Painting and Drawing Courses at Farncombe Estate

The glorious setting of Farncombe Estate is perfect for our painting and drawing programme, with courses for all levels of practitioner. Beginners will learn the basics of drawing, sketching and painting while others explore new media and techniques that will enhance their repertoire.Our courses include Botanical Illustration, Watercolour Painting, Portrait Painting in Oils and Acrylics. Our courses are all held at Farncombe Estate in the Cotswolds.

‘All the Queen’s Women’: the Female World of Elizabeth I

During the reign of Elizabeth I, it was her female circle that exerted the most profound influence on her life. This in-depth course explores the leading women at the Queen’s court as well as investigating more outstanding female contemporaries such as Mary Sidney, Bess Throckmorton, Lady Penelope Devereux and the legendary Bess of Hardwick. The course also includes a field trip to Sudeley Castle with transport provided, but the admission charge is not included.

Join John Sutton in the 2 day course at Farncombe Estate, Broadway, Worcestershire. To book your place call us on 0333 456 8580.

Farncombe launches new website and leisure course brochure

Farncombe Estate, the residential learning centre near Broadway in the north Cotswolds, has just published its new leisure courses brochure for the second half of 2012.   The brochure (available in print and as a download) details a wide variety of weekend courses, study breaks, summer schools and day events which run from July to December 2012.   

Subjects include Painting & Drawing, Crafts & Textiles, Singing, Music Making, Photography and Dance.   Summer courses range from the practical to the academic: Fun & Fitness for the Over 50s, Glorious Cotswolds Gardens, Medieval Monasteries and the High Italian Renaissance, novel and commercial writing, singing, sketching and quilting.

April also sees the launch of a new-look website for Farncombe, which attracts hundreds of visitors to learn new skills and pursue favourite hobbies on its 370-acre country estate.  For more information, go to www.fancombeestate.co.uk or call 0333 456 8580.

Farncombe Estate brings UK’s 400-year ‘Olimpick’ history to life

A Cotswold leisure-learning centre is celebrating the UK’s true Olympic heritage with history courses to mark 400 years since the ‘Olimpicks’ first came to Britain.  

                         

In 1612, Robert Dover launched the first Olimpick Games in the Cotswold village of Chipping Campden, aiming to revive the spirit of Ancient Greece. This year’s London Games coincides with the 400^th anniversary of Dover’s original Olimpicks.   

Farncombe Estate leisure and learning centre, near Broadway, is bringing every aspect of Olympics history to life with two Games-inspired courses: Competition and Conflict in the Cotswolds and The Olympic Games through the Ages.

The first, hosted by Cotswold historian David Snowden and experts from the Cromwell Association, will put the Olimpicks into a 17^th Century context and include a visit to both Dover’s Games and Scuttlebrook Wake – two extraordinary examples of English eccentricity. The course runs from 30 May to 3 June.

In Olympic Games Through the Ages, a team of historians will lead a virtual journey from Olympia 388 BC to the most notorious Olympic Games ever staged, in Berlin 1936. This course runs from 31 May to 3 June.

Mandy Morrison, Farncombe Estate Programme Manager, said: “We want to spread the word that the UK’s rich Olympic heritage actually goes back 400 years and these courses will help bring this intriguing past to life.

“From Greece to the Cotswolds and on to London 2012, the Olympic story is a fascinating one. Thanks to the 400^th Cotswold Olimpicks on our doorstep, Farncombe Estate is the ideal place to get into the spirit of the Games.”

Farncombe is a 370-acre estate with breathtaking views over the Vale of Evesham. Since it opened its doors in 2003, the residential venue has attracted thousands of visitors from around the world. 

With 11 dedicated training rooms, hundreds of weekend leisure courses take place every year.

As well as history courses, there are opportunities to learn about everything from painting with watercolours, singing Gospel or decorating cupcakes to creative writing, enhancing your digital camera skills or attempting Bollywood dancing.

To book your place on a course call 0333 456 8580, email enquiries@farncombeestate.co.uk or visit www.farncombeestate.co.uk.

Everyone Can Sing - a weekend voice workshop with Dan Evans

Everyone Can Sing - a weekend voice workshop with Dan Evans

Have a lot of fun learning to sing or improving your voice in a highly supportive ambience.  Sing in tune, project your voice and move others with your song. All levels and styles are welcome and you don’t need to read music.  Dan has been running this course with enormous success for 18 years, students have come from all over Europe and many have been moved by the process.  Feedback from past students is superb:  “The course has been wonderful experience. Dan has a rare talent for getting the very best out of people.”

where and when

Farncombe Estate Adult Learning Centre, Near Broadway, Worcester  

Fri eve 27th April to Sun lunch 29th April 2012

price varies with residency & any prevailing special offers

phone 0333 456 8580

website http://www.farncombeestate.co.uk/tutordetails.asp?tutor=34

e-mail: enquiries@FarncombeEstate.co.uk

about the tutor

Dan Evans was told as a child that he couldn’t sing and was made to mime in the school choir.  Later, in adult life he attended a number of voice workshops which transformed his musical career.  He now performs professionally, singing with dulcimer and guitar.  As the UK's leading dulcimer player, Dan performs and teaches in the UK and USA, he has released four CD albums to critical acclaim and has won the hearts of audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

images

You can easily and quickly download high quality and high-res photographs from the Press Area of my website http://www.english-dulcimer.com/press_area.asp

further information - about Dan's voice workshop

voice workshop overview http://www.english-dulcimer.com/voice_workshops.asp

student feedback http://www.english-dulcimer.com/student-feedback-to-voice-workshops.asp

my coaching style http://www.english-dulcimer.com/my-coaching-style.asp

can the tone deaf sing? http://www.english-dulcimer.com/can-the-tone-deaf-sing-updated.asp

further information - about Dan's dulcimer playing

website home page http://www.english-dulcimer.com/

Dan's international tours http://www.english-dulcimer.com/international-tours.asp

TV, radio & film appearances radio, TV & film http://www.english-dulcimer.com/radio,-TV-and-film-appearances.asp

CD reviews http://www.english-dulcimer.com/CD-reviews.asp

Most excellent customer service

A talented Cotswold employee has scooped Silver at the prestigious South West Tourism Awards for Outstanding Customer Service.

Twenty-two-year-old Francesca Brennan, Assistant Catering Manager from Farncombe Estate in Broadway wowed the judges with her outstanding contribution to excellence.

Having only worked at the Estate – which offers a wide range of leisure courses and study breaks - for just over a year, Francesca was recognised for going the extra mile for staff and customers.  This included cross-country adventures to find Halal suppliers at the last minute, boosting morale with Christmas-themed snow days and one-to-one training for each of her 19 staff.

Richard Howdle, Operations Manager at Farncombe Estate, said: “We are especially proud of Frankie, who plays a leading role in our catering team.

“She works closely with customers, dealing with their individual needs – and she does it with an infectious smile.

“We are delighted to win such a prestigious award for customer service, especially as these awards cover the whole of the South West, the UK’s prime region for tourism.”

There were 67 different awards distributed to the region’s top achievers last night (6 February) at the event held at the Rivera Conference Centre, Torquay.

The winners were greeted by a star-studded line up, hosted by TV presenter Teresa Driscoll, and presented with their awards by journalist and broadcaster Simon Calder, Senior Travel Editor of the Independent.

“I am overjoyed to have received such an award, it really makes the hard work we do worthwhile,” said award-winning Francesca Brennan.

“It was a wonderful evening and such a great opportunity to be recognised by my industry peers, we’ll be working hard to achieve bigger and better things this year!”

Farncombe Estate has won a number of awards in the past 12 months, including Cotswold Leisure Break of the Year 2011 judged by an independent panel from London and Home Counties Today and a silver Green Tourism Award.

Ukulele Maestro Bows Out Of Teaching

Steven Sproat, probably the best-known ukulele exponent in the UK has decided it is time to close the doors of his workshops to take time out to concentrate on his songwriting and other projects.

Following his recent live appearance on Aled Jones’ Good Morning Sunday show on BBC Radio 2, singer/songwriter Steven Sproat acknowledges he has played a major part in the renaissance of the ukulele by passing on his techniques and tips to thousands of fellow uke players.

"I've been in such great demand for my workshops that it has left me with very little time to write songs and be creative with my music and I feel the time is right to take a break from teaching.  Today's ukulele scene is now fully established really.  I must have taught thousands of people over the years to play.  It's their time to flourish and develop their skills and individual style of playing to keep the flags flying for the ukulele.  I'm so very grateful for the opportunities I've had to teach those who have kindly come along to my uke workshops or on a one to one basis. I've had a lot of fun and learned a lot about myself on that journey and I can channel those experiences into my songwriting."

            2012 is the time for all uke fans to catch one of Steven’s final workshops.  Steven will be hosting around 12 workshops this year, with the last one in October, before he takes time out to focus on songwriting and other projects.   Please check his website www.stevensproat.com or his agent’s website: www.itwl.biz for details of when and where his concluding workshops will be.

Visit www.farncombeestate.co.uk to book your place on Steven's Workshop or call us on 0333 456 8580.