Teaching:
I teach a variety of workshops at different venues each year, or I offer one-to-one teaching at my darkroom in Liss, Hampshire. See below for details and links to the courses or get in touch with me direct.
Courses at West Dean: - What to expect:
The West Dean Short Course pages are great, but there's limited space for detailed information. If you're thinking of attending here's an idea of what to expect:
The College: The house, gardens and facilities are nothing short of wonderful. Many people have been coming to courses for years -sometimes decades and almost all cite the beauty and atmosphere of the place as a major attraction. A large country house, which has been a dedicated art and craft school since the 1960s, West Dean combines the feeling of a more than slightly bohemian old hotel with workshops and studios for all kinds of artistic activities. While it's expensive to stay on campus during your course, it's recommended for the full experience. The atmosphere is very relaxed, and being surrounded by other creative, enthusiastic people, and chatting over meals or in the bar in the evening is all part of the fun.
The grounds are extensive, with both informal gardens and more serious areas with huge kitchen gardens, greenhouses etc. Students are encouraged to explore these and of course on photographic courses like mine we make full use of them. There's an art materials shop on site too.
Workshops: My courses are all based in the two main teaching workshops. These are large rooms next to the main courtyard and are used for everything from woodworking to textiles courses with benches, water etc. and everything else we need. We will be based in this one space for the duration of a course, venturing out into the house and gardens to make pictures etc.
Food: Free Tea, Coffee and other facilities are available just the other side of the courtyard. We take regular morining and afternoon breaks and you can help yourself at any time. Main meals are served in the cafeteria-style dining room (also off the courtyard) and are included (I think?) in the price for those staying on campus. If you have specific dietary requirements or just prefer your own food you are welcome to eat it with everyone else in the dining room. Mealtimes are always very sociable with lots of discussions and sharing of ideas. - I regard them as absolutely part of the teaching!
Timetable: A typical course generally starts on the first evening. We all meet in the bar (courses are for very small numbers: usually between 6 and 12 people) before going in to dinner together. After dinner and a little getting to know each other we go to the workshop where I deliver an introductory lecture/presentation.
The first full day startd with breakfast for residents, then everyone meets in the workshop space. Everyone gets a comprehensive workshop handout but most people also bring notebooks. We then get stuck in to the practicalities of the course. I like people to be mixing chemicals, coating materials, loading cameras or whatever as soon as possible. Learning while doing is preferable to lots of theory -and more enjoyable! The theory comes along the way as we go.
Depending on the course we may use one or both of my darkroom tents. These allow us to do processes and activities which need either total darkess or red light. These are set up inside the (large) workshop room and shared by everyone. We work quite informally: some parts will be everyone around a large table listening and working together, other times people will be working independently or in pairs - see the accompanying pictures. We work through the day, with breaks for coffee, lunch and afternoon tea.
The 'formally taught' day finishes around 4.30 or so but people are free to keep using the facilities into the evening. The evening meal is another opportunity to chat with people from your own and other course, before returning to the workshop area (open until 9pm) or the bar, or home/bed as you prefer.
The second full day* follows a similar structure with more advanced techniques and the opportunity to hone or practice skills from the day before. Again, everything is open into the evening so you can get a lot done in the day - or quit earlier if you've had enough for the day.
The last day* is a little shorter, finishing at around 3.30 pm. It's usually used to make final pieces of work, finish up things you've been working on and prepare materials to take home. On each course you will of course get to keep everything you've made and in some cases prepare supplies (such as cyanotype or anthotype-coated papers) to take awy with you so you can continue at home.
*Some course run 2 days plus the first evening, others are 3 or even 4.
If you have any questions about any aspect of a course please feel free to Email me here.. If I don't know the answer I'll find someone who does!
Historic Photographic Printmaking:
Cameraless techniques
West Dean College of Arts & Conservation
West Dean Near Chichester West Sussex PO18 0QZ
23 - 26 March 2026
This course is designed for anyone interested in 'alternative' or historic photographic processes. Making prints with or without a camera, using techniques which need a minimal outlay in equipment and facilities.
Aims: To introduce a selection of methods, give a historical and artistic context and familiarise students with the equipment, methods and practicalities involved.
Objectives: To achieve a sound knowledge of several processes:
Argyrotype (Kallitype)
Cyanotype
Lumen prints
Anthotype
- plus an understanding of how the 'alternative process' discipline works have confidence in exploring further techniques independently.
Outcomes: On completion, each student should be proficient and confident in mixing and using chemicals, preparing and coating substrates, making digital negatives for printing andcontrolling exposure.
On the first evening there will be an introductory talk, plus discussion of the potential and expectations.
On the first full day we will cover:
Safe handling and use of chemicals
Equipment, tools and materials
coating and preparation methods
Making digital negatives
On the second full day we will work with materials prepared the day before, making both cameraless "photogenic drawings" and printing from digital negatives.
There will be opportunities for making more negatives, preparing extra material etc.
For more details or to book a place see West Dean College's own website:
Wet-plate Collodion Photography.
West Dean College of Arts & Conservation
West Dean Near Chichester West Sussex PO18 0QZ
21 - 24 August 2025
This course is for anyone interested in early photographic processes. Whether you are a photographer looking to expand your practice into wet-plate photography or you have a purely academic interest in how photographs were made in the mid-nineteenth century, this is an opportunity to make authentic photographs on glass or metal plates, using original equipment and authentic practices.
You will explore Frederick Scott Archer's Wet Collodion Process of 1851 by practical means: making photographs from first principles. As well as the historical context, the contemporary upsurge in interest in the collodion process is covered.
Through this the aim is to achieve a sound knowledge of the processes of preparation, exposure and processing of wet collodion photographs.
You will acquire confidence in using all materials and processes involved and to have an understanding of the requirements for equipment (cameras, lenses, darkroom equipment, etc.).
On completion, you should be proficient and confident in: using a large format plate camera; preparing and coating plates; processing images and preserving; mounting and displaying finished photographs.
Naturally, everyone gets to keep everything they have made.
On the first evening, there will be an introductory talk, covering historical context, potential and expectations.
On the first full day, we will cover:
Safe handling and use of chemicals and materials
Using a nineteenth century plate camera*
Exposure measurement and control
Preparation of plates
Processing images
On the second full day, we will continue working with the cameras, with everyone having an opportunity to make photographs. We will work both inside and outside (weather permitting), using the unique environment of the college and its grounds as much as possible.
* This course is described as Intermediate/Advanced as some prior knowledge of film-based photography is desirable. However, it is not essential.
Please note: Due to the potential hazards of using some of the chemicals involved, for health and safety reasons some processes may be carried out solely by the tutor, for you to observe. It will also be essential that a PPE dust mask, eye protection and gloves are worn for aspects of this course.
For more details or to book a place see West Dean College's own website:
https://www.westdean.ac.uk/short-courses/slw40317-wet-plate-collodion-photography
Book a custom-designed workshop.
Liss, Hampshire - or your own venue
With 25 years of teaching experience, I've seen the rise of digital imaging, the fading - and then re-birth of 'analogue' (film based) photography and the steady increase in interest in historic, alternative and experimental processes. I've put together a series of workshops which can be tailored to groups of different ages and abilities.
I teach workshops for groups, academic institutions or individuals.
Contact me for more information or to discuss requirements.
Click on the images opposite for more details.
