Events Calender
PRIVATE VIEW: Letters Unlimited
You are invited to join us for the launch of this exhibition:
Private View: Thursday 29th October, 18:30 - 20:00 Drinks and nibbles.
St Vedast Church. All welcome.
The Lettering Arts Trust and Albion Stone presents ‘Letters Unlimited’, an exhibition showcasing the work of the very best up-and-coming letter carvers.
There’s a large pile of unloved stone sitting in a quarry in Portland, offcuts that never found their right use. Until now! The quarry has invited recent Lettering Arts Trust trainees to select stone and create a piece of artwork to show the possibilities of hand-carved lettering.
The brief was simple: create a work that will surprise, amaze – astound even – with what can be achieved by hand in stone using lettering. We asked them to be inspired by the piece of stone they selected, challenge themselves, and push the boundaries of their lettering experience.
Each trainee was allocated a master carver as a mentor to help them achieve their ideas and develop their design skills and technique.
We are delighted to present the results of this project at an exhibition displayed in two churches in the City of London. St Mary Aldermary (Christopher Wren’s only Gothic church) and the church of St Vedast.
You are invited to join us for the launch of this exhibition:
Private View: Thursday 29th October, 18:30 - 20:00 Drinks and nibbles.
St Vedast Church. All welcome.
The Lettering Arts Trust and Albion Stone presents ‘Letters Unlimited’, an exhibition showcasing the work of the very best up-and-coming letter carvers.
There’s a large pile of unloved stone sitting in a quarry in Portland, offcuts that never found their right use. Until now! The quarry has invited recent Lettering Arts Trust trainees to select stone and create a piece of artwork to show the possibilities of hand-carved lettering.
The brief was simple: create a work that will surprise, amaze – astound even – with what can be achieved by hand in stone using lettering. We asked them to be inspired by the piece of stone they selected, challenge themselves, and push the boundaries of their lettering experience.
Each trainee was allocated a master carver as a mentor to help them achieve their ideas and develop their design skills and technique.
We are delighted to present the results of this project at an exhibition displayed in two churches in the City of London. St Mary Aldermary (Christopher Wren’s only Gothic church) and the church of St Vedast.
EXHIBITION: Letters Unlimited
EXHIBITION: Letters Unlimited, work by new and up and coming letter carvers
When: 30th October to 26th November 2026
Where: St Vedast Church, Foster Lane, EC2V 6HH
Also smaller display at: St Mary Aldermary Church, Bow Ln, London EC4M 9
Times: 10:00 t0 16:00 Monday to Friday Cost: Free Entry
The Lettering Arts Trust and Albion Stone presents ‘Letters Unlimited’, an exhibition showcasing the work of the very best up-and-coming letter carvers.
There’s a large pile of unloved stone sitting in a quarry in Portland, offcuts that never found their right use. Until now! The quarry has invited recent Lettering Arts Trust trainees to select stone and create a piece of artwork to show the possibilities of hand-carved lettering.
The brief was simple: create a work that will surprise, amaze – astound even – with what can be achieved by hand in stone using lettering. We asked them to be inspired by the piece of stone they selected, challenge themselves, and push the boundaries of their lettering experience.
Each trainee was allocated a master carver as a mentor to help them achieve their ideas and develop their design skills and technique.
We are delighted to present the results of this project at an exhibition displayed in two churches in the City of London. St Mary Aldermary (Christopher Wren’s only Gothic church) and the church of St Vedast.
You are invited to join us for the launch of this exhibition:
Private View: Thursday 29th October, 18:30 - 20:00 Drinks and nibbles.
St Vedast Church. All welcome.
Please contact lucy@letteringartstrust.org.uk for an invitation.
Talk: Letter carving in London, Thursday 5th November, 18:30 in St Vedast Church.
Cost: £10 or FREE FOR FRIENDS email Lucy@letteringartstrust.org.uk to book.
Pictured: Le Vent souffle où il veut. (The wind blows where it wishes) by former LAT Journeyman Héloïse Laurent
TALK: Letter Carving in London
When: Thursday 5th November, 18:30 Where: St Vedast Church, Foster Lane, EC2V 6HH
Cost: £10 or FREE FOR FRIENDS email Lucy@letteringartstrust.org.uk to book.
LAT Director Mark Noad will speak about the varied lettering all around us in London. Look down and look up, lettering art is every where, from Roman times to the present day, lettering artists have designed and carved lettering to give information, directions, or commemorate a life or event.
Visit the Letters Unlimited exhibition and then stay for this fascinating insight into London’s lettering.
Pictured: Memorial for Paul Julius Reuter by Michael Black
When: Thursday 5th November, 18:30 Where: St Vedast Church, Fosters Lane.
Cost: £10 or FREE FOR FRIENDS email Lucy@letteringartstrust.org.uk to book.
LAT Director Mark Noad will speak about the varied lettering all around us in London. Look down and look up, lettering art is every where, from Roman times to the present day, lettering artists have designed and carved lettering to give information, directions, or commemorate a life or event.
Visit the Letters Unlimited exhibition and then stay for this fascinating insight into London’s lettering.
Pictured: Memorial for Paul Julius Reuter by Michael Black
Pop-Up Shop at The Quay Gallery, Snape Maltings, Suffolk
WHEN: Friday 13th to Tuesday 17th November
WHERE: Quay Gallery, Snape Maltings, Snape, IP17 1SP TIME: 10:00 to 17:00
DRINKS PARTY: Saturday 14th November, 17:30 - 19:00
We will have a range of original letter carving, gifts and cards for sale, and will also be launching a newly designed Lettering Arts Trust Christmas card which will be sold in aid of the Trust. There will be smaller items of carving, note books, key rings and much more.
On Saturday 14th there will be drinks and nibbles and all our welcome.
Pictured: Gilded robin by Louise Tiplady
FRIENDS ONLY TRIP: Canterbury Cathedral, Cathedral Masons’ Workshop, and Art and Memory Collection
WHEN: Thursday 8th October TIME: 10:30 to 16:30
WHERE: Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury CT1 2EH
COST: £40 (Includes entry fee to cathedral and guided tour.)
This special trip for members of our Friends only, will first take us behind the scenes into the cathedral masons’ workshop. Stone has been shaped in the precincts of Canterbury Cathedral for more than a thousand years. The Cathedral’s current team of skilled masons use precisely the same knowledge and methodologies as their early medieval counterparts. One of our current apprentices, Mirella McGee, trained their initially and she will give us first hand insight into their age old yet contemporary practices.
We will then visit the Lettering Arts Trust Art and Memory Collection in the Memorial Garden, guided by LAT Director, Mark Noad.
In the afternoon we will be guided around the Cathedral by an expert guide, who will tell us about some of the 1,400 years of history, art and architecture. As it is Great Britain’s first cathedral, there is a wealth of stained glass, historical objects and art to enjoy.
Your ticket will also give entry to the exhibitions on site:
Smashed, Bombed, Lost- Recovered, Tales of Canterbury’s Stained Glass.
Making History: Church State and Conflict
Chalices, Flagons and Patens
Monastic Life
To join us for this trip please book below. You need to be a Friend of the Lettering Arts trust to join us on this trip, so if you have not yet joined up follow this link.
Pictured: The Journey by Robbie Schneider
WHEN: Thursday 8th October TIME: 10:30 to 16:30
WHERE: Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury CT1 2EH
COST: £40 (Includes entry fee to cathedral and guided tour.)
This special trip for members of our Friends only, will first take us behind the scenes into the cathedral masons’ workshop. Stone has been shaped in the precincts of Canterbury Cathedral for more than a thousand years. The Cathedral’s current team of skilled masons use precisely the same knowledge and methodologies as their early medieval counterparts. One of our current apprentices, Mirella McGee, trained their initially and she will give us first hand insight into their age old yet contemporary practices.
We will then visit the Lettering Arts Trust Art and Memory Collection in the Memorial Garden, guided by LAT Director, Mark Noad.
In the afternoon we will be guided around the Cathedral by an expert guide, who will tell us about some of the 1,400 years of history, art and architecture. As it is Great Britain’s first cathedral, there is a wealth of stained glass, historical objects and art to enjoy.
To join us for this trip please book below. You need to be a Friend of the Lettering Arts trust to join us on this trip, so if you have not yet joined up see the link at the bottom of this newsletter.
Pictured: The Journey by Robbie Schneider
Lowestoft heritage skills market
Join us at the Lowestoft Heritage Skills Market
The Lettering Arts Trust are taking part in this fun and festive day in which crafts people’s lives will be celebrated with interactive demonstrations from local traders.
During the day, visitors will be able to see one of our apprentices, Mirella McGee demonstrating letter carving.
There will also be other crafts people working, including: a Blacksmith, Pargetter, Netmaker, Ceramic artist, Stained Glass artist, Tilemaker, Textile artists among many more.
While the emphasis will be on highlight the heritage skills, this will be against a backdrop of colour and music to create a festival atmosphere.
There will be opportunities for the public to engage with the crafts people and potential to purchase Heritage crafts too.
Supplementary stall holders will also be present offering food and drinks to encourage visitors to stay longer, see more and enjoy the ambience.
Free activities for children will be available making it a day the whole family can enjoy.
Expect bands, dance and costumes to enhance the experience while you learn about and appreciate the skills of those ordinary people who went before us and their everyday lives.
Where: Triangle Market
This is a free event.
Pictured: the hands of Lisi Ashbridge
Memories of Ian Hamilton Finlay - A video presentation.
Director of the Lettering Arts Trust, Mark Noad, will be at Little Sparta to introduce the screening of a talk by three of Ian Hamilton Findlay’s key collaborators.
October 2025 was the centenary of the birth of artist and poet Ian Hamilton Finlay. To mark the occasion, the Lettering Arts Trust brought together three of his long-time collaborators – Annet Stirling, Nicholas Sloan and Andrew Whittle – to share their experiences of working with him.
One of Finlay’s most inspired innovations was a way of working that gave full creative rein to fellow artists in marrying their skills to his concepts, producing in the process a wide variety of art that was greater than the sum of its parts. He shared both the design and making of nearly all his physical work with a large number of skilled collaborators, many of whom have also worked with the Lettering Arts Trust.
Annet, Nick and Andrew all have a long association with the Trust working on many projects through our Memorials by Artists commissioning service. Their personal recollections will be an insight into a collaborative creative process that produced many wonderful examples of the carver’s art.
CLICK HERE to go to The Little Sparta website
All Summer Events at Little Sparta are free with a purchased ticket to the garden – as always donations are welcome towards the upkeep of the garden.
Aldeburgh Pop up shop, talk and drinks
The Lettering Arts Trust is popping up in Aldeburgh
Pop up Shop and Letter carving talk
Date: 13th June from 10am - 5pm
Where: Aldeburgh Church Hall, Victoria Rd, Aldeburgh IP15 5DY
Time: Open all day 10:00 – 17:00
14:00 Tour of letter carving in the church yard and talk (NB Tour at 11:30 is now fully booked.)
12:00 – 13:00 Drinks
Cost: Free event
If you would like to attend the talk and tour of letter carving and design in Aldeburgh Church yard please email: lucy@letteringartstrust.org.uk to book your place.
The Lettering Arts Trust, formally based at Snape Maltings, is holding a pop up shop for one day on 13th June. We will be open from 10am until 5pm and look forward to welcoming long term and new friends of the trust.
Come and browse letter themed gifts and pieces of hand carving, all perfect for presents.
There will be a talk and tour of headstones in the church yard, some of which are by the highly skilled letter carvers on our commissions register.
Everyone is cordially invited to have drinks with us in the hall between 12:00 and 13:00.
Pictured: Hands of LAT journeyman John McTigue
TALK & DRINKS: Letter carving and design in wood by Robbie Schneider
WHEN: Thursday 28th May TIME: 18:00 for 18:30 start - 20:30
WHERE: Carpenters’ Hall 1 Throgmorton Avenue London EC2N 2JJ
COST: £10
Join us for a talk by world renowned lettering sculptor, Robbie Schneider; who will give us insights into letter carving in wood through his life and experience. This will be followed by a drinks reception.
Robbie Schneider is a designer and sculptor specialising in carved and fabricated inscriptions and architectural lettering. His many public and private commissions can be found throughout Britain and the USA.
We are grateful to The Carpenter’s Company for allowing us to hold this event in their cedar panelled livery hall.
FREE for Friends email lucy@letteringartstrust.org.uk to book.
Pictured: I just want … by Robbie Schneider
Letter carving in the Square Mile with The Masons' Company and London Craft Week
LOCATION: City of London
Director of The Lettering Arts trust, Mark Noad, will lead a walking tour around notable contemporary and ancient letter carving in the City of London. Master letter carver, Charlotte Howarth will give us technical insight and tell us about the lettering she designed for the 'Remember Me' memorial portico entrance at St Paul's Cathedral.
Once inside St Paul's Cathedral, the former master of The Worshipful Company of Masons' will lead us around the letter carving in the Crypt, bringing to life the remarkable history and skills of stone masons over the centuries.
Meet at Mansion House Tube Station. The tour will last two hours. Ticket price includes entry fee to The Cathedral, normally £27 per person.
Details will be emailed to you once you sign up.
FRIENDS ONLY EVENT: Guided Tour of lettering in two Oxford colleges
WHERE: Christ Church and New College, Oxford.
COST: £20 (Plus optional £20 for lunch.)
We have arranged access to some of the finest lettering in Oxford. Master carver, John Neilson, and Lettering artist, book designer, and calligrapher, Edward Wates, will give us expert insight into the lettering art at Christ Church and New College.
Christ Church
The day will start with a visit to Christ Church Cathedral to see the lettering by John Neilson, Gary Breeze and others, followed by a talk in the Upper Library, which houses several exceptional collections of manuscripts, music, rare and early printed books and pamphlets.
You then have the option of having lunch in the stunning dining hall, surrounded by portraits of notable members of the college. This room was the inspiration for the dining hall at Hogwarts. (£20 extra, see separate entry to book.)
New College
In the afternoon we will take a short walk to New College, where we will be taken on a tour of the art and lettering in the chapel, including the 14th century whimsical misericords, the war memorial by Eric Gill and works by Jacob Epstein, El Grego, Joshua Reynolds.
To end, there will be tea in The Weston Library, at the Bodleian. Alternatively, for those with boundless energy, you can take a short tour of the remarkable ancient letter carving at The Ashmolean Museum.
We expect this to be a popular trip and are limited to only 20 places. You must be a signed up Friend of the Lettering Arts Trust to join us. CLICK HERE TO JOIN
WHEN: Thursday 16th April TIME: 11:00am - 17:00pm
WHERE: Christ Church and New College, Oxford.
We have arranged access to some of the finest lettering in Oxford. Master carver, John Neilson, and Lettering artist, book designer, and calligrapher, Edward Wates, will give us expert insight into the lettering art at Christ Church and New College.
Christ Church
The day will start with a visit to Christ Church Cathedral to see the lettering by John Neilson, Gary Breeze and others, followed by a talk in the Upper Library, which houses several exceptional collections of manuscripts, music, rare and early printed books and pamphlets.
You then have the option of having lunch in the stunning dining hall, surrounded by portraits of notable members of the college. This room was the inspiration for the dining hall at Hogwarts. (£20 extra, see separate entry to book.)
New College
In the afternoon we will take a short walk to New College, where we will be taken on a tour of the art and lettering in the chapel, including the 14th century whimsical misericords, the war memorial by Eric Gill and works by Jacob Epstein, El Grego, Joshua Reynolds.
To end, there will be tea in The Weston Library, at the Bodleian. Alternatively, for those with boundless energy, you can take a short tour of the remarkable ancient letter carving at The Ashmolean Museum.
We expect this to be a popular trip and are limited to only 20 places. You must be a signed up Friend of the Lettering Arts Trust to join us. CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Pictured: Plaque by John Neilson at Christ Church; War memorial by Eric Gill at New College.; Planter and fountain by Gary Breeze.
Pictured: Plaque by John Neilson at Christ Church; War memorial by Eric Gill at New College.; Planter and fountain by Gary Breeze.