Here are a few pictures from our February workshop with Julia Baxter looking at drawn celtic capital letters
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all
Don’t forget to book your place on some workshops in 2025!
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3D Round the Bend with Ally Trelfer and Meg Chapman
9 November 2024
from 10am – 4pm
Cost £30.00 (members £25.00)
Venue: Evington Village Hall, Hastingleigh
To book a place email workshops@cinqueportsscribes.org.uk
Hosts Ally Trelfer and Meg Chapman offer some 3D ideas for Christmas and beyond, only limited by your imagination. Be prepared for sharing and shenanigans as we address 3D forms with a calligraphic and artistic bent using everything you can find in your art supplies (and elsewhere – look in that ‘bits and bobs’ drawer) – paints, chalks, pencils, wallpaper, tissues, paper bags … the world’s your lobster. We will show you lots of ways to play with no two pieces ending up the same. There’s an added bonus with prizes awarded for various activities!
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Less is More with Josie Brown
We will capitalise on what we can already do with inspiration from original works by various 20th century calligraphers with their refined and uncomplicated works from when calligraphy was enjoying a revival. With so many different tools, techniques and decorative elements nowadays it’s not easy to know when to stop. We will apply basic elements of design, good lettering to achieve sophisticated and stylish pieces, making the most of the calligraphy. For everyone, it’s always good to go back to basics, but with more experience you’ll learn a quicker route to making better and more informed design decisions. We will be send images of our work to Josie so they can all be looked at together.
Saturday 27 April 2024 from 10am – 12pm and 1.30 – 2.30pm
Cost £30.00 (members £25.00)
Please note this workshop is on zoom and a recording will be available for 4 weeks after the workshop for attendees only.
This workshop is suitable for all levels.
To book a place go to Eventbrite or email Meg our workshop coordinator.
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Versatile Versals with Els Van Den Steen
Come and join us for this 2-day workshop covering Traditional and Modern Versals. Versals are compound letters built up with separate strokes so the technique is more like drawing than writing and we will use our dip pens.
Sat 9 & Sun 10 September 2023 from 10am – 4pm
Cost £60 (£30 for Day One)
Day One – Traditional Versals. Learning a step-by-step method for drawing classical Versals, based on the letterforms of the Roman Capitals as can be seen in the 9th-11th century Caroline manuscripts. Those with prior experience in drawing the traditional Versals are welcome to work through set exercises to bring variation and contrast in their letterforms. In the afternoon we will explore how traditional Versals can be used in a range of projects.
Day Two – Modern Versals. Using techniques for freeing up our Versals from Day One to bring them into the 21st century. This will lead to the discovery of alternative letterforms which look great in informal work. In the afternoon we will use the Versals learnt during the weekend to create exciting compositions, using contrast and colour.
Note: Attendees are allowed to attend Day One only to learn and practise Traditional Versals. To attend Day Two (Modern Versals), it is expected that you have attended Day One as Day Two is a further development of what has been learnt during Day One.
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Japanese Butterfly Bookbinding with Josie Brown
Saturday 22 April 2023 from 10am – 12pm and 1.30 – 2.30pm
Cost £30.00 (members £25.00)
Please note this workshop is on zoom and a recording will be available for 4 weeks after the workshop for attendees only.
This workshop is suitable for all levels. To book a place email workshops@cinqueportsscribes.org.uk or download our booking form
This is not the usual Japanese ‘stab’ binding – it is a multi-section binding, which is ideal for making a book to write in after binding because it lies absolutely flat once complete. It can include different weights and surfaces of paper in the same book, incorporate fold-outs, pockets or windows, and have a narrow spine with only a few sections (a minimum of 4) or a much thicker one with many sections. It is also one of the easiest bindings to sew – you just need four needles! The cover is a simple wrap style, made from one large piece of paper giving a soft cover, or stiffened with boards that are tucked inside making a completely non-adhesive binding. It’s a truly versatile and yet practical book for calligraphy – made in a trice.
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Carolingian with Mary Noble
11 March 2023 from 10am – 4pm
Cost £30.00 (members £25.00)
This workshop is suitable for all levels. To book a place email workshops@cinqueportsscribes.org.uk
Study this beautifully legible historical hand from the Grandval Bible, then see how to develop it into a contemporary version. Its supreme legibility means it can be written very small yet still easy to read, if you remembered your reading glasses. For those already familiar with this script, more adventurous routes can be explored.
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CPS Summer Social
Here are a few pictures from our summer social event, celebrating our 30th anniversary, here’s to the next thirty years!
Chocolate cake to celebrate our 30th anniversary 
Cutting the cake… 
The bunting is up! 
Making cards 
Chatting 
Making your mark 
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CPS Sevenoaks exhibition
Our 30th anniversary celebrations continue with our second exhibition at the Kaleidoscope Gallery in Sevenoaks. Come along and see the variety of work our members have produced.
Please note that the gallery is not open on Sundays.
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CPS is 30 years old!
To celebrate, we are holding two exhibitions this year. The first one will be at the Red Door Gallery in Rye and later in August at the SVAF Kaleidoscope Gallery in Sevenoaks.
Do come along and join us for a truly wonderful display of the written word.
We look forward to welcoming you
