Painting on Fabric - an Introduction
Join me for a day hand painting on fabric, where I'll be sharing the techniques I have learnt and invented during my long career painting patterns for textiles. Rather than following rigid rules, we will be explore ideas, possibilities, examples, with the freedom to understand the rhythms of design and to embrace the happy accidents along the way.
I will be helping participants to build confidence in mark making and composition rather than focusing on drawing skills. If you love pattern and cloth and want to learn hand painting techniques this is the workshop for you!
All equipment will be provided including a selection of fabric paints, paper, fabric to practice on, and either a tote bag, fabric bunting or a length of fabric for the finished piece. Participants are welcome to bring any references that personally inspire them or take inspiration from my collection of past work.
Open to all - no prior experience is necessary.
For further information and to book tickets follow this link.
Painting Floral Patterns on calico and linens
Explore hand-painting flowers onto textiles using heat-fixable paints and inks. Learn how to develop designs for fabric to enjoy, wear, sit upon or sew into.
Flowers have long been a beloved subject for textile designers, offering countless opportunities to infuse colour, form and familiarity into designs. They allow for interpretations that range from the tiniest bud to expansive garden scenes, and realism to abstract forms. Together, we will explore various design solutions and developments; I will show, for discussion and possible inspiration, a selection of fabrics chosen from my extensive collection of (mainly) my own and my sister’s work.
We’ll have the wonderful West Dean gardens to give us ideas and nourishment , and a spacious studio in which to work .
For booking and further details click here
Painting on Fabric - Focus on Stencils
Explore fabric painting using stencilling techniques with me! Participants will have the opportunity to create a variety of effects and patterns using different stencils hand cut from traditional linseed card, freezer paper, tapes and even newspaper. During the workshop participants will build up their own sampler of techniques while considering positive and negative space and experimenting with composition and colour. With these new skills participants will move on to creating their own pattern on a length of calico or linen, perfect for any number of future uses.
This workshop is suitable for beginners or for those who have undertaken my Fabric Painting Introduction Workshop.
Textile Immersive Tour with The Sewing Workshop
About the Workshop:
“Join the Sewing Workshop team for an immersive textile experience alongside Sarah Campbell in beautiful England!
Imagine tapping into your creativity while staying on a beautiful country estate in the Cotswolds. In this retreat, you will explore surface design techniques such as painting and embroidery. These techniques will be used on the Lakewood Shirt to make your unique work of wearable art.
Esteemed fabric designer Sarah Campbell will be joining us for three days to teach us her signature techniques for fabric painting. She will present you with the tools to tap into your artistic side and use color and design to make your own fabric.
After our time with Sarah, The Sewing Workshop team will work with you to add even more interest to your fabric, with stitching and surface texture techniques. We will look at the different pattern pieces of the Lakewood Shirt to lay out your decorated fabric in an artistic way.
If you’ve never painted or stitched before, don’t fear! We will help you every step of the way. Plus, green rolling hills, magical forests, and glorious gardens are on your doorstep waiting to inspire you. The Cotswolds is designated as an Area of Outstanding Beauty and we will be exploring some of its grand manors, historic textile sites, and must-see gardens.
After our time in the countryside, we will make our way back to London. Here, we will spend three days fabric shopping, seeing the sites, and exploring the artistic side of the city. Finally, we will be ready to head home, full of inspiration and ready to finish our art-to-wear garment.”
This tour is sold out, but to join the waitlist (you don’t need to be American!) and for more information click here
Painting on Fabric - Focus on Printing
This new workshop will focus on experimenting with a variety of simple printing techniques to create hand painted patterns on fabric. Using a variety of mark making tools – foam brushes, sponges, and other stamping devices – participants will be guided to create a sampler of techniques building up more complex forms and patterns from simple shapes. Using the humble potato as a printmaking tool, you will be encouraged to cut your own shapes to achieve surprisingly effective patterns, both organic and geometric.
I will guide you through the techniques and encourage you to explore repeat, composition, colour sequences and contrast while you create your own pattern on a length of calico or linen, a ready-made bag or a cushion.
Open to all - no prior experience is necessary – this new focussed workshop is suitable for both beginners and for those who have undertaken Sarah’s Fabric Painting Introduction Workshop.
Click here for further information and to book your place.
Simple Papercraft
Spend a day learning simple but effective papercraft. Participants will start by exploring techniques and will discuss how to consider shape, colour, texture and form. I will lead the small group (maximum 10 participants) through different aspects of composition, colour and contrast. Students will be encouraged to spend time experimenting with paper cutting and folding techniques and may come with ideas in mind or seek inspiration on the day.
People of all abilities and skill levels are welcome and there’ll be no pressure to produce finished work – it’s a day to enjoy an inspiring time and to learn and practise new skills to take home. There will also be an opportunity to discuss my approach to design and some of her career highlights. All materials will be provided but you are welcome to bring your own papers, recycled materials and sketchbooks if you wish.
For further information and booking click here.
Painting on Fabric - an Introduction
Spend a day learning how to hand paint on fabric. I will be sharing the techniques I have both learnt and invented over the last 55 years. Rather than following rigid rules, you will be presented with ideas, possibilities, examples, and a freedom to learn the rhythms of design and to embrace the happy accidents along the way. No prior experience is necessary,
I will be helping participants to build confidence in mark making and composition rather than focusing on drawing skills. If you love pattern and cloth and want to learn hand painting techniques this is the workshop for you! All equipment will be provided including a selection of fabric paints, paper, fabric to practice on, and either a tote bag, fabric bunting or a length of fabric for the finished piece. Participants are welcome to bring any references that personally inspire them or take inspiration from my collection of past work.
Fabric Painting in SW France this summer
There's an opportunity to be part of an enticing new venture in France this year!
From 5 – 12 July '25 I'll be teaching about pattern and painting on fabric at Malbosc, a grand old farmhouse in rural SW France. Please join me in discussing, inventing, understanding, painting and making pattern and colour on cloth, as well as having time to explore and enjoy the extensive grounds and locality.
This is its first year as a residential retreat and the hosts are offering the chance to participate at a reduced rate as an introductory offer. Most of the places on the course have already been booked, but there are still a couple open and available if you're interested – and quick!
For further details, pease get in touch directly with Marguerite Paffard at marguerite.paffard@icloud.com or call her direct on +33 771 71 47 12, or with me at sarahc@mpbell.com
Both English and French spoken.
Simple Papercraft
Spend a day learning simple but effective papercraft. Participants will start by exploring techniques and will discuss how to consider shape, colour, texture and form. I will lead the small group (maximum 10 participants) through different aspects of composition, colour and contrast. Students will be encouraged to spend time experimenting with paper cutting and folding techniques and may come with ideas in mind or seek inspiration on the day.
People of all abilities and skill levels are welcome and there’ll be no pressure to produce finished work – it’s a day to enjoy an inspiring time and to learn and practise new skills to take home. There will also be an opportunity to discuss my approach to design and some of her career highlights. All materials will be provided but you are welcome to bring your own papers, recycled materials and sketchbooks if you wish.
For further information and booking click here.
Painting on Fabric - Focus on Stencils
Explore fabric painting using stencilling techniques with me! Participants will have the opportunity to create a variety of effects and patterns using different stencils hand cut from traditional linseed card, freezer paper, tapes and even newspaper. During the workshop participants will build up their own sampler of techniques while considering positive and negative space and experimenting with composition and colour. With these new skills participants will move on to creating their own pattern on a length of calico or linen, perfect for any number of future uses.
This workshop is suitable for beginners or for those who have undertaken my Fabric Painting Introduction Workshop.
Painting on Fabric - Focus on Printing
Experiment with a variety of simple printing techniques to create hand painted fabric all under the guidance of textile design legend, Sarah Campbell.
Using a variety of mark making tools – foam brushes, sponges, and other stamping devices – participants will be guided to create a sampler of techniques building up more complex forms and patterns from simple shapes. Using the humble potato as a printmaking tool, participants will be encouraged to cut their own shapes to achieve surprisingly effective organic and geometric patterns. Sarah will guide you through the techniques and encourage you to explore repeat, composition, colour sequences and contrast while you create your own pattern on a length of calico or linen, perfect for any number of future uses.
This workshop is suitable for beginners or for those who have undertaken my Fabric Painting Introduction Workshop.
Simple Papercraft
Spend a day learning simple but effective papercraft. Participants will start by exploring techniques and will discuss how to consider shape, colour, texture and form. I will lead the small group (maximum 10 participants) through different aspects of composition, colour and contrast. Students will be encouraged to spend time experimenting with paper cutting and folding techniques and may come with ideas in mind or seek inspiration on the day.
People of all abilities and skill levels are welcome and there’ll be no pressure to produce finished work – it’s a day to enjoy an inspiring time and to learn and practise new skills to take home. There will also be an opportunity to discuss my approach to design and some of her career highlights. All materials will be provided but you are welcome to bring your own papers, recycled materials and sketchbooks if you wish.
The Mark of The Hand
A 3-day weekend course exploring Pattern & Painting on Textiles.
In this course we'll be looking at the rhythms and structures of pattern and how they work; as examples for discussion and possible inspiration, Sarah will show a variety of patterns and designs, drawn largely from her own collection of both her printed and hand-painted textiles.
Course-work begins with purposeful mark-making on paper, with an emphasis on developing an intuitive sense of rhythm and pattern.
We'll be able to practice various techniques for painting on cotton, calico and linen- mark-making, freehand painting, stencils, potato prints, tapes, masks - as well as considering pattern placement and colour. During the course students are encouraged to develop their own ideas, painting directly onto fabric and building a personal language of pattern and colour with the aim of making pieces to wear, hang, sit on, to sew into and embellish, or simply as reference.
Sarah will demonstrate techniques throughout.
No experience is necessary, open to all...
Booking directly with Handprinted
Fabric Painting
Have fun at this popular one-day workshop and experiment with painting directly onto calico and/or linen at The Fashion and Textile Museum. Looking at a variety of techniques and methods, and using heat-settable fabric paints, you’ll be going home with your own sampler of techniques and discoveries, and depending on time, enough hand-painted fabric to perk up your wardrobe or your home.
All equipment supplied
You may want to bring an apron
Open to all abilities
No previous experience necessary
For more information and bookings click here
Decorative collage, simple papercraft
Join me for this popular one day workshop at the Fashion+Textile Museum to enjoy exploring and making decorative collage, paper-cutting and folding . Learn simple but effective papercraft techniques and explore shape, colour, texture and form.
All equipment and resources provided.
Open to all, no previous experience necessary.
For further information and bookings click here
Pattern: Rhythm and Colour on Textiles
Now booking here
Three days of immersion in the rhythm and colour of patterns for textiles! Together we’ll be exploring, investigating and looking at patterns - how they work and why we love them. Students will be making designs, painting on both paper and fabrics, developing their own language and collection of textile patterns from the simplest rhythms to more complex design structures and colour harmonies.
Sarah will bring many references to look at and discuss, mainly from her own extensive archive of work. We will have access to the book about the archive The Collier Campbell Archive, 2012 and also her recent book HandPainted Textiles, 2023 published by Bloomsbury, Herbert Press.
Open to all - no previous experience necessary
You may want to bring an apron
For further information and booking via the college, click here
Fabric Painting for Interiors
Have fun at this popular one-day workshop and experiment with painting directly onto calico and/or linen at The Fashion and Textile Museum. Looking at a variety of techniques and methods, and using heat-settable fabric paints, you’ll be going home with your own sampler of techniques and discoveries, and depending on time, enough hand-painted fabric to perk up your wardrobe or your home.
All equipment supplied
You may want to bring an apron
Open to all abilities
No previous experience necessary, for bookings click here
Simple Papercrafts
Join me for this popular one day workshop at the Fashion+Textile Museum to enjoy exploring and making decorative collage, paper-cutting and folding . Learn simple but effective papercraft techniques and explore shape, colour, texture and form. And given the date - we may make special treats for Christmas - cards, calendars, pictures and presents….
All equipment and resources provided.
Open to all, no previous experience necessary.
For further information and bookings click here
Fabric Painting
Have fun at this popular one-day workshop and experiment with painting directly onto calico and/or linen at The Fashion and Textile Museum. Looking at a variety of techniques and methods, and using heat-settable fabric paints, you’ll be going home with your own sampler of techniques and discoveries, and depending on time, enough hand-painted fabric to perk up your wardrobe or your home. And given the date, this is a perfect time to make some seasonal pieces - textile present wraps, Christmas gifts, merry bunting, table runners ….
All equipment supplied
You may want to bring an apron
Open to all abilities
No previous experience necessary
For more information and bookings click here
The Selvedge Winter Fair
Join me at the Selvedge Winter Fair again this year for a lovely day of browsing and buying, making and meeting. From 11-17.00 on Saturday 30th November, at St Mary’s Church in Wyndham Place London W1.
Fabric Painting
Have fun at this popular one-day workshop and experiment with painting directly onto calico and/or linen with me at The Fashion and Textile Museum. Looking at a variety of techniques and methods, and using heat-settable fabric paints, you’ll be going home with your own sampler of techniques and discoveries, and depending on time, enough hand-painted fabric to perk up your wardrobe or your home. And given the season, this is a perfect time to make a fabric advent calendar, textile present wraps, Christmas gifts, seasonal bunting ….
All equipment supplied
You may want to bring an apron
Open to all abilities
No previous experience necessary
For more information and bookings click here
Fabric Painting for Interiors - booking now!
Design and paint a pattern for a home textile! Under the guidance and expertise of textile pattern-maker Sarah Campbell, you'll leave this workshop with enough hand-painted cloth to perk up your home with an accessory of your choice – a cushion, small curtain, tablecloth, tea-towel or wall-hanging…
Looking at a variety of techniques and methods, and using heat-settable fabric paints, some ready-made ready-to-paint items will be available to buy at a small extra cost.
All equipment supplied
You may want to bring an apron
For further information and bookings, click here
Simple Papercrafts
Join me for this popular one day workshop at the Fashion+Textile Museum to enjoy exploring and making decorative collage, paper-cutting and some natty paper-folding. Learn simple but effective papercraft techniques and explore shape, colour, texture and form.
All equipment and resources provided.
Open to all, no previous experience necessary.
For further information and bookings, click here
Limited Edition Guest Workshop - Fabric Painting
Limited Edition Guest Workshop - Fabric Painting with internationally acclaimed textile designer Sarah Campbell
“Under the guidance and expertise of acclaimed textile designer, Sarah Campbell, have fun designing and painting directly onto fabric; make a pattern for yourself, or your home in this colourful, playful workshop. Using calico and organic cotton, students will leave with samplers of techniques for reference or for their own home sewing projects, as well as having the opportunity to paint a ready-made accessory of their choice – such as a bag, a cushion, a tea-towel or a wall-hanging.
No previous artistic experience necessary - Sarah specialises in joyous, abstract painting so don’t worry if you consider yourself “not arty” – this workshop is all about experimentation with colour and pattern and you’ve got an expert to guide you! And there's room for painting something flowery if you feel like it.
Leave the workshop armed with the knowledge of how to use different fabric painting techniques, how to use heat-settable fabric paints and how to wash and look after your pieces.
All equipment provided, but please bring an apron and a packed lunch”
For more information and bookings click https://www.raggedlife.com/cart
Fabric Painting - now booking!
Have fun at this popular one-day workshop and experiment with painting directly onto calico and/or linen at The Fashion and Textile Museum. Looking at a variety of techniques and methods, and using heat-settable fabric paints, you’ll be going home with your own sampler of techniques and discoveries, and depending on time, enough hand-painted fabric to perk up your wardrobe or your home.
All equipment supplied
You may want to bring an apron
Open to all abilities
No previous experience necessary
For more information and bookings click here
Paint a Lampshade - NEW DATE!
Join me on this new one-day workshop at Minerva Workshop in Kentish Town. With my guidance and using a pre-made fabric lampshade, you’ll plan and paint your own design using Annie Sloan paints. A great chance to create something personal for your own home, and make a special corner come to life.
You’ll leave with your own delightful creation - both beautiful and useful.
Lampshade is provided.
Beginners welcome!
For further information and bookings click here
Making Patterns, the mark of the hand
A 3-day weekend course exploring Pattern & Painting on Textiles. Alongside looking at the rhythms and structures of pattern and how they work, we'll be able to practice various techniques for painting on cotton, calico and linen – mark-making, freehand painting, stencils, potato prints, tapes, masks - as well as considering pattern placement and colour. Over the weekend we’ll develop our ideas, painting directly onto fabric and building a personal language of pattern and colour.
No previous experience is necessary, open to all…
For further information and bookings click here
Fabric Painting
Have fun at this popular one-day workshop and experiment with painting directly onto calico and/or linen at The Fashion and Textile Museum. Looking at a variety of techniques and methods, and using heat-settable fabric paints, you’ll be going home with your own sampler of techniques and discoveries, and depending on time, enough hand-painted fabric to perk up your wardrobe or your home.
All equipment supplied
You may want to bring an apron
Open to all abilities
No previous experience necessary
For further information and bookings click here
Simple Papercrafts
Join me for this popular one day workshop at the Fashion+Textile Museum to enjoy exploring and making decorative collage, paper-cutting and folding . Learn simple but effective papercraft techniques and explore shape, colour, texture and form.
All equipment and resources provided.
Open to all, no previous experience necessary.
For further information and bookings click here
Fabric Painting for Interiors
Design and paint a pattern for a home textile! Under the guidance and expertise of textile pattern-maker Sarah Campbell, you'll leave this workshop with enough hand-painted cloth to perk up your home with an accessory of your choice – a cushion, small curtain, tablecloth, tea-towel or wall-hanging…
Looking at a variety of techniques and methods, and using heat-settable fabric paints, some ready-made ready-to-paint items will be available to buy at a small extra cost.
All equipment supplied
You may want to bring an apron
For further information and bookings, click here
Fabric Painting
Have fun at this popular one-day workshop and experiment with painting directly onto calico and/or linen at The Fashion and Textile Museum. Looking at a variety of techniques and methods, and using heat-settable fabric paints, you’ll be going home with your own sampler of techniques and discoveries, and depending on time, enough hand-painted fabric to perk up your wardrobe or your home.
All equipment supplied
You may want to bring an apron
Open to all abilities
No previous experience necessary
For more information and bookings click here
Design Surgery
‘This is an ongoing course for textile designers wanting to progress their work. Meeting for a day every two months, the next session is on July 17. We are a deliberately small group so that we can discuss our projects and ideas in a confidential environment. More mentoring, and mutual support, benefitting from Sarah’s many decades of work in the industry, her creative process and problem solving. So far it’s been transformative for those who have participated. Participants can join in at any time.’
For more information and bookings, click here
Simple Papercraft
Join me for this popular one day workshop at the Fashion+Textile Museum to enjoy exploring and making decorative collage, paper-cutting and folding . Learn simple but effective papercraft techniques and explore shape, colour, texture and form.
All equipment and resources provided.
Open to all, no previous experience necessary.
For more information and bookings click here
Fabric Painting for Interiors
Design and paint a pattern for a home textile! Under the guidance and expertise of textile pattern-maker Sarah Campbell, you'll leave this workshop with enough hand-painted cloth to perk up your home and make an accessory of your choice – a cushion, small curtain, tablecloth, tea-towel or wall-hanging…
Looking at a variety of techniques and methods, and using heat-settable fabric paints, some ready-made ready-to-paint items will be available to buy at a small extra cost.
All equipment supplied
You may want to bring an apron
Open to all abilities
For more information and bookings click here
Painting Floral Patterns on Fabric
Join me for this popular course - long summery days enjoying, observing and painting flowers directly onto simple cotton and/or linen; as we explore different techniques and perspectives we’ll be creating patterns to wear, to lounge upon or to hang on the wall. Classes are held in the generous studio and glorious gardens of West Dean. All welcome!
Open to all, no previous experience necessary.
For further information and bookings, click here:
Fabric Painting
Have fun at this popular one-day workshop and experiment with painting directly onto calico and/or linen at The Fashion and Textile Museum. Looking at a variety of techniques and methods, and using heat-settable fabric paints, you’ll be going home with your own sampler of techniques and discoveries, and depending on time, enough hand-painted fabric to perk up your wardrobe or your home.
All equipment supplied
You may want to bring an apron
Open to all abilities
No previous experience necessary
For more information and bookings, click here
Simple Papercraft
Join me for this popular one day workshop at the Fashion+Textile Museum to enjoy exploring and making decorative collage, paper-cutting and folding . Learn simple but effective papercraft techniques and explore shape, colour, texture and form.
All equipment and resources provided.
Open to all, no previous experience necessary.
For further information and bookings click here
Design Surgery
‘This is an ongoing course for textile designers wanting to progress their work. Meeting for a day every two months, the next sessions are on May 23 and July 18. We are deliberately a small group so that we can discuss our projects and ideas in a confidential environment. More mentoring, and mutual support, benefitting from Sarah’s many decades of work in the industry, her creative process and problem solving. So far it’s been transformative for those who have participated. Participants can join in at any time.’
For more information and bookings, click here
Fabric Painting for Interiors
Design and paint a pattern for a home textile! Under the guidance and expertise of textile pattern-maker Sarah Campbell, you'll leave this workshop with enough hand-painted cloth to perk up your home and make an accessory of your choice – a cushion, small curtain, tablecloth, tea-towel or wall-hanging…
Looking at a variety of techniques and methods, and using heat-settable fabric paints, some ready-made ready-to-paint items will be available to buy at a small extra cost.
All equipment supplied
You may want to bring an apron
Open to all abilities
No previous experience necessary
For further information and bookings, click here
V&A Academy Unlocked
V&A Academy Unlocked days invite you behind the scenes, bringing you face-to-face with the V&A's extraordinary collections.
Your study day will begin with an introductory lecture by the Course Director Jennifer Wearden on the influence of The Great Exhibition of 1851 on textile design. This will be followed by a gallery tour through the British Galleries led by Jennifer Wearden which introduces you to a variety of textiles to fire your imagination and inspire you beyond the study day through discovering story-telling and the designing/making processes. You will join a show and tell session with internationally acclaimed textile designer, Sarah Campbell, who co-founded the renowned design partnership Collier Campbell with her sister Susan Collier, to learn about her making process and practices and hear how the V&A’s collections inspires her.
This Unlocked study day is designed to complement the 12-week online Summer term course ‘Textiles:1800 to 2000’ led by Jennifer Wearden but you do not need to be enrolled on any online course to join an ‘Unlocked’ event.
Book here
Fabric Painting
Have fun at this popular one-day workshop and experiment with painting directly onto calico and/or linen at The Fashion and Textile Museum. Looking at a variety of techniques and methods, and using heat-settable fabric paints, you’ll be going home with your own sampler of techniques and discoveries, and depending on time, enough hand-painted fabric to perk up your wardrobe or your home.
All equipment supplied
You may want to bring an apron
Open to all abilities
No previous experience necessary
For further information and bookings, click here
Simple Papercraft
Join me for this popular one day workshop at the Fashion+Textile Museum enjoying decorative collage, paper-cutting and folding . Learn simple but effective papercraft techniques and explore shape, colour, texture and form.
Open to all, no previous experience necessary.
Further details and booking click here