An Introduction to Letter Carving in Stone 2026 with Lisi Ashbridge
£320.00
This three-day course, hosted by Lisi Ashbridge, offers an introduction to letter carving in stone and slate.
We will discuss different lettering styles, and you will hand draw your own design. Learn about what works for which purposes and how to transfer your design onto the material. Then you will be taught the ancient technique of carving letters with a chisel and mallet by hand, resulting in letterforms that are sharp and crisp and can last for centuries.
Tom Perkins and Simon Langsdale, six day course in letter carving and design
This summer, letter carvers Tom Perkins, Simon Langsdale will be running a six day letter carving in stone course at Parndon Mill, Harlow. Running from 17-22 August, Tom will teach drawn lettering for the first three days, whilst Simon will take over for the carving of your designs for the last three days.
Cost is £535 per person, which includes stone, use of carving tools and teas, coffees and biscuits. A non-refundable deposit of £267.50 is required to reserve your place with the remaining amount due on by 1st July.
Please email for more information or to book your place.
Timings: Each course will run from 10am to 4-5pm each day
Location: Parndon Mill, Harlow, Essex, CM20 2HP
Mobile: 07701027042
Email: simonlangs@hotmail.co.uk
Website: www.simonlangsdalelettercarver.co.uk
NB This course is not vetted or endorsed by the Lettering Arts Trust
Abraxas Academy, Stone & letter carving courses for all abilities.
NEW DATES TO BE CONFIRMED.
Abraxas Academy is run by experienced stone carvers Nina Bilbey and Charlotte Howarth. They offer professional tuition for all abilities, during week end courses and also longer periods, see their website for more details.
The Abraxas Academy was conceived from years of nurturing and mentoring individuals who want to learn to carve stone.
‘We pride ourselves in our ability to deliver a wide range of carving courses, each one carefully planned and executed with the aim of encouraging all abilities.’
Location: Creake Abbey, Norfolk, NR21 9FL
Nina Bilbey
Nina is a Norfolk born sculptor who has been stonecarving and teaching for most of her adult life. In 2018 she was awarded The City and Guilds, Gold medal of excellence for her contribution to the teaching of craft, and as the Senior Stone Carving Tutor at the City and Guilds of London Art School she has taught generations of the nations most talented stone and wood carvers. Nina's work can be seen throughout the UK. She runs a successful stone carving studio based on the beautiful Holkham Estate.
Charlotte Howarth
Charlotte has been lettercarving for over 30 years. She trained at the City and Guilds of London Art School and with Richard Kindersley, Ralph Beyer, Incisive Letterwork and her step father David Baker.
She works on a wide range of commissions from small scale carvings to large public art commissions. She was awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship in 2015 to travel to Greece and Italy to study the ancient inscriptions of Greek and Roman Empire.
"Passing on skills to the next generation is not only a necessity, it is a joy. Our students are the future. We both feel passionately about making quality training available to anyone who is brave enough to take a leap of faith and begin the journey."
See website for more details: www.abraxasacademy.co.uk
Call to book or enquire +44 75500 42231
Please note: the specifics of the courses are not vetted or endorsed by the Lettering Arts Trust.
Calligraphy Courses with Gaynor Goffe
ZOOM sessions, 1-2-1 with Gaynor Goffe, £25/hour, dates and times to suit.
Suitable for all levels of ability.
Most calligraphic scripts/topics available including basic italic/italic variations/ flourished italic/ italic capitals plain and flourished/ copperplate/ modern pointed pen cursive and variations/uncial’ foundational hand’ Roman capitals/ San Vito capitals/ versals basic and variations. \other scripts/topics available.
You will receive the video of the zoom session for unlimited time, and tutor demo sheets scanned after the session.
Gaynor Goffe is a well known calligrapher and international teacher working to commission.
Please contact Gaynor directly to express interest and book. gmgoffe@hotmail.com
For more information please see website: www.gaynorgoffe-calligraphy.co.uk
Please note: the specifics of the courses are not vetted or endorsed by the Lettering Arts Trust.
John Neilson – Lettercarving in stone and lettering design
Letter carving and letter design course with John Neilson, Nant Hirwen 2026
Dates: Monday 15 – Friday 19 June 2026 (5 days).
Location: Nant Hirwen, Moelfre, Llansilin, Powys SY10 7QW.
As for the last 9 years, the course takes place in converted barns and a courtyard. Nant Hirwen is a working farm in a very beautiful corner of Powys, where the Welsh language is still strong.
The nearest town is Oswestry (9 miles). There are shops/pubs at Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant (6 miles) and one shop and a pub in Llansilin (3 miles). Nearest station is Gobowen, and we can arrange to meet you if you’re coming by train.
COURSE CONTENT: A small inscriptional project which you will design and carve, addressing whatever issues arise in the process. This course is intended for those with some experience of lettering and lettercarving and so will not suit complete beginners. The intention is to cover both design and carving, but the proportion of these is flexible. There may also be a visit to a churchyard or my workshop, and a social evening and meal at a local pub.
Tutor: John Neilson.
Tools and equipment: I will send out a ‘kit list’ nearer the time, but for those travelling light I can lend all necessary tools.
Cost: £420 to include a delicious lunch made from organically grown ingredients each day and tea, coffee, snacks etc. Stone, accommodation, and other meals are not included in this price. I will order stone in advance according to your needs and charge you at cost price.
ACCOMMODATION: Some self-catering bunkhouse accommodation is available on site, or you can make your own arrangements – there are some holiday cottages and B&Bs in the area.
BOOKING: There will be a maximum of 10 participants. For more information or to book a place please email me: click herefor contact details.
Please note: the specifics of the courses are not vetted or endorsed by the Lettering Arts Trust.
Letter Carving in Wood at Little Sparta -Robbie Schneider
As promised, we are back with a fourth letter carving in wood course. Our June 2026 course will take place in Ian Hamilton Finlay’s library at Little Sparta, the internationally acclaimed garden, Hamilton Finlay’s home, and his greatest work of art. Little Sparta is filled with numerous sculptures and poetic art works, created in collaboration with some of the most renowned letter carvers in both wood and stone, and at times with other poets and artists.
The course, led by Robbie Schneider, will explore letter carving in wood and will focus on technique and safe use of tools. No previous experience is necessary. All equipment will be provided. Students will practise carving incised lettering and will look in detail at choosing the right chisel for each cut and how wood grain direction affects carving. The course will also cover tool care and sharpening. We will look at the use of different timbers as well as trying out some alternative approaches to letter carving.
Robbie Schneider specialised in letter design, lettering sculpture and inscriptional letter carving after studying sculpture at Camberwell and Byam Shaw Art Schools in London. Working in Stone, wood, metals and other media, Robbie’s interest in the integration of text, material and form has gained him a reputation for both technically accomplished and innovative work, winning him many public and private commissions. Robbie exhibits regularly and is chairman of the Scottish Lettercutters Association, former chairman of Letter Exchange and an elected member of the Royal Society of Sculptors. Robbie teaches regularly and has run courses in Britain, Europe and Australia. His work can be found throughout Britain from Kent in the south to Shetland in the far north.
www.robbieschneider.co.uk
Instagram – @rslettering
Course details
The 2 day course will run on 20th and 21st June 2026, from 9.30am to 5.30pm. The fee for the 2 day course is £180. If you would like to attend Robbie’s course at Little Sparta, please email contact@littlesparta.org.uk to register your interest.
Little Sparta Website: https://www.littlesparta.org.uk/june-2026-letter-carving-course/
Please note: the specifics of the courses are not vetted or endorsed by the Lettering Arts Trust.
Pip Hall Studios - Letter carving in stone
Letter carving courses - Beginners and intermediate workshops
These workshops are for 8 people, and shaped to individual needs, and hosted in Cumbria and Hertford. Unless otherwise shown, course length is three days. An introductory slide show will be followed by demonstrations of lettering styles, drawing techniques and methods of carving with chisels, and much individual tuition. Stone, tools and materials are provided, though students are welcome to bring their own stone and project. Please note, course times and catering vary between venues. Unless otherwise shown, these are beginners courses - for anyone with enthusiasm and a little patience...
Locations: Hertford and Cumbria
For more information see Pip’s website : CLICK HERE
To book your place and for more information, please email Pip info@piphall.co.uk
Please note: the specifics of the courses are not vetted or endorsed by the Lettering Arts Trust.
Simon Langsdale - Letter Carving in Stone
Course Tutor: Simon Langsdale
Dates: 11-12 July 2026
Timings: Each course will run from 10am to 4-5pm each day
Location: Parndon Mill, Harlow, Essex, CM20 2HP
Course fee: £220.00
Course aim :
The aim of this two-day course is to introduce complete beginners to drawing lettering and the basic techniques of carving letters in stone. This course is also suitable for anyone who has had some previous experience and wishes to develop their skills further.
There will be a selection of stones that you can choose to carve on.
Simon will also have a wide selection of sources of lettering from his library to inspire you as well as examples of his own work. In preparation, think about a short word, (three to four letters max) that you may like to carve. Then you will be guided through the crucial drawing and design process so that you are ready to carve. Through group demonstrations and one-to-one tuition he will then show you the techniques that are used to carve letters in stone.
Simon has many years of teaching experience in various contexts and hold a level 4 PTTLS teaching qualification, so you will be in good hands. Please let him know before the course begins if you will need any adjustments to the teaching (or if you are left-handed, as he carves right-handed) to help you gain the most from the weekend.
The course will be run over two days and will be structured as follows:
Saturday:
Course welcome and introduction
Introduction to drawing letters
Lunch
Drawn lettering/draw inscription project
Begin carving inscription project
Sunday:
Carving of inscription project
Lunch
Carving of inscription project
Please bring the following pieces of equipment:
Pencils, H or 2H, pencil sharpener, eraser, ruler, calculator, a small drawing board A3/A2 in size, P3 dust mask to P3, safety glasses, steel toe capped boots or sturdy footwear, packed lunch, (There is a Sainsbury’s nearby)
I will supply all other equipment necessary for carving. Should you wish to purchase your own dummy and chisels, I can give you details of suppliers.
Reading list :
Simon recommends that you read one of the following books as this will help to provide you with an overview of what will be covered during the two days.
Tom Perkins, The Art of Letter Carving in Stone, (The Crowood Press Ltd, 2007)
(This has become the standard reference book for letter carving and has detailed advice on drawn lettering and carving techniques, drawn alphabets and many photographs of contemporary letter carvers’ work, a must have book for anyone interested in lettering.)
Michael Harvey, Carving Letters in Stone & Wood, (The Bodley Head Ltd, 1987)
Richard Grasby, Letter Cutting in Stone: A Work Book, (Sacketts, 2011)
PLEASE CONTACT SIMON FOR MORE DETIALS OR TO BOOK
Mobile: 07701027042
Email:simonlangs@hotmail.co.uk
Website:www.simonlangsdalelettercarver.co.uk
NB: This course had not been endorsed or vetted by The Lettering Arts Trust
Lettering in stone at City and Guilds of London Art School
Level: Beginners / Some experience
Tutor: Tom Young
Dates: 6 – 10 July 2026
Time: 10:00 – 17:00
Cost: £614
Contact summerschool@cityandguildsartschool.ac.uk
SHORT COURSE OVERVIEW
Come prepared for an intensive letter carving experience. Learning to draw Roman letters is an important part of the process, so you spend the mornings drawing sans serif and serifed letter forms. The afternoons will be spent building your carving skills. You will also learn how to transfer your work to the stone and how to sharpen your chisels.
‘It was an extremely enjoyable course and I learnt a lot. The teacher was very knowledgeable and patient with me. Tom would make a point to go round to each and every one of the students to check on our progress.’ Sharon
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The ancient art of carving letters and symbols into stone is as old as writing itself and today this enduring art form continues to have many uses in both historic and contemporary contexts. At City & Guilds of London Art School, we do all our lettering by hand and the skills we teach can be applied to a variety of materials. This course offers an intensive week of tuition to introduce you to or improve your drawn and carved lettering in stone.
Understanding the construction of letters is an essential part of learning how to carve them successfully in stone. We spend the mornings drawing sans serif and serif letters based on Roman forms and then transfer these letters to stone in the afternoon for carving. Moving between the drawing and carving helps build your skills in tandem, clarifying how each process complements the other. Our experienced tutor will explain and demonstrate all the processes involved in carving letters and keep a close eye on your progress at every stage.
By the end of the week, you should have a finished panel of letters carved in stone and take away the skills you need to continue drawing and carving your own work.
This very special opportunity to spend a week learning the essentials of this historic art form at our unique institution only comes along once a year. Grasp it while you can!
What’s included: all teaching, and your tools, goggles and materials for the letter carving.
What isn’t included: bring a 300 or 600 mm steel or plastic ruler, an automatic pencil 0.5 mm and/or 0.3 mm, with leads. Please wear old clothes you don’t mind spoiling, or bring a pair of decorator’s overalls, and wear steel toecap boots.
NB: This course had not been endorsed or vetted by The Lettering Arts Trust
Stone Carving for Beginners at City and Guild of London Art School
Tutor: Ghislain Puget
Dates: This course will be taught twice during Summer School 2026, each time for a one-week period:
Week 2: 6 – 10 July
Week 3: 13 – 17 July
Time: 10:00 – 17:00
Cost: £614
Contact summerschool@cityandguildsartschool.ac.uk to receive the discount code.
Bookings:
Week 2: 6 – 10 July: BOOK VIA EVENTBRITE
Week 3: 13 – 17 July: BOOK VIA EVENTBRITE
Take copies of medieval ornamental and figure reliefs from our unique collection of historic plaster casts from the V&A as inspiration to learn the traditional skills and techniques of historic low relief stone carving. We will introduce you to the fundamentals: which tools you need and how to use them, techniques for cutting stone and applying texture, and historical background on decorative styles.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
There is something very special about learning a traditional skill like stone carving in an environment which is so dedicated to the continuation and advancement of the craft. City & Guilds of London Art School has an unbroken tradition of teaching sculpture, stone carving and woodcarving since 1879, and today, our stone carving graduates continue to work on the world’s great cathedrals, buildings and monuments.
This one-week course gives you a unique opportunity to try out these skills for yourself, in excellent facilities and guided by our inspirational teacher. Low relief stone carving provides the perfect platform for the beginner, and working with hammers and chisels you’ll come out with a small carved stone panel that you can be proud of.
Using the medieval ornamental and figure reliefs as source material, you will be guided through the process of transferring your chosen image from the manuscript onto stone, once this is completed we will teach you the techniques of cutting stone and adding colour and texture by breaking or scraping the surface. In the process, you will learn what tools you need and how to use and maintain them, as well as some historical background on decorative styles.
Join us and become a part of the great tradition of British stone carving!
What’s included: all teaching, and your tools and materials for the stone carving.
What isn’t included: your meals, and bring a steel tape measure if you have one, a notebook, pencil and rubber. Please wear old clothes you don’t mind spoiling, or bring a pair of decorator’s overalls, and wear steel cap boots.