The Artists
Apprenticeship
Programme.
A year-long mentorship for those who believe that craft is not a diminished art form — but perhaps the most honest one.
Apply for the ProgrammeA year of
serious making.
The Wool and Linen Apprenticeship is not a course. It is a working arrangement between a practising studio and an emerging artist — structured around real work, real materials, and real accountability to craft.
Technique Immersion
Learn on heritage floor looms under the direct guidance of Wool and Linen master weavers. Progress from foundational warp-setting to complex pattern structures over six months.
Material Intelligence
Develop a deep understanding of fibre properties — wool grades, linen counts, natural dyes — and how material choices shape both the hand and the longevity of a piece.
Artistic Voice
Work with a visiting artist mentor to develop your own design language. By the programme's end, you will produce an original collection of three finished works.
Studio Practice
Learn the rhythms of a professional studio: record-keeping, client communication, pricing work honestly, and sustaining a practice beyond the programme.
Twelve months,
six disciplines.
Foundation & Loom Mastery
Warp-setting, shuttle technique, tension management, and the fundamentals of plain weave on heritage looms.
Colour & Natural Dye
Working with Niamh Calloway, apprentices explore mordanting, plant-based dye extraction, and colour sequencing across a warp. Practical dye sessions in the studio garden.
Pattern Architecture & Jacquard
Under Priya Sundaram, apprentices develop original geometric and figurative patterns, learning to translate drawings into loom drafts and execute complex colour sequences.
Material Study
A focused month on fibre science — wool grades, linen counts, blending ratios — and how material decisions shape the finished hand.
Studio Practice
Pricing, client communication, photographing work, and building a sustainable practice beyond the programme.
Original Collection & Showcase
Each apprentice produces three original finished works and presents them at the annual Wool and Linen Showcase — an invitation-only event attended by collectors, curators, and press.
Learning from
those who live it.
Eleanor Marsh
Programme Director
Merino Weave & Loom Heritage
Eleanor has spent 22 years working on heritage floor looms, developing the Wool and Linen signature tension technique. She leads all foundational and advanced loom modules.
Niamh Calloway
Colour & Dye Mentor
Natural Dye & Linen Weave
Niamh trained in Brittany under a third-generation linen weaver before joining Wool and Linen. Her dye garden supplies the studio's entire natural palette.
Priya Sundaram
Pattern & Design Mentor
Geometric Jacquard & Drafting
Priya brings a rigorous architectural approach to pattern design. Her module bridges the gap between drawing and loom draft with precision and imagination.
The path to
the programme.
September 2025
Applications Open
The application portal opens. Submissions accepted until 31st October 2025.
September 2025
Applications Open
The application portal opens. Submissions accepted until 31st October 2025.
November 2025
Portfolio Review
Shortlisted candidates are invited to submit a portfolio of existing work and a written statement of intent.
November 2025
Portfolio Review
Shortlisted candidates are invited to submit a portfolio of existing work and a written statement of intent.
December 2025
Studio Interviews
Four finalists visit the Wool and Linen studio for a day of conversation and a short practical exercise on the loom.
December 2025
Studio Interviews
Four finalists visit the Wool and Linen studio for a day of conversation and a short practical exercise on the loom.
January 2026
Offers Made
Successful applicants receive their formal offer and programme agreement. Cohort of four confirmed.
January 2026
Offers Made
Successful applicants receive their formal offer and programme agreement. Cohort of four confirmed.
March 2026
Programme Begins
The inaugural cohort begins the Foundation module. The year of serious making commences.
March 2026
Programme Begins
The inaugural cohort begins the Foundation module. The year of serious making commences.
February 2027
Annual Showcase
Apprentices present their original collections at the Wool and Linen Annual Showcase. Collectors, curators, and press in attendance.
February 2027
Annual Showcase
Apprentices present their original collections at the Wool and Linen Annual Showcase. Collectors, curators, and press in attendance.
Begin your
application.
We accept four apprentices per cohort. We are looking for genuine curiosity about materials, a willingness to work slowly, and an honest commitment to the craft.