Welcome to Spargo
A unique art school set deep in the Cornish wilderness.
Set against the backdrop of Cornwall's extraordinary countryside, woodlands and creative communities, HSSOA brings together a diverse programme of courses, workshops, talks and events led by practicing artists and specialists. From drawing, painting and sculpture to ceramics, printmaking and contemporary creative practice, our courses are designed for curious beginners and experienced artists alike.
Upcoming Courses & Events
3rd June - 29th July
Designed as an introduction to life drawing techniques and academic drawing methods, this programme will cover methods for approaching drawing and painting the figure through building and practicing skills over the course of the programme.
Dependant on the group there will be flexibility for emphasis on different areas and the addition of other topics.
Wednesday evenings 7-9pm. The course will not run on 15th July.
13th-14th June 2026
Price includes lunch and refreshments. All materials are included and tools provided.
Numbers are limited to 8 participants. 10am-4.30pm daily
This 2-day workshop is a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of woodcut printmaking - a step by step guide through the creative process, from designing, carving, inking and printing a woodblock, using multi block or masking techniques for multicoloured or monochrome hand-pressed prints.
The workshop begins with choosing and preparing woodblocks, from specialist plywoods, to plank blocks and wildwood, and considering how to compose a design in harmony with the individual characteristics of the wood. We’ll be making the most of the natural beauty surrounding Higher Spargo Farm to inspire our woodcut designs, and plenty of reference material is also provided to use for design guides and templates.
You’ll be guided through the process of transferring your completed design and carving your woodblocks, finishing with inking and printing your woodblock using traditional hand pressing methods with a variety of burnishing tools. No previous experience is necessary to join this workshop, the course is designed to accommodate both curious beginners as well as experienced artists. Olivia is a skilled art tutor who shares her expertise with warmth and enthusiasm.
About Olivia
Olivia Clifton-Bligh is a sculptor and printmaker specialising in linocut and woodcut techniques. Working in rural Cornwall, her work reflects on our cultural relationships with the natural world and our ecological heritage. Olivia trained at Goldsmiths' College and her work is exhibited in London and throughout the UK.
June 18th. 7 - 9pm
Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, author of Our Oaken Bones - a lovely book about hope and renewal in nature - is a Cornish conservationist and veteran who founded The Thousand Year Trust, Britain’s rainforest charity. The charity’s mission is to catalyse the movement to triple Britain’s rainforest cover to one million acres in the next thirty years. His work has been featured in National Geographic, the Guardian and on the BBC. Merlin lives in a rainforest on Bodmin Moor with his wife Lizzie and their two young daughters.
We have a little bit of rainforest here at Higher Spargo and so we are excited to welcome Merlin to the farm and to be a part of this movement. Come and along and be inspired!