Stencilling workshop with Mary MacCarthy Saturday the 9th of May 2026 – Introduction to Stencilling
£130.00
Stencilling has been used throughout history as a way to paint a repeated design. From cave wall paintings and Italian Renaissance Madonna’s to English Rood Screens and Church walls. In the 1970’s and 80s it became very popular as a tool for colourful and personal interior decoration and it’s this enjoyable and creative aspect we will focus on.
Mary will take you through all the steps necessary so you can create some beautiful stencilling.
WORKSHOP DAYS – RUN FROM 10AM TO 4PM
THEY INCLUDE ALL REFRESHMENTS, COFFE/TEA/ SOFT DRINKS BISCUITS & CAKE – A BEAUTIFUL VEGETARIAN LUNCH AND DESERT
Stencilling Materials, Please bring an object like a tray or a box to stencil
There is very little Mary MacCarthy doesn’t know about stencilling, Mary has long been known for her stencilling expertise and the many books she has written about the subject. Mary is also well known for designing for “Emma Bridgewater” and is responsible creating their Famous “ROSE” Pattern.
Mary’s work celebrates colour. In all her work, the exuberance of colour is what always shines out. But to call it a riot of colour could not be farther from the truth. Colours are carefully chosen, mixed, blended and contrasted to make a subtle, balanced whole. Those of us who are lucky enough live along the North Norfolk will have seen her work many times – even if we weren’t aware of the artist’s name: trompe l’oeil windows in Burnham Overy Staithe, murals at Houghton Hall, the Westacre Montessori School and at the Wiveton Cafe as well as the much-loved pub signs for the Stiffkey Red Lion ,The Jolly Farmers in North Creake and a bookstore/coffee shop in Burnham Market.
Her professional career started more or less straight after finishing her studies of printed textile design at Camberwell College of Art in the late 70’s. Following an inspiring trip around the United States, Mary returned with a passion for the early settler decorative art of stencilling. With her eye for pattern, she soon found herself in demand with some of the leading interior decorators of the day. Eschewing the flat, uncontrollable spray paints, she always applied her paint with specialist brushes, which gave her work the subtlety of colour and texture that her clients valued. As a result, commissions took her far afield: a Rothschild apartment in New York, a Royal hunting lodge in La Mancha, a high-end restaurant in Marbella as well as work in London and closer to home.
Her extensive knowledge of pattern was successfully condensed into several publications, among them A Crafter’s Pattern Sourcebook and The Arts & Crafts Stencil Book.
Her recent work has concentrated on trying to faithfully capture the entrancing colours and textures of the plant world, following the subtle variations across the seasons. She exhibits regularly at Salthouse Church as part of the Landmarks group of local professional artists.
This unique combination of the skill and practice of flower and still life painting together with Mary’s love & understanding of pattern and textile makes her a near-perfect fit with aesthetics of The Little School of Needlecraft.
Mary will be teaching several Stencil & Design Workshops starting with an Introduction to Stencilling and over the months she will teach, tile repeat, stencilling on fabric, stencilling on wall paper and creating a panel.
The stencilling on furniture is a two day weekend workshop in June.