17 - 22 September - Art Textile Retreat - Matthew Harris
CLOTH: New Possibilties in TEXTILES
Retreat Details
Dates: 17- 22 September
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)
View our testimonial video from Matthew’s last retreat and read more here
about the retreat
Join acclaimed textile artist Matthew Harris for six immersive days of making and discovery at Court House Farm. This 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 ‘Cloth’.
Matthew’s workshops are about beginnings rather than endings. Instead of polished outcomes, you’ll leave with a rich body of drawings, textile 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, Thursday 17th Sept 2026 for afternoon tea and gather at 3pm for introduction & studio session with Matthew
Farewell: 11.30am, Tuesday 22nd September 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: £990.00
Arrival: 2pm, Thursday 17 September 2026
Daily workshops: 9.30am – 4.30pm + talks
Farewell: 11.30am, Tuesday 22 September 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 non-refundable deposit - see our terms & conditions for details
what you’ll learn
‘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
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.
More about Matthew on his 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.