25-30 March 2026 - Art Textiles Retreat- Matthew Harris
chain reaction
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)
View our testimonial video from Matthew’s last retreat and read more here
About the retreat
As early spring begins to unfold, the winter studio in our Victorian Lodge House will become our creative home — a warm, light-filled space for making and reflection. The gardens across the estate will provide moments of calm and inspiration, with the first signs of growth appearing after winter’s rest.
Over six immersive days, Chain Reaction invites you to explore how ideas evolve — how drawing becomes cloth, and how process becomes story. You’ll move between hands-on workshops, reflection time, and shared seasonal meals in the Manor House. Evenings will be spent fireside, surrounded by conversation, inspiration, and good company.
Matthew will guide you through his project “Chain Reaction: One Thing Leads to Another,” encouraging you to discover how continuity, change, and narrative unfold through making.
Costs & Booking
Residential (5 nights, all inclusive)
Arrival: 2pm, Wednesday 25 March 2026 for afternoon tea and gather at 3pm for introduction & studio session with Matthew
Farewell: 11.30am, Monday 30 March 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, 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 non-refundable deposit - see our terms & conditions for details
what you’ll explore in Matthews workshops/ studio time
Across the week, you will:
Begin with a collection of items — 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
Experiment with repetition, distortion, stretching, and layering to reveal rhythm and narrative
Create a richly worked piece — a finished object or the beginnings of a new piece
This retreat is an invitation to slow down, to trust the process, and to find meaning in how one thing leads to another — in art and in life.
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 Harr is an artist who works with cloth as both material and metaphor — using mark, colour, and construction to tell layered, tactile stories. His work has been exhibited widely in the UK and internationally, and he is celebrated for his distinctive approach to cloth, colour, and mark-making.
Matthew’s teaching combines structure and spontaneity, encouraging participants to follow their own chain reactions and discover unexpected connections in their work.
His previous retreats at Court House Farm have been described as deeply inspiring and transformative, leaving guests with both creative energy and renewed confidence.
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.