« Day Classes

Botanical French Beading – Wonderful Wildflowers with Holly Parr

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Sun 19 Jul 2026
10:00am-4:00pm (UK)
Level: Beginner
Technique: Beading
Hampton Court Palace
Address
Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU
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£125.00

Who doesn’t love the hazy days of summer and the joy the wildflowers bring as they pop up everywhere, defying manmade structure?! Let us come together and celebrate Wonderful Wildflowers. Over our day’s exploration of the lost art of Venetian Glass Flower Art, better known as French Beading, we will experiment with wildflower designs: Cornflowers, Ox-eye Daisies and Wheat stems. Tutor, Holly Parr, will lead this lesson, offering demonstrations and careful one to one support throughout. With taught patterns being provided for your future use. This course is suitable for all levels and is the perfect opportunity to escape reality and get lost in the therapeutic process. Working with glass beads and wire you will be amazed by how ethereal your finished blooms appears. Despite being solid, sculptural creation these glass beaded flowers appear soft and delicate, transforming under differing lighting states. By the end of the course you will have completed your collection of wildflower stems that will last the test of time.

Guest Tutor – Holly Parr

Holly Parr is a self-taught botanical artist producing sculptural designs using the historic art of Venetian Glass Flowers, better known as French Beading. This is a lost art form, considered extinct in the eyes of many. With the support of Heritage Crafts and West Dean College Holly is trying to secure this work a place on the Red List for Endangered Crafts; this work is already UNESCO protected under the umbrella of Venetian Glass Beaded Art. Composed of 2mm glass seed bead and 0.5mm fine jewellery making wire Holly’s designs are constructed using a series of twist wraps and weaves. Historic techniques form the foundation of each design, however through the study of the botanical, combined with pattern drafting skills from her career in the costume industry, Holly is able to deliver a more naturalistic finished product.

This beautiful heritage craft has gone through many waves of popularity, loved by the Victorians and almost lost during WW1. Holly’s drive is to re-establish this work for our modern, contemporary audience. Holly’s work is inspired by nature, as follows its roots, but she also combines the importance of colour theory and the language of flowers within designs; emotion, mental wellbeing and communication feature heavily in her work. Through teaching and exhibitions, many have commented on the positive impact the work has had on them. Flowers Speak. Holly is an English Artist, living in Essex with her young family. She exhibits and teaches both nationally and internationally and holds membership and representation with various bodies such as the Society of Designer Craftsmen, Heritage Crafts, Homofaber, Design Nation and Crafts Council. She teaches through West Dean College of Art and Conservation, Hand and Lock, The Royal School of Needlework and visiting artist of the Comitato per la Salvaguardia dell’Arte delle Perle di Vetro Venezaine.

Please note this is an in-person class at Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU.

Please view important joining information about Hampton Court courses.

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RSN Stitch Bank
You can explore many more stitches in the RSN Stitch Bank.


Who doesn’t love the hazy days of summer and the joy the wildflowers bring as they pop up everywhere, defying manmade structure?! Let us come together and celebrate Wonderful Wildflowers. Over our day’s exploration of the lost art of Venetian Glass Flower Art, better known as French Beading, we will experiment with wildflower designs: Cornflowers, Ox-eye Daisies and Wheat stems. Tutor, Holly Parr, will lead this lesson, offering demonstrations and careful one to one support throughout. With taught patterns being provided for your future use. This course is suitable for all levels and is the perfect opportunity to escape reality and get lost in the therapeutic process. Working with glass beads and wire you will be amazed by how ethereal your finished blooms appears. Despite being solid, sculptural creation these glass beaded flowers appear soft and delicate, transforming under differing lighting states. By the end of the course you will have completed your collection of wildflower stems that will last the test of time.

Guest Tutor – Holly Parr

Holly Parr is a self-taught botanical artist producing sculptural designs using the historic art of Venetian Glass Flowers, better known as French Beading. This is a lost art form, considered extinct in the eyes of many. With the support of Heritage Crafts and West Dean College Holly is trying to secure this work a place on the Red List for Endangered Crafts; this work is already UNESCO protected under the umbrella of Venetian Glass Beaded Art. Composed of 2mm glass seed bead and 0.5mm fine jewellery making wire Holly’s designs are constructed using a series of twist wraps and weaves. Historic techniques form the foundation of each design, however through the study of the botanical, combined with pattern drafting skills from her career in the costume industry, Holly is able to deliver a more naturalistic finished product.

This beautiful heritage craft has gone through many waves of popularity, loved by the Victorians and almost lost during WW1. Holly’s drive is to re-establish this work for our modern, contemporary audience. Holly’s work is inspired by nature, as follows its roots, but she also combines the importance of colour theory and the language of flowers within designs; emotion, mental wellbeing and communication feature heavily in her work. Through teaching and exhibitions, many have commented on the positive impact the work has had on them. Flowers Speak. Holly is an English Artist, living in Essex with her young family. She exhibits and teaches both nationally and internationally and holds membership and representation with various bodies such as the Society of Designer Craftsmen, Heritage Crafts, Homofaber, Design Nation and Crafts Council. She teaches through West Dean College of Art and Conservation, Hand and Lock, The Royal School of Needlework and visiting artist of the Comitato per la Salvaguardia dell’Arte delle Perle di Vetro Venezaine.

Please note this is an in-person class at Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU.

Please view important joining information about Hampton Court courses.

RSN Stitch Bank
You can explore many more stitches in the RSN Stitch Bank.

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