-day creative journey at Court House Farm.
Your retreat will combine hands-on workshops, reflection time, and seasonal food within a historic and atmospheric setting. Whether staying residentially in our Tudor Manor or joining daily with a studio pass, you’ll immerse yourself in materials, process, and narrative, supported by fireside evenings and inspiring company.
The Project — Chain Reaction: One Thing Leads to Another
Matthew will guide you through a project exploring continuity and change:
Begin with a collection of personal objects (precious, ephemeral, or curious)
Explore colour, texture, pattern, and form through drawing, painting, collage, appliqué, and stitch
Develop ideas along a 3.5-metre length of cloth, recording transformation and process
Work with repetition, distortion, stretching, and layering to reveal narrative
Create a richly worked piece — a finished object or the beginning of new creative work
Non-Residential — 6-Day Studio Pass
Cost: £990
Arrival: 2pm, Thursday 30th October
Daily workshops: 9.30am – 4.30pm + talks
Farewell: 11.30am, Tuesday 4th November - 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, studio access, and lunches (excludes accommodation and evening meal).
Reserve with a £250 non-refundable deposit
Watch the testimonial video
What’s Included
Daily workshops and supported studio - time with Matthew Harris
All tuition & materials list provided, some materials included
Art history talk
Optional yoga/mindfulness each morning
Chef-prepared meals (seasonal menus with wine at dinner)
Accommodation in Tudor & Medieval Manor houses or our additional accommodation: Victorian Court Lodge
Access to gardens & grounds
Studio work in the Court Lodge winter studio and Manor studio
Cosy fireside evenings for relaxation and conversation
About Matthew Harris
Matthew Harris is an internationally respected textile artist known for his distinctive approach to cloth, colour, and mark-making. His work often explores narrative through fragmentation and layering, creating pieces that are rich in visual history.
Visit Matthew’s website for more
His last retreat at Court House Farm was described as deeply inspiring and transformative.
Read our blog ‘story’: Threads of Courage and Colour
Love the idea of a creative retreat with Matthew Harris at Court House Farm but can’t make the date. Register your interest for a future retreat