Hay Castle Events

Kate Bliss, a regular face on BBC antiques programmes and an independent jewellery and fine art valuer is hosting a free ‘drop-in’ Valuation Day for jewellery and silver as well as other antiques and contemporary fine art.

Have you recently inherited items you know nothing about? Do you have jewellery you never wear? Kate offers a unique opportunity to find out more about your valuables including their potential value.

A Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, Kate has over 20 years experience valuing single items to unique collections and whole house contents. Whether it’s the right time to realise some assets or simply de-clutter, Kate will provide you with a verbal consultation and arrange items for sale if suitable.

Drop-in for a free valuation in the Clore Learning Space 10am to 4pm, Friday 19^th April.

Print Club is run by our resident printmaker - Aidan Saunders - AKA Prints of Hay.

This fortnightly Print Club will take place in our Clore Learning Space every other Wednesday between 4pm and 6pm

The idea is to provide a place for any other people who are looking to develop their printing skills including students working on their GCSE 2nd year, A levels, BTEC or Foundation course - with a friendly atmosphere where ideas and the joy of printmaking can be shared by all.

Print Club costs £5 per session - so only £10 a month. Some materials will be provided and there will be access to the printing press when accompanied by Aidan.

This club will develop according to the needs and requirements of the members of the group - so why not come along and become a part of Print Club.

DONATIONS FOR MATERIALS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED - WE HAVE A DONATION BOX

Life drawing takes place in the Clore Learning Space every other Monday from 11am until 4pm.

PLEASE NOTE LIFE DRAWING SESSIONS ARE NOW FORTNIGHTLY


Please bring your own materials

The sessions cost £16 for the full day from 11-4pm and £10 for a morning or afternoon session only.

The morning session starts at 11am so please arrive at about 10.45am

The afternoon session starts at 1:45pm so please arrive at least 10 mins beforehand

11 - 12 - Drawing
12 - 12.15 - Break
12.15 - 1.15 - Drawing
1.15 - 1.45 - Lunch
1.45 - 2.45 - Drawing
2.45 - 3pm - Break
3 - 4pm - Drawing

Next sessions will be:

Mon 13 May

As scientists have recently warned, the root cause of the climate and ecological emergency is a “human behavioural crisis” - that is, a crisis in our culture. In this session, writers Owen Sheers and Tom Bullough will discuss the River Wye, the landscape of Wales and the role that cultural practitioners must play, if humanity is to have a future. Both writers will share readings and clips from their recent work in this area and sign books after the event.

In this workshop you will learn how to create flower templates, how to combine paper cutting and wire work techniques to create 3D plants and how to paint your sculptures using watercolours. You will be able to have a go at making your own paper flower from reclaimed papers, using the tools and templates provided.

You can find out more about Kate on her website

All materials provided

There is no write way to right. Talk writing with bestselling author Jasper Fforde. Irrespective of your genre or style there are broad conventions we can all listen to in order to make your writing engaging and publishable. A unique opportunity to learn and be inspired.

Come and find out what can help you with your writing in an informal chat-led workshop with Jasper who will introduce you to some tips that helped him with his writing and some ideas that he has picked up over the last 25 years of creating novels.

There will be breaks for tea/coffee and an hour for lunch. Please feel free to bring a packed lunch or you can order lunch from the café downstairs. Once booked we will get in touch to see if you would like to order lunch.

What to bring: Ideas, problems, thoughts, paper, pens, other writing devices.

Printmaker Sarah Kirby will be demonstrating simple print techniques using our 1853 Columbian Press.

Come along and have a go - you can even take away a print on the day.

This will take place surrounded by Sarah's beautiful prints which are featured in our Printmaker in Focus exhibition on the first floor.

Join bestselling author Barbara Erskine - The Lady of Hay - to learn about researching a historical novel in our one day writing workshop.

There is much fascination and surprise to be found in historical research. Whether you are an established writer of historical fiction, a beginner or just a lover of history, the subject is addictive and rewarding.

Barbara will share her own experiences of what she has learned and failed to learn over her years of writing history-based novels and encourage an informal discussion about the intricacies and pitfalls involved; the excitement and danger of diving down rabbit holes; the best ways of channelling a passion for meeting the real or imagined inhabitants of the past: when to take short cuts and when that can spell disaster; how to pull up messages from hoofbeats and gas lamps and stones; the fine line between fiction and biography ; whether it’s better to use books or on-line sources and much more.

And maybe there will be talk of ghosts . . .

In this workshop you will have the opportunity to learn how to do the following:

Form a range of hand embroidery stitches

Apply fabrics together using fusible webbing

Attach beads and sequins in embroidery

Make simple cords and tassels

Stitch shisha (traditional Indian mirror-work)

Attendees will need basic sewing skills and embroidery kit with needles etc. Sequins, mirrors and other materials will be provided.

Come and make a foraging basket which you can use to collect fruit, vegetables or flowers.

This workshop runs all day with breaks for tea and coffee and lunch.
Please feel free to bring a packed lunch or have lunch in our cafe.

All materials provided.

Barbara Erskine is the author of sixteen bestselling novels and three collections of short stories that demonstrate her interest in both history and the supernatural. Lady of Hay, her first novel, has sold millions of copies worldwide.

Her forthcoming novel The Story Spinner is a time-slip set in the heart of the Welsh countryside. The reader meets poet and would-be novelist Cadi Jones as she researches her latest project – the story of a Welsh queen who has been lost to the pages of time. As Cadi writes, she stumbles across an undiscovered chapter of history. This takes the reader to Roman Britain, Arthur’s Legend and even the Holy Grail as Cadi finds herself fighting for everything she holds dear, even her own life. The novel will be released on 1^st August 2024.

Barbara will be in conversation with Mari Fforde, Learning and Activities Manager at Hay Castle.

This event will give exclusive early insight into Barbara's next novel - The Story Spinner