Courses
Workshops & Courses
"Everything we teach is designed so that you can continue without us" - Liz Benson, Co-founder and Workshop Faciltator
At Coppice & Colour we believe the best way to understand a craft is to experience it for yourself.
Throughout the year we offer practical workshops in traditional brushmaking, natural dyeing and other heritage crafts. Each workshop combines hands-on making with an understanding of the materials, tools and traditions behind the craft, helping participants develop practical skills alongside a deeper appreciation of these remarkable traditions.
Whether you are joining us to learn something entirely new or to build on existing experience, our workshops provide a welcoming environment where curiosity, experimentation and craftsmanship are equally valued.
Our Teaching Philosophy
We believe the purpose of a workshop is not simply to help someone make a beautiful object for a day, but to give them the understanding and confidence to continue exploring long afterwards.
Rather than teaching recipes to follow, we teach principles to understand. We want participants to leave knowing not only how something is done, but why it works, so they can adapt techniques, solve problems and develop their own practice with confidence.
Our workshops are centred on skill rather than product. Whether making a traditional brush, preparing natural inks or exploring natural dyes, the finished piece is only one part of the learning. More important is developing an understanding of the materials, tools and processes that make those outcomes possible.
Natural materials are wonderfully varied and often unpredictable. Rather than trying to eliminate that unpredictability, we encourage participants to observe it, work with it and learn from it. Curiosity, experimentation and thoughtful observation are valued just as highly as successful results.
Every group is different, so our teaching is never entirely fixed. We adapt discussions, demonstrations and activities to suit the people in the room, creating space for questions, conversation and individual interests while remaining grounded in traditional skills and practical experience.
Above all, we believe heritage crafts remain alive when knowledge is shared generously. If someone leaves a workshop feeling confident enough to continue making, experimenting and learning on their own, then we've achieved exactly what we set out to do.
Traditional Brushmaking Workshops
Brushmaking is one of Britain's oldest heritage crafts, yet today relatively few people have the opportunity to learn the traditional techniques involved.
Our brushmaking workshops introduce participants to the tools, materials and methods used to create handmade brushes. Working with natural fibres and carefully selected timber, participants learn each stage of the process, from selecting materials through to binding and finishing their own brush.
Along the way we explore the history of brushmaking, the characteristics of different fibres and the practical decisions that influence how a brush performs. Participants leave with a handmade brush of their own and, more importantly, the knowledge and confidence to continue making brushes at home.
Since discovering the craft through the North East Wales Bodgers (NEWBs), we have made hundreds of brushes and have been teaching brushmaking workshops since 2025.
Natural Dye Workshops
Natural dyeing has been part of our practice for many years and remains one of our greatest passions.
Our workshops introduce participants to the fascinating process of creating colour from plants and other natural materials. Depending on the workshop, participants may explore dye plants, fibre preparation, mordants, modifiers and the practical techniques used to achieve a wide range of colours.
Many of the materials we work with are gathered sustainably from local hedgerows and landscapes across North Wales, helping participants develop a greater understanding of the connection between colour, place and traditional craft.
Rather than focusing on fixed recipes, we encourage participants to understand how natural dyes behave and how different materials and processes influence the final result. Our aim is to give people the confidence to continue experimenting independently using the materials available in their own local landscapes.
We have been teaching natural dye workshops since 2021 and continue to explore both traditional and contemporary approaches to working with natural colour.
Book a Workshop
Details of our upcoming public workshops can be found on CraftCourses:
https://www.craftcourses.com/providers/coppice-and-colour
Natural dye workshops hosted through Wernog Wood can be booked here:
https://www.wernogwood.co.uk/natural-dye
Private Tuition & Group Bookings
We also offer private tuition, demonstrations and bespoke workshops for craft groups, organisations, festivals, schools and private groups.
Whether you are looking for a one-day introduction to a heritage craft or a tailored programme exploring a particular process or material, we are happy to develop workshops to suit your interests, experience and setting.
To discuss a private workshop or group booking, please contact us at:
info@coppiceandcolour.co.uk