17–22 September 2026 · 6 days / 5 nights

CLOTH: New Possibilities in Textiles

With Matthew Harris

Past retreat

Matthew Harris is an internationally recognised textile artist whose practice moves fluidly between drawing and cloth. His work embraces imperfection, rhythm and narrative, often using improvisation and chance to disrupt and re-shape his compositions. As a tutor, Matthew fosters curiosity and openness, encouraging participants to immerse themselves in process and develop their own personal visual voice. His retreats are about creating fertile beginnings, leaving space for each maker to grow their work in unexpected ways.

Illustrated workshop building at Court House Farm

Illustrated stable range at Court House Farm

The retreat

Your time at the Manor

Day by day

Dates 17–22 September 2026 · 6 days / 5 nights
Group size 12 people max
Skill level All levels welcome

Adventures in drawing and making for textiles

“Play continues to be a big factor in my studio, because that’s how one allows oneself to move in directions which one could not have foreseen.” — Richard Serra

Matthew’s workshops focus on adventurous, playful ways to generate visual and tactile inspiration for textiles. You will explore processes such as drawing, painting, stencilling, collage, and more to create a library of visual material inspired by observation and Serra’s verb list.

• Drawing, mark-making and collage as a starting point- workshops with Matthew in the studio

• Translating paper studies into cloth through cutting, layering, stitching and repair

• Working with accident, play and experimentation in textile construction- workshops with Matthew in the studio

• Developing your own visual language through material exploration

• Shared discussions, reflective studio time, 1-1 guidance and inspiration from art history and/or exhibition visit

What's included

All materials and equipment provided
Tuition throughout from your tutor
All meals, plus tea, coffee and treats
Everything else you need, unless stated otherwise

What to bring & other costs

As a residential guest, expect delicious fresh food created by our wonderful chef Kirstie, as well as tea, coffee and more throughout the day, and the bar is open for you from 6pm.

Matthew Harris

Your tutor

Good company.

Expert guidance.

Matthew Harris creates works in both paper and cloth, employing painting, cutting, and hand-stitching techniques. His improvisational process transforms observational drawings into layered, tactile textile pieces.

He has exhibited widely across the UK, Europe, the US, and Japan. His work is held in the Crafts Council Collection, the Whitworth Museum, the International Quilt Museum (Nebraska), and more. Notable projects include Scorched for the Bristol Beacon Concert Hall and Field Notes, a collaboration with composer Howard Skempton.

Matthew lives and works in Stroud, Gloucestershire.

matthewharriscloth.co.uk

In their own words