‘Hands on, experimental with a strong emphasis on using found materials and inventive applications of textile and mixed media processes as part of the exploration of developing a ‘creative language West Dean College .
My workshops and projects are centred around the exploration of skills and ideas to help you to develop an individual approach to making as part of the creative process.
I am a trained tutor and community artist with experience of working with organisations and groups internationally including West Dean College and Kent Adult Education. Please contact me for further information regarding in person or online talks and workshops
2022 workshops: In-person workshops may be subject to change due to Covid restrictions.
Due to a change in personal family circumstances I need to work closer to home for a while. I am fit and well but priorities have shifted in how I manage my projects and teaching in the months ahead. I am still able to offer on-line workshops and talks and am beginning to re-introduce some teaching ‘in studio’ when I can, so please feel free to get in touch.
West Dean College
Extreme Stitching-an Exploration of Stitch with Found Materials 14 August 2022 (waiting list only)
Create A Stitch-Sketchbook Map. 6-8 September 2022.
Develop your visual narrative in mixed-media textiles using stitch, paint and collage to create improvisational folding book forms, as you reference ideas surrounding a journey or place.
A limited number of places available on this live via Zoom course on Tuesday, 6 September and Thursday, 8 September. Wednesday, 7 September is an untutored day for self-directed study while developing your work. £150 (course full, wait list only)
Other courses. Please check directly with the hosts for availability and updates
Delighted to be giving an online talk for The Fashion and Textile Museum, Embroidering the Everyday 21st July, 18.00-19.30. Booking details here. (Exhibition currently on show is from the Crown to the Catwalk)
Littleheath Barn Studio, Embracing the Everyday, Stitch-Sketch. Thursday 1st September.
Take inspiration from everyday objects, collections and memorabilia. Working with paper and limited fabric scraps Cas invites you to join her to employ the use of found materials to create ‘stitch-sketches’. Use collage to create a narrative, then add line with pen and stitch to reflect your objects/collections. Live via Zoom or in the studio. £70
Lund Studios in North Yorkshire, 5-7 April 2022 Stitch-Sketch-Book, Folding bookforms. (deferred)
Hope and Elvisin Nottingham, Cloth and Shadows 23 and 24th April 2022 and Layers, Lines and Image 25 and 26 April 2022 creating improvised stitch-sketch book (Deferred)
An on-line course Making Connections with Fibre Arts Takes Two. Enrolments are now open (Note priority is given to those on the waiting list)
Making Connections – Mark, Layer & Stitch is a rich creative resource full of inspiration and ideas to last a lifetime. It’s a worldwide community for enrolled students to connect in a private online forum and share your textile adventures directly with Cas, ask questions, bounce ideas, and gain the skills and confidence needed to create your own mixed media masterpiece
International courses.
Studio Preniac (deferred) Artists always make reference to other images and narrative. You can use pages from old books, maps and found printed materials as a starting point to create a new work. The materials, text and references you decide to use will direct the content and processes used, from layering and cutting techniques through to stitch and paint. This is not a book-binding course.
During this workshop, participants will make small personal works with narrative, meaning and humour. Low-tech methods will transform raw materials and found objects into textile art. Simple drawings, staining and colouring of pages, cutting, pasting, stitching and collage will be our primary tactics to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. (Deferred)
Sweet Nothings (deferred) Join me in a retreat in South West France for an experimental workshop combining cloth with found materials and inventive applications of textile and mixed media processes. Investigate mark making, colour and painting techniques with cloth and paper using ‘Wet Applique’ layering and bonding combined with ‘Stitch Sketching’ (Deferred)
The Alpine Experience, Painting with Cloth, Cas Holmes work is often described as ‘painting with cloth. In this workshop, participants will make small personal works with narrative, meaning and colour Low-tech methods will transform raw materials and found objects into textile art (to be rescheduled)
Kent Adult Education
Courses are currently being taught either in class and also via Zoom. Please check on booking. Updates can be found by searching under my name here.
Examples of work in progress on courses here
More dates and venues to be added as booking links become available.
Student comments:
Each session is a challenge and an inspiration. Your encouragement to each of us to look for our own direction with your support is more than I expected – you are indeed a very generous teacher. (Eileen)
Your approach to Zoom was not only highly professional but was delivered with respect, thoughtfulness and made us feel we were creating together. (Amanda)
An important and valuable aspect of the course is your ability in ‘making connections’ with each student’s work to encourage a more in-depth process towards developing ideas and techniques.
(West Dean student)
cas holmes 
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