Recipe: Grape and Cucamelon Chutney
What do you go when the kitchen garden produces a mini mountain of produce? A preserve is my go to. Grapes and cucamelons make a delicious rich chutney that smells and tastes like heaven.
Upcoming Courses at Asterion & Co. in Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset
Places are limited and each course is carefully prepared. We encourage you to review our Terms & Conditions before booking. By booking, you agree to them and to the principles that shape our courses.
Seated lunch | Afternoon tea | Small-group
Led by Julia Blaker, Folk Artist and Painter specialising in cut-out and sculptural painted forms, with heritage context from Neil Crump, Founder of Asterion & Co.
Create a bold sculptural fruit triptych inspired by colour, rhythm and summer abundance.
Design and paint three connected fruit forms that will be laser-cut and box framed as a single artwork.
Take home a finished sculptural piece shaped by confident colour, pattern and composition.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Spend the day moving between studio, conversation and creative play in this immersive mixed-media masterclass at The Old Vicarage.
Working from the rich visual language of summer fruit, you’ll explore still life as a subject filled with symbolism, pleasure and form. Guided by Julia Blaker’s distinctive folk-inspired approach, you’ll design and paint three separate but connected fruit forms conceived together as one sculptural composition.
Working on pre-gessoed wooden boards, you’ll be encouraged to move intuitively between the pieces, allowing colour, shape and pattern to echo across the set. The emphasis throughout is not realism, but character: simplified silhouettes, confident mark-making and a strong visual dialogue between the forms.
Asterion & Co. will frame the day with a short contextual session exploring fruit in historical still life painting and decorative arts, from abundance and symbolism to colour, domesticity and display. After the workshop, your painted forms will be professionally laser-cut and assembled into a single box-frame triptych.
What you will learn
Explore fruit as a still-life subject rich in symbolism and form
Develop confidence in colour, pattern and simplified composition
Learn how to create visual rhythm across multiple connected pieces
Work intuitively with shape, silhouette and painted surface
Understand how sculptural painted forms are developed and assembled
Create a coherent triptych designed for box-frame presentation
How the day unfolds
Warm welcome and introduction
Contextual session on fruit in still life and decorative art
Introduction to composition, colour and sculptural form
Morning studio session developing painted fruit panels
Seated seasonal lunch and time to pause
Afternoon refinement and compositional development
Final finishing touches and preparation for laser cutting and framing
What you’ll leave with
A completed painted fruit triptych professionally laser-cut and framed
Greater confidence in colour, composition and sculptural painting
A deeper understanding of still life and decorative form
A playful and restorative day of creative making
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Workshop Details
Date: Wednesday 9th September 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset
Price: £295 per person
Includes: Full tuition, all prepared materials, laser cutting, box-frame presentation of your finished triptych, refreshments throughout the day, a seated seasonal lunch and afternoon tea
Booking terms
By booking, you are entering into an agreement with Asterion & Co. in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy and course guidelines.
This masterclass combines Julia Blaker’s distinctive folk-art practice with Asterion’s Heritage-Inspired Learning™ philosophy, creating a day of thoughtful making, colour exploration and sculptural creativity.
About Julia Blaker
Julia Blaker is a painter and folk artist known for her distinctive cut-out works that sit between painting, sculpture and illustration. Her practice is rooted in simplicity of form, strong colour relationships and a playful yet considered approach to subject matter.
Drawing on traditions of folk art, modernist abstraction and narrative still life, Julia encourages intuitive decision-making and confident expression through layered colour, shape and composition.
Read more about Julia in The Asterion Journal.
Need accommodation nearby?
Click here for a list of places to stay overnight before or after your course that we know well and would recommend.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Still Have a Question?
Our Workshop FAQs explain what to expect during the day, who our workshops are for, and practical details including refreshments, accessibility and parking.
→ Workshop FAQs: Your Questions Answered
Places are limited and each course is carefully prepared. We encourage you to review our Terms & Conditions before booking. By booking, you agree to them and to the principles that shape our courses.
Seated lunch | Afternoon tea | Small-group
Led by Julia Blaker, Artist, with historical and botanical insights from Neil Crump, Founder of Asterion & Co.
Create a trio of expressive vegetable paintings inspired by the kitchen garden.
Explore colour, rhythm and composition through three connected acrylic works.
Take home a set of paintings shaped by balance, character and confident mark-making.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Spend the day moving between kitchen garden, studio and still life in this immersive painting masterclass at The Old Vicarage.
Working from carefully selected vegetables chosen for their shape, silhouette and personality, you’ll create three distinct yet connected acrylic paintings designed to work together as a cohesive series. The focus throughout is not realism, but character: bold colour, simplified form and expressive composition.
Guided by Julia Blaker’s distinctive graphic style and intuitive approach to painting, you’ll learn how rhythm, repetition and variation allow multiple works to speak to one another. Working across all three paintings throughout the day, you’ll build a shared visual language while allowing each piece to retain its own individuality.
Asterion & Co. will open the day with a short Heritage-Inspired Learning™ session exploring the tradition of still life painting, from domestic symbolism and abundance to the contemporary kitchen garden as a living still life shaped by season, cultivation and care.
At the close of the session, framing options will be selected for professional finishing, with completed framed works available for collection or arranged delivery after the course.
What you will learn
Explore still life painting through vegetables, colour and form
Develop confidence in acrylic painting and expressive mark-making
Understand how to create cohesion across multiple artworks
Work with rhythm, repetition and visual balance
Build layered compositions through colour blocking and refinement
Create a resolved trio of paintings designed to work together
How the day unfolds
Warm welcome and introduction
Contextual session on still life painting and the kitchen garden
Introduction to composition, colour and subject selection
Morning painting sessions across all three works
Seated seasonal lunch and time to pause
Afternoon refinement, layering and pattern development
Framing discussion and final finishing touches
What you’ll leave with
Three completed acrylic paintings on paper
Professional framing preparation for all artworks
Greater confidence in colour, composition and series-making
A deeper understanding of still life and decorative painting
A thoughtful and restorative day of creative work
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Workshop Details
Date: Tuesday 15th September 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset
Price: £235 per person
Includes: Full tuition, all painting materials, professional framing preparation, refreshments throughout the day and a seated seasonal lunch
Booking terms
By booking, you are entering into an agreement with Asterion & Co. in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy and course guidelines.
This masterclass combines Julia Blaker’s distinctive artistic practice with Asterion’s Heritage-Inspired Learning™ philosophy, creating a day of observation, colour exploration and confident creative making.
About Julia Blaker
Julia Blaker is an artist whose work explores shape, repetition and the emotional resonance of everyday forms. Her practice is rooted in bold colour, simplified composition and an intuitive approach to painting that balances confidence with playfulness.
Known for her clarity as a teacher and her warm, encouraging approach, Julia helps guests move beyond hesitation and work with greater freedom, rhythm and expressive confidence.
Read more about Julia Blaker in The Asterion Journal.
Need accommodation nearby?
Click here for a list of places to stay overnight before or after your course that we know well and would recommend.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Still Have a Question?
Our Workshop FAQs explain what to expect during the day, who our workshops are for, and practical details including refreshments, accessibility and parking.
→ Workshop FAQs: Your Questions Answered
Places are limited and each course is carefully prepared. We encourage you to review our Terms & Conditions before booking. By booking, you agree to them and to the principles that shape our courses.
Seated lunch | Afternoon tea | Small-group
Led by Chris Smith, Founder of Pennard Plants, with heritage context from Neil Crump, Founder of Asterion & Co.
Learn how to restore health, structure and productivity to top-fruit trees.
Work directly with apples, pears, quinces and established orchard forms in a productive kitchen garden setting.
Take home a fruit tree, pruning guidance and the confidence to care for your own orchard trees.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Spend the day moving between orchard, kitchen garden and garden classroom in this immersive fruit-pruning masterclass at The Old Vicarage.
Working directly with bush, espalier and mature fruit trees, you’ll explore how careful winter pruning shapes health, airflow, vigour and cropping potential. From renovation pruning on older trees to formative work on younger specimens, the focus throughout is on practical understanding and confident intervention.
Guided by Chris Smith’s deep horticultural knowledge and clear teaching style, the day combines demonstration, theory and hands-on practice.
You’ll learn how to assess structure, recognise productive growth and make thoughtful pruning decisions that support long-term health and reliable harvests.
Asterion & Co. will frame the day with a short contextual session exploring Britain’s long relationship with orchards and fruit cultivation, from productive cottage gardens to the wider cultural fascination with gardening and collecting.
If you are unable to attend this date, this masterclass will also be held on:
What you will learn
Understand the principles of winter pruning for top fruit
Prune apples, pears and quinces with greater confidence
Restore older trees that have become unproductive or overcrowded
Work with bush, espalier and mature tree forms
Understand the relationship between pruning, airflow and fruiting
Care for and sharpen pruning tools correctly
How the day unfolds
Warm welcome and introduction
Contextual session on orchard culture and fruit growing traditions
Guided exploration of the orchard and productive garden spaces
Demonstrations across a range of fruit tree forms
Hands-on pruning sessions with individual guidance
Secateur sharpening and tool care workshop
Seated seasonal lunch and time to pause
Afternoon garden tour and optional pétanque
Closing discussion and practical guidance for home orchards
What you’ll leave with
A fruit tree suited to your own garden conditions
Chris Smith’s Winter Pruning Guide
Greater confidence pruning and managing fruit trees
Practical understanding of orchard structure and health
Neil Crump’s favourite book on Britain’s gardening obsession
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Workshop Details
Date: Monday 28th September
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset
Price: £190 per person
Includes: Full tuition, tools overview, refreshments throughout the day, a seated seasonal lunch, a goody bag including a fruit tree and Chris Smith’s Winter Pruning Guide
Booking terms
By booking, you are entering into an agreement with Asterion & Co. in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy and course guidelines.
This masterclass combines Chris Smith’s practical expertise in orchard management with Asterion’s Heritage-Inspired Learning™ philosophy, offering a thoughtful and hands-on exploration of productive fruit growing.
About Chris Smith
Chris Smith is the founder of Pennard Plants, one of the UK’s leading nurseries for heritage and edible plants. For over two decades, he has specialised in productive fruit growing, heritage varieties and practical kitchen gardening.
Known for his generous teaching style and deep horticultural knowledge, Chris helps gardeners understand not only how to prune and grow successfully, but how to create healthier, longer-lived and more productive garden systems.
Learn more about Chris and Pennard Plants in The Asterion Journal.
Need accommodation nearby?
Click here for a list of places to stay overnight before or after your course that we know well and would recommend.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Still Have a Question?
Our Workshop FAQs explain what to expect during the day, who our workshops are for, and practical details including refreshments, accessibility and parking.
→ Workshop FAQs: Your Questions Answered
Places are limited and each course is carefully prepared. We encourage you to review our Terms & Conditions before booking. By booking, you agree to them and to the principles that shape our courses.
Seated lunch | Afternoon tea | Small-group
Led by Chris Smith, Founder of Pennard Plants, with heritage context from Neil Crump, Founder of Asterion & Co.
Learn how to restore health, structure and productivity to top-fruit trees.
Work directly with apples, pears, quinces and established orchard forms in a productive kitchen garden setting.
Take home a fruit tree, pruning guidance and the confidence to care for your own orchard.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Spend the day moving between orchard, kitchen garden and garden classroom in this immersive fruit-pruning masterclass at The Old Vicarage.
Working directly with bush, espalier and mature fruit trees, you’ll explore how careful winter pruning shapes health, airflow, vigour and cropping potential. From renovation pruning on older trees to formative work on younger specimens, the focus throughout is on practical understanding and confident intervention.
Guided by Chris Smith’s deep horticultural knowledge and clear teaching style, the day combines demonstration, theory and hands-on practice. You’ll learn how to assess structure, recognise productive growth and make thoughtful pruning decisions that support long-term health and reliable harvests.
Asterion & Co. will frame the day with a short contextual session exploring Britain’s long relationship with orchards and fruit cultivation, from productive cottage gardens to the wider cultural fascination with gardening and collecting.
If you are unable to attend this date, this masterclass will also be held on:
Tuesday 1st September 2026
Monday 28th September 2026
What you will learn
Understand the principles of winter pruning for top fruit
Prune apples, pears and quinces with greater confidence
Restore older trees that have become unproductive or overcrowded
Work with bush, espalier and mature tree forms
Understand the relationship between pruning, airflow and fruiting
Care for and sharpen pruning tools correctly
How the day unfolds
Warm welcome and introduction
Contextual session on orchard culture and fruit growing traditions
Guided exploration of the orchard and productive garden spaces
Demonstrations across a range of fruit tree forms
Hands-on pruning sessions with individual guidance
Secateur sharpening and tool care workshop
Seated seasonal lunch and time to pause
Afternoon garden tour and optional pétanque
Closing discussion and practical guidance for home orchards
What you’ll leave with
A fruit tree suited to your own garden conditions
Chris Smith’s Winter Pruning Guide
Greater confidence pruning and managing fruit trees
Practical understanding of orchard structure and health
Neil Crump’s favourite book on Britain’s gardening obsession
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Workshop Details
Date: Tuesday 29th September
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset
Price: £190 per person
Includes: Full tuition, tools overview, refreshments throughout the day, a seated seasonal lunch, a goody bag including a fruit tree and Chris Smith’s Winter Pruning Guide
Booking terms
By booking, you are entering into an agreement with Asterion & Co. in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy and course guidelines.
This masterclass combines Chris Smith’s practical expertise in orchard management with Asterion’s Heritage-Inspired Learning™ philosophy, offering a thoughtful and hands-on exploration of productive fruit growing.
About Chris Smith
Chris Smith is the founder of Pennard Plants, one of the UK’s leading nurseries for heritage and edible plants. For over two decades, he has specialised in productive fruit growing, heritage varieties and practical kitchen gardening.
Known for his generous teaching style and deep horticultural knowledge, Chris helps gardeners understand not only how to prune and grow successfully, but how to create healthier, longer-lived and more productive garden systems.
Learn more about Chris and Pennard Plants in The Asterion Journal.
Need accommodation nearby?
Click here for a list of places to stay overnight before or after your course that we know well and would recommend.
Places are limited and each course is carefully prepared. We encourage you to review our Terms & Conditions before booking. By booking, you agree to them and to the principles that shape our workshops and gatherings.
Seated lunch | Afternoon tea | Small-group
Led by Sarah Swords and Milly Ellis,
Founders of ‘Are You Sitting Comfortably?’
Hosted by Neil Crump, Founder of Asterion & Co.
Recognise the story that makes you who you are, and learn to share it with clarity, authenticity and confidence.
Explore the power of story through the worlds of film and theatre with writer and mentor Sarah Swords and vocal coach Milly Ellis.
Leave with a renewed sense of purpose, a deeper understanding of your own story, and the confidence to tell it in a way that feels natural, engaging and uniquely yours.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Life is full of new chapters. Retirement, a career change, children leaving home, moving somewhere new or simply reaching a different stage of life can leave us surprisingly unsure how to answer one simple question: "Tell me about yourself?"
We all have a story worth telling. Sometimes we simply need the time, guidance and confidence to recognise it.
Throughout this thoughtful and inspiring day, Sarah Swords and Milly Ellis draw on decades of experience in the worlds of film and theatre to help you recognise the thread that runs through your own life.
Sarah introduces the timeless principles of story, exploring the memorable characters and story patterns that have shaped unforgettable films and plays.
Milly then helps you develop the vocal presence to communicate your story with warmth, confidence and authenticity.
Inspired by the way a film trailer captures the essence of a much larger story, you'll learn how to shape a compelling introduction to yourself before developing the confidence to share your wider story in conversations, new friendships, interviews, community groups or wherever life takes you next.
Asterion & Co. will open the day with a Heritage-Inspired Learning™ session exploring one of humanity's oldest ideas: that stories help us understand who we are. Together we'll reflect on the enduring relationship between story, memory and identity, setting the scene for a day of thoughtful conversation and personal discovery.
What you will learn
Discover the enduring power of story and how it shapes the way we understand ourselves and others
Explore classic story archetypes through memorable films and theatre
Recognise the experiences, values and strengths that make your own story unique
Develop greater vocal confidence through breathing, projection and presence
Learn how to introduce yourself naturally and memorably through your own personal "trailer"
Build confidence in sharing your story with authenticity and purpose
How the day unfolds
Warm welcome and introduction
Heritage-Inspired Learning™ session exploring story, language and identity
Discovering story archetypes through film and theatre
Guided exercises to recognise and shape your own story
Seated seasonal lunch and time to pause
Vocal coaching to develop confidence, clarity and presence
Small-group workshops to refine your story in a supportive environment
Afternoon tea and an opportunity to share your story
What you will leave with
A clearer understanding of your own story and what makes it meaningful
Greater confidence in introducing yourself and connecting with others
Practical techniques for using your voice with warmth, clarity and authenticity
A personal story shaped around your experiences, values and next chapter
A restorative day of reflection, conversation and renewed purpose
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Workshop Details
Date: Saturday 10th October 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset
Price: £240 per person
Includes: Full tuition, refreshments throughout the day and a seated seasonal lunch
Booking terms
By booking, you are entering into an agreement with Asterion & Co. in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy and course guidelines.
This masterclass combines Sarah Swords and Milly Ellis's expertise from the worlds of film and theatre with Asterion & Co.'s Heritage-Inspired Learning™ philosophy, creating a day of thoughtful reflection, engaging conversation and renewed confidence.
By drawing on the principles of story, character and voice, it offers guests the opportunity to recognise their own story, celebrate the experiences that have shaped them and step into their next chapter with greater purpose and authenticity.
About Sarah Swords & Milly Ellis
Sarah Swords and Milly Ellis have spent decades working at the highest level of the British film and theatre industry, helping writers, actors and directors bring compelling stories and memorable characters to life. Together they have collaborated with internationally acclaimed performers including Dame Helen Mirren, Tilda Swinton, Sir Ian McKellen, Michael Gambon and Dominic West.
Sarah is a writer, director and mentor whose career spans photography, film and script development, including working alongside the acclaimed filmmaker Derek Jarman.
Milly is a highly respected vocal coach whose work with actors, directors and performers has taken her from leading British productions to international film sets.
Together, through their creative partnership Are You Sitting Comfortably?, they combine the power of story with the craft of voice, helping people recognise the richness of their own experiences and communicate them with confidence, authenticity and purpose.
Need accommodation nearby?
Click here for a list of places to stay overnight before or after your course that we know well and would recommend.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Still Have a Question?
Our Workshop FAQs explain what to expect during the day, who our workshops are for, and practical details including refreshments, accessibility and parking.
→ Workshop FAQs: Your Questions Answered
Places are limited and each course is carefully prepared. We encourage you to review our Terms & Conditions before booking. By booking, you agree to them and to the principles that shape our courses.
Seated lunch | Afternoon tea | Small-group
Led by Chris Smith, Founder of Pennard Plants, with heritage context from Neil Crump, Founder of Asterion & Co.
Learn how to restore health, structure and productivity to top-fruit trees.
Work directly with apples, pears, quinces and established orchard forms in a productive kitchen garden setting.
Take home a fruit tree, pruning guidance and the confidence to care for your own orchard trees.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Spend the day moving between orchard, kitchen garden and garden classroom in this immersive fruit-pruning masterclass at The Old Vicarage.
Working directly with bush, espalier and mature fruit trees, you’ll explore how careful winter pruning shapes health, airflow, vigour and cropping potential. From renovation pruning on older trees to formative work on younger specimens, the focus throughout is on practical understanding and confident intervention.
Guided by Chris Smith’s deep horticultural knowledge and clear teaching style, the day combines demonstration, theory and hands-on practice. You’ll learn how to assess structure, recognise productive growth and make thoughtful pruning decisions that support long-term health and reliable harvests.
Asterion & Co. will frame the day with a short contextual session exploring Britain’s long relationship with orchards and fruit cultivation, from productive cottage gardens to the wider cultural fascination with gardening and collecting.
If you are unable to attend this date, this masterclass will also be held on:
Monday 28th September 2026
Tuesday 29th September 2026
Friday 16th October 2026
Saturday 17th October 2026
What you will learn
Understand the principles of winter pruning for top fruit
Prune apples, pears and quinces with greater confidence
Restore older trees that have become unproductive or overcrowded
Work with bush, espalier and mature tree forms
Understand the relationship between pruning, airflow and fruiting
Care for and sharpen pruning tools correctly
How the day unfolds
Warm welcome and introduction
Contextual session on orchard culture and fruit growing traditions
Guided exploration of the orchard and productive garden spaces
Demonstrations across a range of fruit tree forms
Hands-on pruning sessions with individual guidance
Secateur sharpening and tool care workshop
Seated seasonal lunch and time to pause
Afternoon garden tour and optional pétanque
Closing discussion and practical guidance for home orchards
What you’ll leave with
A fruit tree suited to your own garden conditions
Chris Smith’s Winter Pruning Guide
Greater confidence pruning and managing fruit trees
Practical understanding of orchard structure and health
Neil Crump’s favourite book on Britain’s gardening obsession
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Workshop Details
Date: Tuesday 1st September 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset
Price: £190 per person
Includes: Full tuition, tools overview, refreshments throughout the day, a seated seasonal lunch, a goody bag including a fruit tree and Chris Smith’s Winter Pruning Guide
Booking terms
By booking, you are entering into an agreement with Asterion & Co. in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy and course guidelines.
This masterclass combines Chris Smith’s practical expertise in orchard management with Asterion’s Heritage-Inspired Learning™ philosophy, offering a thoughtful and hands-on exploration of productive fruit growing.
About Chris Smith
Chris Smith is the founder of Pennard Plants, one of the UK’s leading nurseries for heritage and edible plants. For over two decades, he has specialised in productive fruit growing, heritage varieties and practical kitchen gardening.
Known for his generous teaching style and deep horticultural knowledge, Chris helps gardeners understand not only how to prune and grow successfully, but how to create healthier, longer-lived and more productive garden systems.
Learn more about Chris and Pennard Plants in The Asterion Journal.
Need accommodation nearby?
Click here for a list of places to stay overnight before or after your course that we know well and would recommend.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Still Have a Question?
Our Workshop FAQs explain what to expect during the day, who our workshops are for, and practical details including refreshments, accessibility and parking.
→ Workshop FAQs: Your Questions Answered