No Rules Textile Retreat 3-8 May 2026
Retreat Details
Dates: 3 - 8 May 2026
Duration: 6 days/ 5 nights
Tutor: Jayne Emerson
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 textile artist Jayne Emerson for No Rules — A Textile Retreat, a five-night creative adventure celebrating freedom, experimentation and joy. Working in our light-filled studio spaces, you’ll explore a playful mix of textile and surface techniques — from gel printing, pleating and collage to needle felting and hand stitch — blending and layering materials in unexpected ways. This retreat is an ideas incubator: an invitation to follow your instincts, notice what brings you joy and rediscover your own creative language. Whether we gather in the cosy Winter Studio at The Lodge House or open the doors of the Cow Shed studio to the spring air, the week will unfold in colour, conversation and curiosity — a chance to experiment freely, share inspiration and reconnect with the pleasure of making.
Costs & Booking
Residential (5 nights, all inclusive)
Arrival: 2pm, Sunday 3 May 2026 for afternoon tea and gather at 3pm for introduction & studio session with Matthew
Farewell: 11.30am, Friday 8 May 2026
£2,550 — Own ensuite room in the historic Manor
once our allocation of rooms are filled in the manor we use our Court Lodge accommodation (Victorian house just at end of drive) All rooms are ensuite£2,350 — Own room, shared bathroom (2 sharing)
£1,990 — Shared twin room (price per guest)
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.
Read more about day- guests >>
Venue: Court House Farm, Portishead BS20 6PU, UK
Cost: £990
Arrival: 2pm, Sunday 3 May 2026
Daily workshops: 9.30am – 4.30pm + talks
Farewell: 11.30am, Friday 8 May 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 Learn
How to develop your own creative aesthetic and visual language
Techniques for gel printing, pleating, paper collage, needle felting, hand stitch and textural layering
How to build mood boards, colour palettes and inspiration layouts unique to you
Ways to mix and reinterpret textile techniques in unexpected ways
How to curate your experiments into meaningful compositions and samples
The confidence to let go of “shoulds” and embrace play, discovery and imperfection
You’ll leave with a body of experimental samples, a collection of materials and mood boards to take home — and a refreshed sense of creative freedom.
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
Court House Farm is a historic Somerset retreat space dedicated to creativity, connection and calm. Our studios — from the cosy Winter Studio at The Lodge House to the spacious Cow Shed studio — offer inspiring settings for exploration and making.
Guests stay within the manor house and nearby lodge house, surrounded by wild, beautiful gardens in a surprisingly secluded spot although on the high street. Delicious seasonal meals are prepared on site, and evenings often unfold around the table, sharing stories, laughter and ideas.
About Jayne Emerson
Jayne Emerson is a mixed-media textile artist and tutor known for her bold, exploratory approach to making. With a background in fashion and textile design, she brings a wealth of technical skill and an instinctive sense of play to her teaching.
Jayne’s workshops are known for their energy and inclusivity — spaces where “rules” are joyfully bent or forgotten altogether. Her work spans embroidery, feltmaking, collage and surface design, always guided by curiosity and the belief that creativity flourishes when you give yourself permission to experiment.
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 Janye — you’ll be the first to hear when new dates are announced.