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Amazing Colour Makers House - A World of Colour & Alchemy

The Colour Makers House, 2 High Wiend, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, CA16 6RD

  • Multiple dates available
  • In person
  • Pre-booking not required

The Colour Makers House in Appleby was rebuilt in 1677. A unique Artist Colourman's Shop making pigments and paints from naturally foraged earth and rocks. We also create green verditer using alchemy and discover colours and their global stories.

The historic building is in the middle of an ongoing restoration project. Full of period features and a remarkable historic staircase leading upstairs to the artist's studio, which specialises in architectural portraits. Some of these works will be exhibited. On the ground floor is the Traditional Artist's Colourman's shop, with which artists like Turner and Constable would have been familiar. Watch artists make pigments from natural materials such as rocks and earth in the pigment room. We show using Alchemy principles, how to make green blue verditer pigments. Both pigments were in use by artists and decorators during the 17th century. We will demonstrate how pigments, watercolours and other paints are traditionally made.

Timings & Tours

Friday 06 September:
1100 & 1300
Saturday 07 September:
1100 & 1300
Sunday 08 September:
1100 & 1300
Monday 09 September:
Available subject to demand: 1100 & 1330
Tuesday 10 September:
Available subject to demand: 1100 & 1330
Wednesday 11 September:
Available subject to demand: 1100 & 1330
Thursday 12 September:
Available subject to demand: 1100 & 1330
Friday 13 September:
1100 & 1300
Saturday 14 September:
1100 & 1300
Sunday 15 September:
1100 & 1300

Location & directions

The Colour Makers House, 2 High Wiend, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, CA16 6RD

Directions:
High Wiend is off the main street of Boroughgate beside the Post Office in the town centre.
Contact on day:
Mark Hilsden
Telephone number:
+441768353530

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:
Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

The first floor is accessible only by shallow stairs and a single handrail. The old historical building's first floor is uneven, so please be careful. The Pigment Demonstration room has a Low Beam of 6 feet (1.8 metres).

Additional information

if staff are available, we will be happy to talk to visitors but not demonstrate, as time is needed to tidy up between demonstrations. The building is historical, some of the beams are pretty low (6 feet / 1.8 metres) in the pigment demonstration room, and the 1st floor is uneven and currently being renovated, so care is needed. The building was not designed for many people to move through, so patience may be required on stairs.

Max no of people per tour:
8
Est. tour duration:
0 hour(s) 45 minute(s)

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