Traditional Art Shop and Unique Attraction in a 17th Century Town House in Appleby, supplying painting materials
Traditional art shop in the heart of Appleby sells, demonstrates, & produces local ochres, umbers, and metal-based pigments
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Unlock the captivating essence of nature with our traditional art shop, where every handmade earth pigment tells a story.
Sourced from the stunning palettes we discover during our inspiring walks and drives, these exquisite colours are meticulously refined by skilled artisans using age-old techniques passed down through generations.
The world of colour is influenced by metals that react with something.
Ochres are simply clay and sand stained by rusty iron found in the Lake District, while greens and blues come from nearby copper mines. White pigment is derived from lead in the surrounding fells that reacts with horse manure and vinegar.
You are welcome to come and see how the raw materials are transformed through alchemy and craft into vivid colours for artists and decorators over the centuries.
During the demonstrations and workshops, whether as an artist, conservator, or historical craftsperson, you're participating in this centuries-old conversation between chemistry and craft. You're connecting South American seabird colonies to English silver refineries, connecting global trade networks to local workshops, and connecting the medieval alchemist's "aqua fortis" to the painter's palette. Experience the World of Colour for yourself.
The second part of the Demonstration and Workshop explores the medium, or binder, that holds the colour to the surface, whether it is a living room wall, a car's metal surface, or a fine art canvas. You are invited to help the alchemist make them, and then you get to try them out for yourself.
Transform your understanding of colour in three extraordinary days. From Roman mines to your palette.
Friday evening through Sunday afternoon in Britain's only traditional pigment alchemy workshop
Intimate groups ensuring personal attention from master craftsman Mark Hilsden
Stay at Appleby Manor, once owned by Beatrix Potter's family
Painting with the Landscape
Where geology becomes art. Five days between two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, learning techniques unchanged since medieval monks ground lapis lazuli at Shap Abbey. From foraging pigment to converting it into beautiful watercolour paints.
The comprehensive experience for artists who demand more than surface knowledge. Seven days to master 2,000 years of British pigment tradition, taught by the nation's only practising pigment alchemist in a Grade II-listed Stuart townhouse. You'll visit every major historical site, process materials from their geological source, and leave with knowledge that exists nowhere else in Britain
