2026: ALYSN MIDGELOW-MARSDEN

COURSE OVERVIEW

Explore the beauty of the natural world through textile art. Drawing inspiration from the intricate forms, lines, and patterns found in nature—such as tree bark, leaf veins, flowers, seeds, and fungi—you’ll create a unique textile art piece that reflects your favourite natural inspirations.

Under Alysn’s guidance, you’ll work with an exciting range of materials, including metal fabrics, soluble film, Lutradur, Tyvek, and wire. Techniques will include machine and/or hand stitching, wire manipulation, colouring metal with heat, beading, and embellishment.

One of the featured techniques involves assembling small pieces of translucent cloth, especially finely woven metal fabrics, onto soluble film to reflect the textures and patterns of drawings or photographs.

Stitch, heavier wire, beads, and other embellishments will be added to bring your piece to life. This method works beautifully for both flat and sculptural designs, and while a sewing machine is helpful, hand stitching is a great option too.

We’ll start with simple design exercises to uncover the lines and patterns that inspire you, then translate these into your artwork. I’ll provide harder-to-find materials and have extras available for you to take home to continue exploring.

This workshop is perfect for artists and makers looking to experiment with new materials and techniques while deepening their connection to the natural world.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE BOOKING FORM

(For prices, please see below)

BIOGRAPHY

Alysn has been described as an inspirer, facilitator and energiser.

She is a highly competent and widely experienced artist in fine art textiles, an author of several books and numerous articles, a tutor and former gallery director.

Her wall based and sculptural forms are based on metals, fibres, textiles and stitch and are driven by curiosity about the human psyche, about science and the natural environment. It is a practice inviting connections to personal experiences and the works are marked visually by a complex lyrical fluidity. The works are rarely representational but aim for an emotive, visceral response from the viewer. Her materials regularly include copper, stainless steel and other metals and woven metal fabrics, wires, papers, fabrics, threads, paints, threads and natural objects.

Alysn says “I have an experimental and curious nature leading to continuously evolving and changing works and media, investigating new dimensions as they develop. It is a pleasure to adapt my ideas into formats which can be used by other fibre artists, and embroiderers for their own practice”.

Recent awards for selected exhibitions include: Mandurah Wearable Art (Australia) for ‘What Lies Beneath’; ‘Wall Brooches II’, (Australia) for ‘Taniwha’; ‘Changing Threads’ Nelson Arts ‘Bernina Award’ for ‘The Space Between VII’.

Book publications include ‘Between the Sheets with Angelina’, ‘this lustr’ed cloth’ and ‘Stitch, Fibre, Metal and Mixed Media’

https://www.alysnmidgelowmarsden.com
https://www.instagram.com/alysnmmart/
https://www.facebook.com/AlysnMidgelowMarsdenArtTextiles/

PRICING

Prices per person for 2026 are as follows:

The cost of our creativity holidays is inclusive of the following:

• Course fees and basic materials
  (except for any course specific materials that the tutor requests you bring with you)
• Airport collection and drop-off
  (allotted airports and times only)
• Accommodation
  (price varies by type of accommodation selected - we assume single occupancy by default unless you specifically request to share with a friend/partner)
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  (one meal taken at a local restaurant - to be paid by guests at the time)
• Tea and coffee throughout your stay 
• Aperitif and wine/beer with evening meal
• Transport to and from any excursions
• Bed linen and towels
• Access to all amenities throughout your stay
• Local tourist taxes

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE BOOKING FORM