THE WORLD ACCORDING TO COLOUR

What is colour? What does it mean? And how has it shaped our art and history? In this talk, Cambridge art historian and BBC broadcaster James Fox explores the extraordinary history of colour, from cave paintings all the way through to contemporary art.

Diving deep into the colours of black, red, yellow, blue, white, purple and green, he'll range across the world and through time, to reveal the meanings that have been attached to the colours we see around us and the ways these have influenced our culture and imagination.

BOOK NOW TO AVOID MISSING THIS OPPORTUNITY

If you visit Hereford between now and April, you will see some very colourful artworks next to the Railway Station. No.1 Station Approach, Hereford College of Arts (HCA) and NMiTE’s new student accommodation, features two vibrant geometric artworks on each side of the building. The artworks mark the start of a new cultural gateway to Hereford, welcoming visitors and enriching residents’ experience of the city.

This talk is part of our Castle in Colour Season which begins at the end of February and runs until May. Other Friday talks include "Medival Colour" with Rosemary Firman and "A Tale of Two Cities: Colour in Venice and Florence" with Paul Hills

The talk will begin at 7pm - please come up to the main entrance on the lawns and up the drive form Oxford Road. The Honesty Bookshop door on Castle Street will be closed.

Learn to master one of the oldest techniques in Icon painting.

Join us for this special Hay Festival event led by the Brecon Beacons-based artist, designer and knitter Dee Hardwicke. Dee will be accompanied by Jonna Hietala, the Creative Director of Laine Publishing, whose publications include Dee's latest book, The Knitted Fabric: Colourwork Projects for You and Your Home and the internationally acclaimed knitting and lifestyle magazine, Laine.

Arriving at this spectacular venue at the heart of historic Hay, you will find beautifully dressed tables laid out with still lifes of seasonal spring flowers and foliage. Taking inspiration from the gorgeous table-top displays – as Dee explains, 'nature puts colours together so well and in such perfect proportions' – and sharing some of the techniques she teaches in her fine art drawing classes, Dee will spend the morning showing you how to combine colours, shapes and motifs to create your own botanical artworks in pastels. Dee will then guide you through the process of translating your artwork into a beautiful chart ready to knit your swatch.

In the afternoon, after you have knitted your swatch, Jonna will lead you through the techniques involved in adding your specially created botanical motif to a stylish sweater. The sweater pattern will be supplied digitally ahead of the workshop (please see below for details) so that you can select a palette of yarns for this very special project, and Dee will work with you to ensure that your motif complements your choice of sweater yarn. You're bound to come away from this Botanical Art Class for Knitters brimming with ideas for your own botanical knits and, once completed, your sweater will become a wonderful keepsake of a really creative and inspiring day.

Pieces from The Knitted Fabric will also be on display in the Castle mezzanine throughout the weekend and Dee will be on hand on Friday 26th and Sunday 28th to chat about her designs and inspirations

Skill Level
For intermediate knitters / no art skills required. This is a workshop for 16 participants.

Materials
Art materials including pencils, pastels, paper etc for the morning session will be provided. As a gift from Laine Publishing you will also receive a signed copy of The Knitted Fabric as a special memento of the day

The sweater pattern for the afternoon session will be supplied a few weeks ahead of the workshop to give you time to buy or choose the DK yarn from your stash to knit in. The pattern and yarn for the sweater should be brought along on the day, with a selection of 8-10 coloured yarns for knitting your design swatch, and yarn-appropriate needles. The coloured yarns should complement your choice of sweater yarn (full details will be provided when the sweater pattern is distributed)

Dee Hardwicke (www.deehardwicke.co.uk / @deehardwicke) lives and works in the Brecon Beacons. An artist, designer and knitter with a rich and diverse design portfolio encompassing everything from exclusive collections for the National Trust and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to knitting books and collaborations with leading lifestyle brands, Dee is inspired by Britain's ever-changing landscapes and the artisan traditions of the Arts & Crafts movement. Dee trained in fine arts before undertaking an apprenticeship with Quaker potters in the Welsh Marches. She teaches fine art drawing classes and has become renowned for her knitting design and colour workshops. These have been held in prestigious venues worldwide including Kew and Liberty, London. Dee is passionate about creating designs that add joy to everyday life, and she loves the way that knitting combines art, craft and practicality so seamlessly. In addition to The Knitted Fabric, Dee's books include A Story in Yarn: How to Design and Knit an Intarsia Heirloom Quilt.

Jonna Hietala (www.lainepublishing.com / @jonnahoo) is the CEO and Creative Director of Laine Publishing. Laine has grown from a small publisher passionate about redefining the knitting scene and celebrating the beauty of the everyday, into an internationally renowned knitting, craft and lifestyle publisher. Based in Finland, and spending tranquil weekends with her family in a remote cabin surrounded by pine trees and lakes, Jonna has worked in publishing for 25 years and has knitted since she was four. She loves the feel of yarn running through needles and the scent of a freshly printed book. Jonna's second knitting and crafting book – following her debut book, Kerällä – will be published this year, and she is also currently busy working on her first novel.