30th festival of calligraphy
3 t0 9 august 2025
Welcome to the 30th Festival of Calligraphy
This year marks our fourth time at the University of Warwick, nestled in the heart of the UK and perfectly situated for travel from all corners of Great Britain and beyond. We are delighted to welcome world-class tutors from Belgium, the United States and, of course, the UK itself.
Our venue, the Scarman Conference Centre, is set within the beautiful grounds of the University of Warwick, just three miles from Coventry’s bustling city centre. It’s easily reachable via major motorways like the M1, M6, M5, M42, A5 and A14, and Coventry is well-connected by the West Coast Mainline with regular train services running seven days a week. Plus, Birmingham International Airport is only a 20-minute drive away.
The Festival kicks off with registration on Sunday afternoon. Our workshops begin on Monday morning, with Session 1 running until Wednesday lunchtime, followed by Session 2 from Wednesday afternoon through to Friday late afternoon. To top it all off, we’ll be celebrating with a gala dinner on Friday night, before we say our goodbyes after breakfast on Saturday morning.
We can’t wait to share this unforgettable celebration of calligraphy with you!
Please note that the following sessions are now sold out:
Mary Noble Session 1
Jan Mehigan Session 2
Toni Watts Session 2
festival tutors
mary noble &
jan mehigan
mark
l’argent
toni
watts
eleanor
winters
carry
wouters
mary noble & jan mehigan
Mary is a Fellow of CLAS and SSI, CLAS Accredited Tutor, and a past Chair of CLAS. She has written several calligraphy books, mostly in partnership with Jan Mehigan, their first collaboration being together with other artists for “The Art of Colour Calligraphy”, 1997, which sparked the original idea for the Colour & Texture course.
Jan is passionate about colour, both rich and subtle. Her aim will be to make it easy for everyone to understand colour mixing, mood and emotion in calligraphic design. Although not always successful, it is fun to experiment and explore the endless possibilities and to enhance personal creativity. She has been teaching art and calligraphy for nearly 40 years and would like to encourage individual ideas and techniques. She is a Fellow of both CLAS and SSI.
session 1 (mary noble): vibrant penwork and colour on colour
SESSION IS SOLD OUT
Enhance your writing skills by exploring the fascinating world of colour in calligraphy. We’ll use the CMYK colour principles for mixing, experimenting with contrast and colour bias, and exploring the beauty of rich hues, naturals, blacks and greys. For backgrounds we’ll work with paste papers and collage, and try out acrylic paint and gesso while aiming to achieve crisp, sharp lettering, using white and opaque paints on these and other coloured papers.
For those attending both sessions, there’s the opportunity to submit your work — along with homework — for the CLAS Specialist Skills Award, Colour & Texture course.
This workshop is suitable for all levels.
session 2 (jan mehigan): intense colour and textural effects
SESSION IS SOLD OUT
This course will focus on understanding the Colour Wheel, colour matching and key colour terminology. You’ll also study the qualities of different papers and techniques for using brushes and washes. We’ll experiment with creating painted backgrounds, layering and achieving wonderful textural effects with a variety of mixed media. Expect to work with inks, watercolours, acrylics, pencils, crayons, gold powders and paints, along with texture mediums and mark-making tools to create a wealth of exciting, unusual backgrounds.
For those attending both sessions, there’s the option to submit your work — along with homework — for the CLAS Specialist Skills Award, Colour & Texture course.
This workshop is suitable for all levels.
mark l’argent
Mark is a UK-based lettering artist and teacher, running a full-time lettering and calligraphy studio. His work ranges from formal, traditional lettering to contemporary lettering art with historical references. A full member of The Art Workers’ Guild, Letter Exchange and CLAS Accredited tutor, Mark teaches throughout the UK, as well as working as a calligrapher for film and television productions. He was also part of the team creating the St. John’s Bible, the first traditionally handwritten and illuminated bible commissioned in over 500 years.
session 1: carolingian variations
Carolingian script may often be overlooked or dismissed as outdated, but it can be both formally elegant and casually expressive, making it a versatile addition to both traditional and contemporary calligraphic works. In this workshop, you’ll learn about the beauty of the Carolingian script, exploring its rich history and traditional variations, and learning how to creatively transform and adapt the script, making it original and contemporary while preserving its timeless style.
We’ll experiment with different weights and scales, and explore dynamic layouts, visual styles, colour, form and presentation techniques. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have crafted a complete Carolingian-inspired alphabet, reflecting your own personal style.
This workshop is suitable for all levels.
session 2: runes revisited
Runic scripts, with their distinctive look, have been around since the 1st century and offer a striking contrast when paired with other letterforms, or they can stand on their own. In this workshop, you’ll begin with an exploration of the origins, history and use of runes, and be guided through the process of adapting traditional runic letterforms to create your own “English” version of the script.
Next, you’ll experiment with a variety of layouts, learning how to arrange the runes in visually appealing ways, and receive guidance on the use of colour, form, size, scale, decoration and embellishments. By the end of the session, you’ll have developed a fully-formed runic-inspired alphabet, ready to incorporate into your own unique calligraphic designs.
This workshop is suitable for all levels.
toni watts
Toni is a full-time artist and illuminator. She enjoys using traditional techniques and materials – mineral and earth pigments, plant pigments from her garden, traditional handcrafted inks, 24 carat gold leaf and gemstones such as sapphires and emeralds – to create contemporary work.
session 1: brushes, dyes and inks
The workshop centres on the use of natural, homemade art materials rather than shop-bought supplies. We’ll begin by creating plant-based paper dyes, experimenting with dipping and colouring various papers before hanging them to dry, as well as using techniques like pre-mordanting and pre-wetting the paper.
Next, we’ll make our own inks, sometimes using modifiers to alter the colours. While these inks are perfect for writing, we’ll also explore how they can be used to create interesting abstract designs that beautifully complement calligraphy. To achieve this, we’ll need brushes to make exciting, unique marks—and we’ll be crafting these ourselves, using whatever I can gather from the garden in the lead-up to the Festival!
This workshop is suitable for all levels.
session 2: gilding contrasts
SESSION IS SOLD OUT
Many artists incorporate gold leaf into their work, whether as a design element or to add depth to the meaning of a text. However, few take the time to consider exactly how they want the gold to look. Should it be satin or shiny? Flat or raised? Smooth or tooled? Which colour of gold leaf is best, or perhaps a combination of colours? Should the gold lie beside the text, or should you write and paint directly on top of it?
In this workshop, we’ll explore these contrasts, creating a series of small pieces that combine various gilding techniques. You’ll also experiment with writing and painting on gold leaf, using methods to enhance a larger calligraphic design or to produce a piece which stands alone.
This workshop is suitable for all levels.
eleanor winters
An active member of the international calligraphy movement for more than 45 years, Eleanor is the author of six calligraphy books. Her most recent book, Paris / Auschwitz: Remembering the Children, is a collection of her calligraphic paintings commemorating the children of Paris murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust.
Eleanor was the Director of the Calligraphy Workshop in New York City and a Professor of Art at Long Island University. She teaches workshops, both in-person and online, and exhibits her work in the US, Europe and Asia.
session 1: copperplate brush-up and letter variations
This workshop provides an intensive review of the fundamentals of Copperplate calligraphy, followed by an exploration of its many variations.
While maintaining essential principles such as shape, slant, weight and, crucially, spacing, we will expand upon and reinterpret the traditional 18th-century Copperplate script, to create a wide range of letter variations. By experimenting with size and proportions, as well as both simpler and more ornate versions of the minuscule and majuscule alphabets, you’ll refine your existing Copperplate skills and create beautiful, unexpected letter variations.
This workshop is suitable for advanced beginners, intermediates and advanced calligraphers.
session 2: copperplate flourishing and design
Designed for students with a basic grasp of Copperplate, this workshop explores the essential principles, shapes and techniques of flourishing through pencil exercises and simple drawing techniques. We’ll draw inspiration from the 18th-century writing masters featured in The Universal Penman and other historical sources.
Beginning with pencil sketches, students will explore and employ fundamental layout principles, including contrast, positive and negative space, colour and size, as well as simple vs. flourished letterforms. These creative choices will culminate in a beautifully-designed artwork that captures the meaning of your chosen text.
This workshop is suitable for intermediate and advanced levels.
carry wouters
Carry Wouters is a lettering artist who lives and works in Brasschaat, Belgium. She teaches students of all ages. In her personal artwork, Carry strives to unite the underlying common threads that link legible and expressionist writing. Connecting history with craftmanship and heritage techniques remains her great passion.
session 1: in the hands of a burgundian court: “les enfants d’honneur” and the minuscules of bâtarde
In the latter half of the 14th century, a new calligraphic script emerged in northern France and the Low Countries: Bâtarde, the final calligraphic innovation of the Medieval era. This script was taught to the children of the Burgundian court, and as we follow their lives we’ll explore their Bâtarde minuscules, discovering their origins and functions as both formal bookhands and lively personal hands.
To complete our Bâtarde script, we will also incorporate simple capitals. We’ll blend our newfound insights with a variety of creative processes, crafting little calligraphic gems in the Bâtarde style. Calligraphy and history will meet to honour these royal children who grew up too quickly, their lives shaped by forces beyond their control.
This workshop is suitable for all levels.
session 2: small time machines: escape from the burgundy ‘librije’ and the majuscules of bâtarde
Manuscripts from the 18th century reflect the tastes, ambitions and dreams of their owners, with the royal library of the Burgundian court serving as a superlative source of examples from this golden age of manuscript arts. In this session, we will study their Bâtarde capitals, examining both the basic and more intricate forms of this script in all their sumptuous glory, and reimagining them with a contemporary look.
Can we transform historical letters into an image that conveys meaning? We will explore this question, tapping into our imagination and creativity as we learn to weave our unique creations into a calligraphic design.
The outcomes will blend a personal signature with the distinctive “family traits” of the 15th-century court manuscript style, resulting in a captivating fusion of past and present.
This workshop is suitable for intermediate and advanced calligraphers with experience in Bâtarde, Gothic Quadrata or Gothic Textura.
booking information
workshops
The workshops span two sessions of two and a half days each: beginning on Monday and running through to Wednesday lunchtime, then resuming Wednesday afternoon until late Friday afternoon. Registration takes place on Sunday afternoon from 3 to 5pm, followed by a welcome reception at 6pm.
Tuition commences promptly at 9am on Monday morning. Twice during the week, you can look forward to engaging short illustrated talks in the evening.
Additionally, there will be opportunities to purchase a variety of calligraphic materials, books and paper on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, with more sales available mid-week. Detailed information will be provided closer to the event.
accommodation
Accommodation is provided at a comfortable conference hotel, featuring standard double rooms equipped with ensuite facilities. For your convenience, there is a lift available for easy access to the upper floors. Any dietary requirements or mobility requests can be indicated on the Scarman Registration form.
bookings
To ensure you secure your first workshop choice, early booking is highly recommended. All bookings received before 15 December 2024 will be processed simultaneously, allowing us to accommodate as many preferences as possible. In the event that any workshops become oversubscribed, a draw may be conducted to fairly allocate places.
To maximise your chances of securing a spot, please indicate your second and third choices on the booking form, as we cannot guarantee a place in your first choice.
If you have any questions or require further assistance, please feel free to contact Donna Deeks, Director or Janice McClelland, Assistant Director at festival@clas.co.uk. We kindly ask that you specify the topic in the subject line of your email, ensuring it is directed to the appropriate person for a prompt response.
CLAS members will benefit from a £40 discount on fees, as outlined in the table below. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of calligraphy and connect with fellow enthusiasts!
festival fees
package description
Full Board includes six nights of accommodation starting from Sunday, 3 August 2025. This package includes comprehensive tuition, all meals and an abundance of teas and coffees to keep you refreshed throughout your stay.
For those opting for the Non-Residential package, this includes dinner on Sunday, 3 August 2025, lunches, teas and coffees throughout the week, and dinner on Friday, 8 August 2025.
Non-participating Full Board delegates, which includes all meals and accommodation, will pay £616.00 inclusive of VAT directly to Scarman.
cancellations
If you notify us on or before 1 May 2025, we will refund your payment, minus the £70 deposit. Unfortunately, after this date, refunds cannot be issued.
If you must cancel, please inform us as soon as possible so we can offer your place to someone else. Thank you for your understanding.
three-stage payment
Payment can be made in three stages, as outlined below. Please follow these instructions carefully to ensure a smooth booking process:
1. A non-refundable deposit of £70 per person is required upon booking, to be paid directly to CLAS.
2. Between 1 April and 1 May 2025, please make your payment to Scarman directly through their website at: https://www.kxregistration.warwick.ac.uk/CLAS2025. This payment must be made using a debit or credit card only.
3. The final balance is to be paid to CLAS by 1 May 2025.
When making payments via PayPal or BACS, please use your name as it appears on the registration form as a reference. For international payments, we kindly ask that you use PayPal. If you have any questions about how to use PayPal, don’t hesitate to contact Donna Deeks at festival@clas.co.uk.
festival FAQs
at what skill level do I need to be to participate?
The Festival is open to all but complete beginners in calligraphy. If you have taken a class or workshop that has covered writing on a slant board, drawing guidelines, posture, how to hold your pen and clean the nib, spacing and other basic skills, and have been practicing calligraphy for at least three months, you will be ready to make the most of your Festival workshops. The skill levels for each workshop are shown on the workshop descriptions in the brochure.
if I have a question for one of the tutors, how do I get in touch?
Send an email to festival@clas.co.uk with your question, and we will forward your email to the particular tutor. Once the tutor has responded, we will forward the answer back to you.
are supplies included, or do I need to bring my own?
No, supplies are not included. About two months before the Festival, we will send you the materials lists for each workshop that you have registered for. Occasionally workshops may have specialised requirements and the tutor may have extra supplies to purchase at the workshop, but this situation is infrequent. We’ll let you know if this is the case with your workshops.
I am coeliac/vegan/have food allergies. Will my dietary restrictions be catered for?
When you register with the Scarman Conference Centre for your accommodation, you will be able to specify your dietary restrictions and discuss with them if necessary.
can my partner come and stay with me at the venue, but not take the workshops?
Yes, there is a special rate for non-participating partners. Please refer to the Festival registration brochure.
do I have to share a room?
No, all rooms are double en-suite for single occupancy, unless otherwise requested and available at Scarman.
do I need to bring a drawing board for a script workshop?
Yes, that would be ideal. We have a limited number of drawing boards for delegates
coming via public transport or long-distance / international to use. Please let us know in advance if you need to reserve one.
festival enquiries
Have questions about the Festival? We’re here to help! Fill out the form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you.