'Hands on, experimental with a strong emphasis on using found materials and inventive applications of textile and mixed media processes as part of the exploration of developing a 'creative language (West Dean College).


War and Gardens, Garden Museum and Age UK Bromley and Greenich Images kind permission of the Garden Museum and johonephotography

Workshops and commissions are delivered to groups, exhibitions or projects, with an emphasis on individual development of ideas in response to processes, techniques and themes.

The overlooked details found on a daily walk or memories of a favourite place combined with the use of found materials can be a rich resource for inspiration. As is reflected in her work and publications, Cas seeks beauty and meaning from the everyday connections we make the urban and natural landscape.

Use the contact form for further information or to discuss your ideas for a project or workshop.

Course availability and other details can be found via the course links listed below. Cas also teaches private groups and guilds which are not listed here.

West Dean College Short Courses (see my page)

Personal journals-sourcing inspiration for textiles 4-7 May
Discover ways of creating and exploiting your sketchbooks as a starting point for mixed media, textile projects or three-dimensional designs. Using unconventional drawing techniques, collage and photography, capture and develop ideas from your immediate environment.

Unfolding landscapes – cloth, paper and stitch 7-11 June

Taking inspiration from the land, explore the use of layers in found textiles with papers to create folded forms. Print, dye, collage and stitch will transform the ordinary into the extraordinary as new surfaces emerge and your landscape unfolds.

UK workshops

Sat 29 February. Improvised sketchbooks. Maidstone Museum and Art Gallery

Part of Wild exhibition with Art Textiles Made in Britain.

14th and 15th March 2020 Reclaimed Landscapes 2 day workshop with Creative South West Textiles in Devon. For further information and booking contact via email.

Old Bank Studios, Mark Layer and Stitch. A sketchbook workshop. Saturday/Sunday 28 and 29th March 2020. Take the fear out of creating a sketchbook or journal. Explore creative ways of developing ideas through mixed media, paint and stitch.(waiting list only)

In Stitches. (Wokingham) Layers, Lines and Image. Monday 20-Wednesday 22nd April 2020.

Hope and Elvis in Nottingham, 16 and 17th May Cloth and Shadows . 18 and 19th May improvised books, Layers, Lines and Image

Lund Studios in North Yorkshire,30 June -3 July. Stitch Sketch Book, Folding bookforms.

Landmarks, Littleheath Barn Studio (near Birmingham) Wednesday 8-Friday 9th July.

International courses

Sweet Nothings, 19-25 July 2020

Join me in South West France in this experimental workshop combining cloth with found materials and inventive applications of textile and mixed media processes. Investigate mark making, colour and painting techniques with cloth and paper using ‘Wet Applique’ layering and bonding combined with 'Stitch Sketching' .

The Alpine Experience, Painting with Cloth, 12-19 August 2020 Cas Holmes work is often described as ‘painting with cloth. In this workshop, participants will make small personal works with narrative, meaning and colour Low-tech methods will transform raw materials and found objects into textile art

Delighted to be invited back to work with Fibre Arts Australia in September with two courses, Painting with Cloth in Ballarat (full) and Toowoomba (29 Sept-5th Oct 2020) listed here under my portfolio.

Also working with Great Southern Workshops in Perth where you can work on Improvised Sketchbooks combining stitch, line and sketches to develop new ideas (5-6 Sept) and Painting with Cloth (7-9 Sept). The workshops can be taken combined or separately Further details here.

I will also be working at the Buderim Craft Cottage near Brisbane. Details to follow.

Regular Courses locally

Kent Adult Education new courses for 2019-20 include a one day monoprint course on 25th April and and a two day introduction to expressive drawing on 16th July in 2020. All courses can be found by searching under my name here.

Limited Edition: Workshops for 2-5 people from my home workspace by arrangement. Explore different approaches to textiles and mixed media work in a relaxed creative environment with an emphasis on individual development. I am happy to discuss specific details of projects or offer one to one tuition and guidance. (contact me for details)

Comments from students on recent courses:

"The quality of the tutor was second to none, a relaxed atmosphere with like-minded participants - it was wonderful all round".

Katie, West Dean College 2019

The entire workshop experience was packed with artists of lively talent and heart. In fierce heat, these 15 women filled 36 hours with intense focus and concentration. Led by a mightily energy of about 5'5" who really knows her stuff! Cas Holmes is a masterful artist and teacher. Those of us able to attend felt honored and privileged to be with her. We took away many new skills and I left feeling brave as an artist for the first time in 15 years, (I haven't been able to call myself an artist for that long either).

From the Land Jessica (San Diego Book Artist)

Some images of Tea Flora Tales donated by San Diego books arts in workshop.

We explored the unique world of the lost and found creating simple books to explore our projects alongside paper/textile layering, pasting techniques. Drawing our narratives from the overlooked and imperfect akin to Wabi Sabi (Art of Imperfection) working sometimes collaboratively, at others individually we tore, cut, reconstructed and stitched our ways to new collages and objects.It helped me to open my eyes to the world around me (Personal Journals course, West Dean)

It has been a little over a week since my return from West Dean and the experience has been much in mind. I gained more than I think I could ever say from being on the course with Cas Holmes. It was great to spend time in the beautiful location, not only did it enrich my own practice, but so generative in regard to the work that I do in mental healthcare settings and the community. (Extract from student letter who attended Tracing Shadows course at West Dean)

Here is a lovely link to feedback from a students perspective on a recent workshop at Eaubrink studios by Marion on Artmixter blog. (image of her work in progress below)

This is the second workshop I've attended led by Cas Holmes, and all I can say is that personally, I find her an extremely inspirational teacher, and someone who encourages a very relaxed, serendipitous attitude to the techniques that she teaches. If you get the chance, I can thoroughly recommend one of her classes. Cath of Stitch, Cloth, Colour.

Below-a selection of images from my workshops. Many thanks to the students who gave me kind permission to use the images of their work in progress.

Marks on Cloth, a drop-in community workshop on board LV21.

What did I learn?? Hmmm, it is really hard to describe.... I learned to be less precious and to dive into the work. Not to worry so much, each layer can be changed, altered, built up, stripped back and added to......I had a very enjoyable day and learned so much.

Below:Images and Narratives, folding books Milton Keynes Arts Centre,

A piece in progress by Julie Leach

I really enjoyed both of your courses and felt that I gained a tremendous amount. As much as your book, (The Found Object in Textile Art,) is excellent, the opportunity to see you applying your own techniques was very special. Most of all though I loved your teaching approach. You constantly made us think for ourselves and challenged what was possible. I always think it's the quality of the questioning that is key and that is where the experienced practitioner prepared to teach creatively can take a student so much further than the painting by numbers approach can ever achieve. As I said on the day you are a teacher not an instructor and I know that requires a lot more personal investment. I, for one, really appreciated it.

Julie Leach, Course at Artwork Milton Keynes

Demonstration in Australia Go Create New England. Image compliments of Tara Axford

Further images of student work

Unfolding Landscape with Fibre Arts Australia:

Thankyou book from students at Ballarat, Fibre Arts Australia:

Details of work Diva Design Studios:

Extreme Stitching Red at the Huguenot Museum, Rochester:

Students on a Memories on Canvas course at Maidstone Museum referred to old historic Ladybird book illustrations to draw upon their favourite memories from camping, to a childhood swing in a garden in this work in progress inspired by Ladybird books in a Ladybird Childhood exhibition.

On the back cover of a West Dean brochure with work by the same student, Katie Boucher's work in progress featured here.

Images of workshops by kind permission of participants

cas holmes

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