What to expect from a SSI Study Day

Creative thinking is hard to come by when you’re juggling work and family life.

Running your own business during school hours means pretty much every minute of the day is spoken for in some way.

My ideas tend to be tied to commissions and teaching, rather than creating something for myself or concentrating on my own practice.

So when I saw a Society for Scribes and Illuminators (SSI) Study Day advertised, I jumped at the chance to take part and get the creative juices flowing.

The fact it was being run in the north east by the wonderful Susan Hufton was also a big draw.

I first met Susan at the Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead in June 2023, when I was running a calligraphy workshop and she was working with the Shipley Weavers.

She very kindly came over to introduce herself and chat to the group. Coincidentally, I had her book – Step-by-Step Calligraphy – out on the table!

What is an SSI Study Day?

SSI Study Days are open to members and non-members and are designed to help participants find inspiration for projects and develop ideas through to a finished piece.

Susan was clear on the morning of the Study Day that a finished piece wouldn’t necessarily be the outcome. In fact, she said it could be years before something we saw came to fruition in a piece of work – it was all about thinking and feeling.

We met at the Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle for the first of two study days, with the second due to take place at the aforementioned Shipley Art Gallery in February 2026.

Ahead of the Study Day, Susan got in touch with some notes to get us thinking about the artefacts in the museum and our approach, which we discussed further over coffee and introductions on arrival at the venue.

I barely made it past the first cabinet before settling down with my sketch book and pencil to sketch some of the items that immediately caught my attention.

In ‘The Written Word’ display I was drawn to some gaming boards and counters, particularly the patterns on and colours of the stones.

There was also an interesting enamelled bronze seal, a bronze lid from a document case and some graffiti on a greyware dish, all found on Hadrian’s Wall.

I was also drawn to patterns and the even geometric shapes in the jewellery on display in the Roman section – and the lettering carved in various stones, as you’d expect.

My favourite object, though, was a bronze dodecahedron found at South Shields – possibly a Roman brain-teaser.

Taking inspiration from museum objects

The lunch break came just as I was about to finish up in the Roman/Hadrian’s Wall section of the museum, so I spent the afternoon in the Greek and Egyptian galleries.

Again, I was drawn to patterns on pots and decided this was clearly my theme for the day!

I’m not sure what all this will distil down to, but I’m looking forward to discussing further with Susan and the other women before our next Study Day.

It was nice to be given space – and permission – to think, with Susan’s gentle guidance and it’s something I think I might try with my weekly groups.