11 - 16 August 2026- Glorious Colour Retreat- Kaffe Fassett & Brandon Mably
Retreat Details
Dates: 11 - 16 August 2026
Duration: 6 days/ 5 nights
Tutor: Kaffe Fassett & Brandon Mably
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 visitsInvestment from £2250 + vat
6 -day Pass (non residential) £1150 + vat
About the retreat
Immerse yourself in the joyous world of colour and pattern with internationally renowned colourists Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably. This vibrant retreat at Court House Farm is designed to build confidence in colour through playful, intuitive, and non-technical approaches.
Across six inspiring days, you will explore how colour works emotionally and practically, learning how to trust your instincts and develop palettes that can be applied to quilting, textile art, needlework, painting, interiors, and beyond.
This retreat is not about perfection or technical skill—it is about experimentation, curiosity, and creative freedom. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced maker, you will leave energised, inspired, and empowered to use colour with confidence.
Costs & Booking
Residential (5 nights, all inclusive)
Arrival: 2pm, Tues 11th August for afternoon tea and gather at 3pm for introduction & studio session with Kaffe & Brandon
Farewell: Sunday 16th 12.30am
£2750 + vat — 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£2550 + vat — Own room, shared bathroom
£2250 + vat — Shared twin room (price per guest- booked together)
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 - Enquire with us
Read more of what’s included >>>
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: £1150 + vat
Arrival: 2pm, Tuesday 11th August 2026
Daily workshops: 9.30am – 4.30pm + talks
Farewell: 12.30am, Sunday 16th - we would welcome you to join us for a final morning session
Includes: all tuition & workshops, studio access, and lunches (excludes accommodation, bar and evening meal).
Reserve with a non-refundable deposit - see our terms & conditions for details
Read more about our retreats at Court House Farm>>>
What You Will Learn – Programme/ creative Itinerary
Tuesday 11 August – Welcome & Meet the Colour Guys
Arrive from 2:00 pm and settle into Court House Farm. Enjoy a relaxed welcome with afternoon tea, followed by drinks, conversation, and an introduction to the week ahead with Kaffe Fassett, Brandon Mably, and fellow participants.
Wednesday 12 August – Paper Colour Collage Workshop
Explore how colour creates mood and emotion through paper collage. Learn to build strong, confident palettes that can be translated into fabric, paint, stitch, or any creative practice.
Thursday 13 August – Kaffe Colourway Painting Workshop
Re-colour one of Kaffe’s fabric designs using the hues of an inspirational artwork, photograph, or scene. Discover how dramatically a design can shift through colour alone. Painting materials are supplied, and no painting experience is needed.
Friday 14 August – Colour Inspiration & Illustrated Lecture
Spend the day immersed in colour inspiration, culminating in an illustrated lecture with Kaffe and Brandon. Drawing on decades of global travel, they will share how architecture, folk art, landscapes, and everyday observations influence their work.
Saturday 15 August – Diamond Quilt Colour Workshop
Create your own colour palette using a 3½-inch diamond quilt pattern. Work with core fabrics and expand your palette with guidance from Kaffe and Brandon, supported by a pop-up fabric selection.
Sunday 16 August – Fabric Collage Workshop (ends 12:30pm)
Apply everything you’ve learned to a fabric collage, exploring harmony, contrast, and balance. This final session brings together the week’s colour lessons and offers inspiration for future quilts, needlepoint, interiors, or other creative projects.
Depart after lunch feeling confident, inspired, and creatively renewed.
About the Tutors
Kaffe Fassett
Kaffe Fassett is one of the world’s most influential textile artists and colourists. For over 50 years, he has championed knitting, needlepoint, patchwork, and quilting, inspiring makers worldwide to work with colour in an instinctive and joyful way.
Born in California, Kaffe moved to the UK in 1964, where he built his reputation through collaborations with designers such as Bill Gibb and Missoni and became a leading figure in the knitwear revival of the 1980s. His work spans needlepoint, quilting, mosaics, tapestries, rug-making, theatre design, and fabric design.
He has published more than 40 books, exhibited internationally, and in 1988 became the first living textile artist to have a solo exhibition at the V&A Museum. In 2018, he was awarded an Honorary MBE for services to knitting and needlework.
Together with fellow designers Brandon Mably and Philip Jacobs, he forms the celebrated Kaffe Fassett Collective.
Brandon Mably
Brandon Mably is an artist, designer, and colourist renowned for his striking, contemporary use of colour and pattern. A key member of the Kaffe Fassett Collective, Brandon has worked alongside Kaffe for many years, co‑creating fabric collections, exhibitions, and workshops that are recognised worldwide.
Raised in a small seaside town on the coast of South Wales, Brandon’s approach to colour is bold, playful, and graphic. He encourages students to take risks, simplify their thinking, and see colour relationships with fresh eyes. His teaching style is lively and accessible, helping participants break through creative hesitation and discover new confidence in their own visual language.
Together, Kaffe and Brandon create an atmosphere that is supportive, energising, and deeply inspiring—making this retreat a rare opportunity to learn from two masters of colour, working together in dialogue throughout the week
https://www.kaffefassett.com/