At Grove, we believe the best experiences are those that awaken the senses, spark curiosity and leave you with something to remember long after you return home. Our experiences in Pembrokeshire invite guests to discover the landscape, culture and creativity of West Wales in thoughtful and hands-on ways.
Our Coastal Printing Experience with Sgrinhouse is a unique creative experience rooted in the Pembrokeshire coastline. Led by textile creator Alice, founder of Sgrinhouse, the workshop combines a coastal walk, drawing and traditional screen printing, giving guests the opportunity to take inspiration from the colours, textures and landscapes of Pembrokeshire and transform them into their own printed linen cushion to take home.
We recently spoke to Alice about her background in textile design, the inspiration behind Sgrinhouse, and what guests can expect from this hands-on screen-printing experience in Pembrokeshire.
Could you tell us a little about your background and how Sgrinhouse came to be?
I studied Textile Design at Central Saint Martins, where I became fascinated by the hands-on, tactile nature of textiles. It quickly became clear to me that I didn’t just want to design textiles, but to be involved in the making of them too.
I particularly loved the process of taking an original drawing and translating it into a pattern through print. Sgrinhouse came from a desire to continue that process of making and not leave behind the wonderful, physical qualities of printmaking.
At its heart, Sgrinhouse is about creating playful, durable and timeless fabrics, while celebrating British manufacturing and keeping traditional craftsmanship alive.
What inspires your work and the pieces you create?
I’m continually inspired by the world of art, particularly 20th-century modernism. Artists such as Sonia Delaunay, Louise Bourgeois, Agnes Martin, Anni Albers and Hilma af Klint have all influenced the way I think about colour, form, pattern and repetition.
I’m also deeply inspired by my surroundings and the natural world. Living in Pembrokeshire, it’s impossible not to be affected by the landscape and the beauty of the coastline. My fabric collection draws on the coastal community I live within, taking particular inspiration from the maritime industry — the rich rusts of weathered metal, greens from the starboard markers and deep maritime navy on boat hulls.
What is it about screen printing that you love?
I love the simplicity and inherent structure of screen printing. A design is built through layers, with each colour requiring its own layer of print. There’s something very satisfying about that process of gradually building layers of ink.
It also creates a distinctive aesthetic. The slight variations and physicality of the process give the work a quality that can’t quite be replicated digitally. I particularly love the way the ink settles into the linen — it has a depth and softness that feels very tactile and beautifully connected to the material itself.
What can guests expect from the Coastal Printing experience, and what will they take home with them?
The Coastal Printing experience is an opportunity to slow down, look closely at the landscape and use it as a starting point for your own creativity.
We’ll begin with a stroll along the Pembrokeshire coastline, taking inspiration from the landscape and making sketches along the way. Back in the studio, I’ll show guests how to translate those drawings into a repeat pattern and introduce them to the process of screen printing onto linen.
Everyone will create their own fabric design and hand-print their own cushion to take home — a piece that is both personal and connected to the landscape of Pembrokeshire.
What makes the Coastal Printing experience unique to Pembrokeshire?
The experience is rooted very much in the place itself. Pembrokeshire’s coastline isn’t simply the backdrop — it’s part of the creative process.
The landscape, maritime history and coastal communities provide a rich source of inspiration, from the colours and textures of the coast to the objects and visual language of the local fishing and maritime industries. The studio is located here, surrounded by that landscape, so the experience offers a chance to engage with Pembrokeshire through drawing, pattern and making, rather than simply looking at it.
It’s about taking something from the landscape, interpreting it through your own eyes, and leaving with something you’ve made yourself.
Experience Coastal Printing with Sgrinhouse
If this has inspired you to discover Pembrokeshire through a different lens, our Coastal Printing Experience offers a creative way to connect with the landscape and take a little piece of it home with you.
Available exclusively to guests staying at Grove, the experience includes morning coffee and pastries, a coastal walk and guided sketch, and hand-printing your design onto Irish linen. Once your creation is complete, toast your work with a glass of bubbles before it is beautifully wrapped to take home.
Our reservations team would be delighted to arrange this for you, so do get in touch with us today here.
