MESSAGE FROM MEG
What goes on at our workshops?
We are a friendly and inclusive group of calligraphers and welcome all new members but if this is your first workshop with
Cinque Port Scribes or you are thinking of joining us, you are bound to have some initial concerns, so here’s what happens.
Most of our workshops are held on a Saturday, 10.00 am – 4.00 pm, but occasionally we run two- or three-day workshops, depending on the tutor/subject when times can vary slightly. Always on the longer workshops, we take the tutor out for an evening meal and invite all members and their partners to come along for this more social occasion.
All the face-to-face workshops take place at Evington Village Hall, Hastingleigh, just outside Wye, Ashford, Kent, TN25 5HR. A beautiful part of the county and you should try and make time to stop and look out over the stunning Kent countryside on your way in (and home!).
The hall is open about 9.15 am and everyone is encouraged to come a bit early to lay out their materials in readiness for the day and of course enjoy an early cuppa and chat before the work begins. At the end of the day we ask everyone to help clear up including washing up and folding tablecloths etc but we are extremely lucky – and very thankful – that the Hall committee sort the tables out for us before and after the workshop.
Occasionally, depending on the subject and what the tutor provides, there may be a small extra charge on the day but you would usually be advised about this beforehand.
Most workshops are suitable for all levels but if one is geared towards intermediate or advanced, then this will be made clear on the booking form. If in doubt about your calligraphic level, just ask. CPS members are given first option to sign up, thereafter any spaces are offered to non-members but please check cancellation policy on the booking form. We aim for a varied calendar over the year, and all workshops can be used with our calligraphy : Scripts, eg Italic; Techniques, eg gilding; Complementary skills, eg book making.
Quite often, you will see phrases like ‘usual calligraphy gear’. This can be quite daunting to a relative beginner, so if you are completely new, we would suggest the following items for a basic kit but we all have our favourite pen or piece of kit so just use this as a guide. We will be pleased to advise on anything you are not sure of and always happy to share if you don’t have something.
Basic tool kit
• Ruler • HB + H pencils • Eraser + sharpener/knife • Black, non-waterproof ink ie, not Indian ink • Penholders + range of nib sizes + reservoirs • Small paintbrush (if used) to load nibs • A3 layout pad • A3 smooth cartridge paper, +/- 130 gsm • Scissors • Drawing board if you use it • Masking tape • Gluestick • Water pots + kitchen roll • Protractor • Notebook •
In most workshops, the tutor demonstrates and then you try to emulate the process and this is the format pretty much repeated throughout the day. Most workshops aim for you to have a finished piece by the end of the day but even if they don’t, you will go away with loads of tips and advice for reference.
There is no pressure on your speed of working as we all go at a different pace and the tutors are used to that so another thing not to worry about.
Details of the content of each workshop can be found on our website as well as past and future workshops.
Important – we are happy to provide tea, coffee, biscuits and fruit but you need to bring your own lunch.
Even more important – enjoy yourself!
If you have any questions before or after the workshops, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Meg x
Meg Chapman
Workshop Coordinator
e : megsart9@hotmail.co.uk m : 07577 18151
To book a place, email Meg, our workshop coordinator
You can also download our workshop form
For zoom workshops, tickets will be available on Eventbrite.
COLOURFUL ANGLES with Julia Baxter
Date: 8 February 2025
Time: 10am – 12pm and 2 – 4pm Zoom at home
Cost: £30.00 (members £25.00)
An introduction to the drawn celtic capital letters known as Angulars. These highly decorative letters were created as a display alphabet by the mid-seventh century Irish scriptoria and are found, amongst others, in the Lindisfarne Gospels. Many of the letters, although archaic in origin, have great design and graphic qualities which we will explore.
3D CUT PAPER LETTERING ‘PLUS’ with Jan Pickett
Date: 5 April 2025
Time: 10am – 4pm
Cost: £30.00 (members £25.00)
Venue: Evington Village Hall, Hastingleigh
The delightful craft of paper cutting began in China hundreds of years ago and still flourishes today. Cut paper lettering adds a new and exciting dimension to calligraphy and if you love letters, then this is the course for you. After an initial introduction or refresher of positive ‘silhouette’ and negative ‘stencil’ cutting, we explore layered letters and super 3D sculpted letters. Working both white on white and colour, come and enjoy the fun.
ECO PRINTING BOOKS with Prue Bell
Date: 3 May 2025
Time: 10am – 4pm
Cost: £30.00 (members £25.00)
Venue: Evington Village Hall, Hastingleigh
In this workshop we will make 3 notebooks from cotton rag paper (and a piece or two of silk to add interest). Two will be eco printed using a variety of plant materials which can be sewn and bound together, at a later date, partly using the eco dyed thread we will also produce. The remaining notebook will be painted with dilute silk paints to produce a water colour finish. All three booklets will be suitable for further decoration by hand, whether it be drawing, painting or script.
NEULAND REVISITED with Jan Turner
Date: 28 June 2025
Time: 10am – 4pm
Cost: £30.00 (members £25.00)
Venue: Evington Village Hall, Hastingleigh
For those new to the script this will be an introduction to the pen-written version of the Neuland typeface. Bold and versatile – Neuland attracts attention wherever it goes! Although basically simple in construction, we will look at how subtle pen manipulations can give strength and elegance to this bold, sans-serif, capital script. Using colour and contrast, we will look at how it can be used to create different and striking designs.
For those already familiar with the script we will start by using a flat brush to produce a less rigid Neuland alphabet. We will look at different ways to modify this hand to produce more contemporary versions and work towards a finished design that could include contrast, colour and/or cut lettering.
ADOLF BERND LETTERING with Julia Baxter
Date: 13 September 2025
Time: 10am – 4pm
Cost: £30.00 (members £25.00)
Venue: Evington Village Hall, Hastingleigh
An introduction and exploration of the letter paintings of Adolf Bernd. His work was done purely for pleasure in his retirement and drew on his imagination and love of colours and particularly watercolours. He had a fascination for unusual letter shapes, historical manuscripts, medals, signs of the zodiac and numbers. We will look at the elements of his work, exploring and experimenting with tonal colour palettes with watercolours, white interlinear lines and geometric patterns in letter forms. This will lead to an optional finished design to include many of the main elements using our own imaginations.
MODERN CALLIGRAPHY with Sunita Auger
Date: 11 October 2025
Time: 10am – 12pm and 2 – 4pm Zoom at home
Cost: £30.00 (members £25.00)
We will look at the pointed pen variations that are very versatile for cards and quick projects. It is well suited to gold and metallic lettering and therefore useful for Christmas. Popularly known as ‘modern’ calligraphy, this is a flowing script that has endless options.
EMBOSSING WITH CONTRAST AND LAYERING with Els Van Den Steen
Date: 15 November 2025
Time: 10am – 4pm
Cost: £30.00 (members £25.00)
Venue: Evington Village Hall, Hastingleigh
Embossing (and its opposite, debossing) are two techniques used to either impress or depress letters and shapes into paper. The 3D-image casts subtle shadows and brings a new dimension to your work. An embossed design can stand alone or be combined with writing or with other media. In this workshop we will look at different ways our embossing and writing can complement, enhance and complete each other to create visually exciting work. The techniques learnt can be used in casual and formal work, from greeting cards to framed pieces.