Spend a whole day with us at one of our popular art workshops.

We visit and draw inspiration from various parts of the estate – the abbey ruins and stone carvings, the natural beauty of the Water Garden, and the wonderful colours and craftmanship inside St Mary’s Church.

On return to the workshop at our Education Centre, Swanley Grange, we help the children create works of art to take back to school – the same day, if possible.

We can accommodate around 30 children at each workshop. Contact us for further details.

Sculpting

Use inspiration from our site to create individual 3D breeze-block (thermalite) carvings, using a small mallet, chisels and files. Working in 3D is a challenge, but provides an excellent learning experience and is very absorbing.

We limit this activity to Years 5 and 6, and can accommodate one class. Available in summer term by arrangement.

Making Mosaics

Use inspiration from sketches of the designs and colours in St Mary’s Church to create mosaics to take back to school. The children work in small groups, using mosaic tiles in a fantastic range of colours. The mosaics are excellent for indoor display.

The workshops are usually available in November and are suitable for one class of Key Stage 2 pupils.

Felt-Making

Spend the morning sketching around Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. After lunch, use your morning's sketches to inspire the design of your felt hanging. We use merino wool tops, which are in a glorious range of colours and unbelievably soft. Children usually work on a larger group piece as well as a smaller individual one.

The workshops are held in the spring term and are suitable for one class of KS2 pupils.