Winter doesn’t have to be bleak, in fact, if you let it, it could be your most inspiring season of the year. Kari Leibowitz, author of How to Winter: Harnessing Your Mindset to Thrive in Cold, Dark Or Difficult Times, has found that reframing how we see winter can turn this often written off season into an opportunity for renewal and creativity. Her research reveals that embracing winter’s unique qualities and redefining them can dramatically improve our mood and mental wellbeing. For example, we can view winter as  cold, dark and wet or cosy, magical and restorative. The weather and quietness, far from being a negative, make this a period ripe for indoor creative activities and rest.

With our Sussex campus nestled into the stunning South Downs, the grounds take on a different character during the colder months. The campus hosts frost-kissed gardens, serene woodlands, and fosters an atmosphere of reflection and inspiration. Whether walking through the walled gardens or warming your cockles by the fire in Oak Hall, West Dean offers a creative winter experience that nurtures the mind, body and soul.

Leibowitz encourages us to “make winter special” by leaning into activities that uplift us and make the season enjoyable. What better way to do this than by joining one of West Dean’s vast offering of classes led by expert tutors, ranging from ceramics, painting, and textiles to photography, creative writing, and basketry. Winter, Leibowitz suggests, is the perfect time for such pursuits, as darkness and the slower pace naturally enhance creativity and provide space for focus.

Interestingly, research by Anna Steidle and Lioba Werth backs up this connection between darkness and creativity. In a series of six studies, they found that dim lighting encourages a sense of freedom from constraints, promoting a bold, exploratory mindset that enhances creative thinking. These findings suggest that the reduced light of winter isn’t a drawback - it’s an opportunity.

As Leibowitz explains, celebrating the season can be as simple as gathering by the fire with a cup of tea or enjoying a hearty meal after a fulfilling day of creativity. But one thing is clear, winter’s slower pace provides the chance to recharge and find inspiration. So, this winter make time to shape clay, experiment with colour in an oil painting workshop, or learn the intricate art of weaving - all while surrounded by like-minded individuals. Short courses are designed not just to teach you a skill but to immerse you in the joy of making, away from the distractions of daily life.

Winter is what you make it, so book your creative winter escape at West Dean today.

View all winter courses.