Bas Relief & Sculpture

Learn something new, make new friends, relax.

Bas-relief & sculpture workshop

Join award-winning artists Dido Crosby & Shelly Bancroft in Tuscany for an immersive 7 night residential workshop at Casa Berti, a 17th Century villa in the hills above Lucca, Tuscany.

In Donatello’s footsteps and under Dido and Shelly’s guidance you will learn all about bas-relief: its history, appearance in different cultures, its masterpieces. Through exercises you will explore the different techniques. You will make preliminary drawings, model your own piece in clay, mould it and learn how to cast it. You’ll discover how to develop your bas-relief into new forms, from tiles to sculptural objects and most of all, you will create your own unique artwork.

When

June 10th -17th 2023

Six day workshop with excursions to Lucca and Pietrasanta. 7 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms available ( students can bring non-participating partners).

The Artists

Dido Crosby MRSS is a sculptor living and working in London, taking commissions in bronze, cast iron, ceramics. After a zoology degree from Oxford University, and a second BA in Sculpture from Central St Martin’s, she is now pursuing a lifelong interest in animals with a fascination for form and function.

Shelly Bancroft, BA Fine Art (Leeds University) and MA.RCA (Film and TV) is inspired by ancient figurative iconography and sacred art. Her recent commissions include relief sculptures of the Resurrection and Adam and Eve for St.Gabriel’s Anglo-Catholic Church in London. She is also drawn to observational figurative work and portraiture; sculpture, drawings and paintings.

Workshop schedule

  • Day 1: Students arrive/welcome dinner. Ben to arrange transport from Lucca to Casa Berti.

  • Days 2-4: Workshop Days in Casa Berti’s purpose built artists’ studio

  • Day 5: Day trip to Pietrasanta. Visit a thriving artist community and tour sculpture studios.

  • Day 6-7: Workshop days, optional afternoon trip to Lucca.

  • Day 8: Pack up and departure

Included:

  • Transfer to and from Casa Berti from Lucca railway or coach station.

  • Expert tuition and artist support by Dido and Shelly

  • All materials and firing of clay work

  • 7 night stay in luxurious accommodation at Casa Berti (double bedroom and ensuite bathroom) - all meals with seasonal local produce prepared by chef Fabrizio and beverages including wine.

  • Day trip to Pietrasanta with lunch at a recommended local restaurant (may include private marble sculpture studio tour and time to enjoy the shops and galleries and sculpture museum of this creative, artistic community).

  • Afternoon trip to Lucca. With free time to explore this beautiful medieval walled city with plenty of shops, churches and museums culminating in a delicious dinner at a local, recommended restaurant.

Optional extras:

  • Cooking classes on site with chef Fabrizio.

  • Casa Berti produces its own olive oil and wine which is available for purchase.

Workshop fee including full board and excursions:

For the June 2023 workshop, 7 nights for participating artists total is £1950.

If you wish to bring a non-participating guest/partner, the rate is £1600.

Payment

Attendees can assure their place on this limited access workshop by contacting Casa Berti.

Terms of payment: 50% down payment on sign up. The balance is due 6 weeks before start date.