Calendar of events 2024
April 2024
Collage Club - 13th April 10.30 - 12.30
Only a few left!
Come and join our community of collage for 2 hours once a month in the Happy House rooms.
Saturday 13th April 10.30-12.30
Beginners Watercolour Experience - Friday 12th April 2024
Only a few left!
The Beginner’s Watercolour Experience is open to all whether they believe they possess artistic ability or not, and takes place over 2 hours at the Happy House in Masham, North Yorkshire.
The experience will work equally well with either one person or a small group and is held in the inspiring surroundings of the Music Room of the Happy House. The session will follow a progression of simple steps in a relaxed, informal style and all the materials you need will be supplied. This is an experience available to everyone: making art is an essential human activity found in every culture - we are all artists!
We'll meet at The Happy House Masham, have a cup of something and look at utilising the magic of watercolour. We’ll explore together the elements of colour mixing, brush control and understanding your materials through simple exercises, leading toward the creation of a painting. By the end of the experience you’ll have a grasp of the expressive strength of watercolour and both how it can make the creator and the viewer feel.
Your creative experience will include:
- how to mix watercolour
- how to prepare the paper
- how to choose your materials
- how to combine colours
- how to understand the unity of colour and tone
- how to control the brush
- how to paint a picture in a limited palette
What You’ll Need To Bring:
- A notebook or pad to jot down ideas from the session
- An open heart and an inquisitive mind
- A smartphone or digital camera
Watching Paint Dry - Green Lane. Thursday 11th April 2024 7.30-8.30
In Watching Paint Dry artist Ian Scott Massie paints live, on camera. He'll be starting from initial ideas and sketches, through the choice of colours and atmospheric effects, to finally completing the picture.
This is a chance to look behind the creative process, to see the way a time of year, a place, a feeling, can be evoked through paint on paper. It's a relaxing, meditative and often playful experience, less about pigments and materials and more about exploring our response to the natural world.
There'll be plenty for painters to take away from this but it's also a chance to look behind the scenes and get lost in watching quite a meditative relaxing process.
There will be time at the end for questions and answers. Tickets are limited to 30 so everyone can feel involved.
12th October 2023 7.30-8.30pm
This event takes place via Zoom for which you'll need a good internet connection.
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent a Zoom link by email.
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 12/4/24 7.30 - 9.00 ZOOM TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with a Zoom link and all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 12/4/24 7.30 - 9.00 IN PERSON TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
May 2024
Watching Paint Dry - The River Runs Through Thursday May 16, 2024 7.30-8.30
In Watching Paint Dry artist Ian Scott Massie paints live, on camera. He'll be starting from initial ideas and sketches, through the choice of colours and atmospheric effects, to finally completing the picture.
This is a chance to look behind the creative process, to see the way a time of year, a place, a feeling, can be evoked through paint on paper. It's a relaxing, meditative and often playful experience, less about pigments and materials and more about exploring our response to the natural world.
There'll be plenty for painters to take away from this but it's also a chance to look behind the scenes and get lost in watching quite a meditative relaxing process.
There will be time at the end for questions and answers. Tickets are limited to 30 so everyone can feel involved.
14th September 2023 7.30-8.30pm
This event takes place via Zoom for which you'll need a good internet connection.
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent a Zoom link by email.
Drawing Breath Experience - Friday 17th May 2024
Only a few left!
In our modern busy world most of our brains are overwhelmed with images, sensations and information. It can be difficult to find a space to draw breath for ourselves and find our own unique creative spark.
This experience offers to connect us to our capacity to be creative.
Josie will introduce you to a series of different short creative and meditative exercises that help connect us to a place of flow.
Mediation slows down the brainwaves to use theta waves -those mostly associated with dreaming and creativity.
You don’t need to have experienced meditation before, you don’t need to be able to draw, you may not even consider yourself creative. This experience is perfect if you are new to different types of meditation or if you want to reconnect with it. This will work equally well if you are an artist who needs to get back to basics and rekindle the creative spark or if you want to make steps towards connecting with your lost creative self.
Your experience will be led by Josie Beszant a meditation teacher (Dip BSOM) and an artist.
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 17/5/24 7.30 - 9.00 IN PERSON TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 17/5/24 7.30 - 9.00 ZOOM TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with a Zoom link and all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Collage Club - 18th May 10.30 - 12.30
Only a few left!
Come and join our community of collage for 2 hours once a month in the Happy House rooms. A different theme every month.
Collaborative and fun experience led by collage artist Josie Beszant. All materials provided, no experience needed.
Saturday 18th May 10.30-12.30
June 2024
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 14/6/24 7.30 - 9.00 ZOOM TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with a Zoom link and all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 14/6/24 7.30 - 9.00 IN PERSON TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Watching Paint Dry - Summer Solstice Thursday Jun 13, 2024 7.30-8.30
In Watching Paint Dry artist Ian Scott Massie paints live, on camera. He'll be starting from initial ideas and sketches, through the choice of colours and atmospheric effects, to finally completing the picture.
This is a chance to look behind the creative process, to see the way a time of year, a place, a feeling, can be evoked through paint on paper. It's a relaxing, meditative and often playful experience, less about pigments and materials and more about exploring our response to the natural world.
There'll be plenty for painters to take away from this but it's also a chance to look behind the scenes and get lost in watching quite a meditative relaxing process.
There will be time at the end for questions and answers. Tickets are limited to 30 so everyone can feel involved.
16th November 2023 7.30-8.30pm
This event takes place via Zoom for which you'll need a good internet connection.
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent a Zoom link by email.
Art in the Landscape Experience - Friday 14th June 2024
Only a few left!
Would you like to spend some time exploring the beauty of the Yorkshire landscape? Want to immerse yourself in foraging natural materials and then building on that beauty to create a sculpture?
Observing, touching and understanding the elements of the natural environment will bring you calm, distance you from the stress of working life and make you happier.
I’ll teach you how to see the artistic possibilities of wood, leaf and stone, and help you make sculptures which celebrate the intrinsic glory of the natural world. No previous artistic experience is necessary.
Making sculptures from found materials is a natural response as old as humanity and, I believe, can be as satisfying as any form of artistic expression.
Your experience will be led by artist, musician and writer Ian Scott Massie. He has always been fascinated by art in the landscape and has made many ephemeral sculptures over the years.
July 2024
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 12/7/24 7.30 - 9.00 ZOOM TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with a Zoom link and all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 14/6/24 7.30 - 9.00 IN PERSON TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Watching Paint Dry - I do like to be beside the Seaside Thursday Jul 11, 2024 7.30-8.30
In Watching Paint Dry artist Ian Scott Massie paints live, on camera. He'll be starting from initial ideas and sketches, through the choice of colours and atmospheric effects, to finally completing the picture.
This is a chance to look behind the creative process, to see the way a time of year, a place, a feeling, can be evoked through paint on paper. It's a relaxing, meditative and often playful experience, less about pigments and materials and more about exploring our response to the natural world.
There'll be plenty for painters to take away from this but it's also a chance to look behind the scenes and get lost in watching quite a meditative relaxing process.
There will be time at the end for questions and answers. Tickets are limited to 30 so everyone can feel involved.
8th June 2023 7.30-8.30pm
This event takes place via Zoom for which you'll need a good internet connection.
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent a Zoom link by email.
Guerrilla Art Experience - Friday 12th July2024
Only a few left!
Guerilla - not Gorilla!
The art of interruption - a space, someones thoughts, a viewpoint.
Would you like to spend some time thinking about what positive change you would like to be in the world and acting on that through art? It can be fun, political, individual - whatever moves you.
Your experience will be guided in a gentle positive way by artist Josie Beszant. We will spend sometime in the studio looking at lots of different ways to create work and how to find what we want to say. we'll then make some work either indoors on on location in and around Masham.
You'll go home with plenty of ideas about how you can use this in your own environment.
August 2024
Watching Paint Dry - A Writer's Land Thursday Aug 8, 2024 7.30-8.30
In Watching Paint Dry artist Ian Scott Massie paints live, on camera. He'll be starting from initial ideas and sketches, through the choice of colours and atmospheric effects, to finally completing the picture.
This is a chance to look behind the creative process, to see the way a time of year, a place, a feeling, can be evoked through paint on paper. It's a relaxing, meditative and often playful experience, less about pigments and materials and more about exploring our response to the natural world.
There'll be plenty for painters to take away from this but it's also a chance to look behind the scenes and get lost in watching quite a meditative relaxing process.
There will be time at the end for questions and answers. Tickets are limited to 30 so everyone can feel involved.
13th July 2023 7.30-8.30pm
This event takes place via Zoom for which you'll need a good internet connection.
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent a Zoom link by email.
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 9/8/24 7.30 - 9.00 IN PERSON TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 9/8/24 7.30 - 9.00 ZOOM TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with a Zoom link and all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Landscape Detective Experience - Saturday 10th Augist 2024
Only a few left!
Come and be a Landscape Detective with me!
Together we’ll try to solve the puzzle of the stories under our feet (and maybe find where the bodies are buried). What secrets will we discover, what clues will unravel the mystery of the people who made this place?
The experience takes place over 2 hours and will work equally well with either one person or a small group. It’s held in the inspiring surroundings of the Music Room of the Happy House and around the small market town of Masham.
We'll meet at The Happy House Masham, have a cup of something and look at some research materials before setting out to explore around Masham.
We’ll make forensic enquiries of the landscape and buildings. Along the way we’ll talk about tracking down the records and interrogating the suspects.
The experience will be guided by Ian Scott Massie, an artist, musician and writer whose work is rooted in stories from the landscape. He has explored a wide range of iconic landscapes in Britain and holds an MA in history.
Join him to uncover the hidden truth and find the conclusive evidence.
What you’ll need To bring:
- A notebook or pad
- A smartphone or digital camera
- An open heart and an inquisitive mind
Cancellation:
Please note that we ask for 48 hours notice for changes or cancellation of appointments; for changes or cancellations within 48 hours, the full fee will be payable.
Please be aware: the building is home to 2 cats. Although they will not have access to the room we are working in they may be in the communal areas. Please let us know if this could be a problem for you or any of your group.
September 2024
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 13/9/24 7.30 - 9.00 ZOOM TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with a Zoom link and all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 13/9/24 7.30 - 9.00 IN PERSON TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Treasure Hunters Experience - Friday 13th September 2024
Only a few left!
Explore the magical world of edge walkers, mapmakers & hedgewitches.
This creative experience weaves story, meditation, journalling and nature together into a spell that transports us from the mundanity of the world and simultaneously roots us in what really matters.
We'll build up to some guided time creating your own treasured talisman. The talisman will be in the shape of a bottle of some sort - tiny enough to hang around your neck if you wish to, or but on display somewhere.
If you're interested in a creative experience that adds richness and depth to your view of life this two hour face to face adventure is for you!
Your experience will be led by Josie Beszant an artist who has a fascination with stories and storytelling and how they can enrich our experience. Josie has many years running creative experiences with individuals and groups and aims to make your time fun, collaborative and enriching. She is a qualified meditation teacher (BSOM) and has recently completed an MA in applied storytelling. This experience is one that has been directly developed from that degree.
Watching Paint Dry - Off the Beaten Track Thursday Sep 12, 2024 7.30-8.30
In Watching Paint Dry artist Ian Scott Massie paints live, on camera. He'll be starting from initial ideas and sketches, through the choice of colours and atmospheric effects, to finally completing the picture.
This is a chance to look behind the creative process, to see the way a time of year, a place, a feeling, can be evoked through paint on paper. It's a relaxing, meditative and often playful experience, less about pigments and materials and more about exploring our response to the natural world.
There'll be plenty for painters to take away from this but it's also a chance to look behind the scenes and get lost in watching quite a meditative relaxing process.
There will be time at the end for questions and answers. Tickets are limited to 30 so everyone can feel involved.
13th July 2023 7.30-8.30pm
This event takes place via Zoom for which you'll need a good internet connection.
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent a Zoom link by email.
October 2024
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 11/10/24 7.30 - 9.00 ZOOM TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with a Zoom link and all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 11/10/24 7.30 - 9.00 IN PERSON TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Experiments in Poetry Experience - Friday 11th October 2024
Only a few left!
Welcome to the word laboratory!
You don’t need a white coat or safety goggles, just an open heart and an inquiring mind. Read it, rap it, sing it or make a drama out of it - what kind of poetry works for you?
Experiments in Poetry takes place over 2 hours at the Happy House in Masham, North Yorkshire. We’ll put some poems under the microscope and see what makes them tick then write some ourselves: personal, political, funny or whatever you want to say. There’ll be plenty of prompts and pointers to get the juices flowing.
Our laboratory will be the inspiring surroundings of the Music Room of the Happy House and the experience will be guided by Ian Scott Massie, an artist, poet and musician and author of several collections of poetry.
What You’ll Need To Bring:
- Something to write with
- A notebook or pad to write your words in
- If you’ve written poetry before you might like to bring some of your poems
- A short list of subjects you’d like to write about (optional)
Number of people: 4 maximum
Cancellation:
Please note that we ask for 48 hours notice for changes or cancellation of appointments; for changes or cancellations within 48 hours, the full fee will be payable.
Please be aware: the building is home to 2 cats. Although they will not have access to the room we are working in they may be in the communal areas. Please let us know if this could be a problem for you or any of your group.
Watching Paint Dry - Far From the Madding Crowd Thursday Oct 10, 2024 7.30-8.30
In Watching Paint Dry artist Ian Scott Massie paints live, on camera. He'll be starting from initial ideas and sketches, through the choice of colours and atmospheric effects, to finally completing the picture.
This is a chance to look behind the creative process, to see the way a time of year, a place, a feeling, can be evoked through paint on paper. It's a relaxing, meditative and often playful experience, less about pigments and materials and more about exploring our response to the natural world.
There'll be plenty for painters to take away from this but it's also a chance to look behind the scenes and get lost in watching quite a meditative relaxing process.
There will be time at the end for questions and answers. Tickets are limited to 30 so everyone can feel involved.
13th July 2023 7.30-8.30pm
This event takes place via Zoom for which you'll need a good internet connection.
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent a Zoom link by email.
November 2024
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 22/11/24 7.30 - 9.00 ZOOM TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with a Zoom link and all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 22/11/24 7.30 - 9.00 IN PERSON TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Watching Paint Dry - In The Midnight Hour Thursday Nov 14, 2024 7.30-8.30
In Watching Paint Dry artist Ian Scott Massie paints live, on camera. He'll be starting from initial ideas and sketches, through the choice of colours and atmospheric effects, to finally completing the picture.
This is a chance to look behind the creative process, to see the way a time of year, a place, a feeling, can be evoked through paint on paper. It's a relaxing, meditative and often playful experience, less about pigments and materials and more about exploring our response to the natural world.
There'll be plenty for painters to take away from this but it's also a chance to look behind the scenes and get lost in watching quite a meditative relaxing process.
There will be time at the end for questions and answers. Tickets are limited to 30 so everyone can feel involved.
13th July 2023 7.30-8.30pm
This event takes place via Zoom for which you'll need a good internet connection.
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent a Zoom link by email.
December 2024
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 13/12/24 7.30 - 9.00 ZOOM TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with a Zoom link and all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Happy House Poetry Night - Friday 13/12/24 7.30 - 9.00 IN PERSON TICKET
Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites
Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham
If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) and you can book a slot to read something (slots are VERY limited)
This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent an email with all the details (and which includes a link for donations if you’d like to support what we do)
Watching Paint Dry - Winter Sun Thursday Dec 12, 2024 7.30-8.30
In Watching Paint Dry artist Ian Scott Massie paints live, on camera. He'll be starting from initial ideas and sketches, through the choice of colours and atmospheric effects, to finally completing the picture.
This is a chance to look behind the creative process, to see the way a time of year, a place, a feeling, can be evoked through paint on paper. It's a relaxing, meditative and often playful experience, less about pigments and materials and more about exploring our response to the natural world.
There'll be plenty for painters to take away from this but it's also a chance to look behind the scenes and get lost in watching quite a meditative relaxing process.
There will be time at the end for questions and answers. Tickets are limited to 30 so everyone can feel involved.
13th July 2023 7.30-8.30pm
This event takes place via Zoom for which you'll need a good internet connection.
Shortly after placing the order you'll be sent a Zoom link by email.