Stone Carving, Stone Masonry, Letter Cutting, & Sculpture Courses
Information for clients who had to postpone during 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions
All postponed 2020 courses will be honoured until the 1st of December, 2021. Please ensure you contact me to arrange a convenient date for you to attend the workshop, and that your course commences prior to this date.
There are no two or three day courses currently advertised on the website, this is to allow me to prioritise clients who had to postpone. Once the postponed clients have attended, the list of two and three day course dates will be repopulated.
If you have contacted me regarding the rearrangement of your course, then please check your emails as I have replied to each and every one of you, either with a list of dates for you to choose from, or a request for suitable dates from you.
Stone carving, stone masonry, letter cutting in stone, and sculpture courses taught by professionally qualified former Lincoln Cathedral Stonemason, Eilidh Fridlington.
The courses are designed for all abilities, and are particularly suitable if you’ve no prior experience of working with stone.
The duration of the masonry, carving, and letter cutting courses is three days, the abstract stone sculpture courses are two days, and the taster carving courses are one day.
All of the courses run on a weekly basis throughout the year with dates added to the site six months in advance. The website is fully automated and the advertised dates and places available are correct at all times.
All payments are made quickly and securely online via PayPal. Please note that you do not need to have a PayPal account to pay, as all major credit and debit cards are also accepted.
Gift certificates are also available for the one day taster stone carving courses, and make excellent presents for birthdays and special occasions.
The courses take place in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, at purpose-built workshop premises within the Terrace, situated right in the centre of the city, and the heart of Lincoln’s Cultural Quarter. A map showing the location of the workshop can be found here.
The current list of dates can be accessed via these links:
- Taster stone carving courses
- Abstract stone sculpture courses
- Stonemasonry courses
- Letter cutting courses
- Stone carving courses
Alternatively, continue reading below for further information about each individual course type.
One Day Taster Stone Carving Courses - Carving The Fleur De Lis
The one day taster stone carving courses are perfect if you're interested in having a practical introduction to stone carving, but don't want to commit too much time.
The taster courses focus on the creation of a relief carved Fleur De Lis, a classic historical ornament found in many guises. As can be seen from the picture, the fleur de lis is set back into the stone and surrounded by a border.
Although this is a one day stone carving workshop, the techniques and tools used are exactly the same as those on the two and three day carving courses; this means you won't miss out on anything should you wish to continue carving at a later date.
The next taster carving course with available places is on Monday the 2nd of August.
View the complete current list of taster stone carving courses.
Abstract Stone Sculpture Courses
These two day professionally taught abstract stone sculpture courses are an excellent introduction to creating form and movement in stone.
The emphasis of each course is to enable you to explore your ideas and transfer them in to stone; there’s no set path to follow, and you’re not restricted to following an existing design. You’ll be guided through the various processes of sculpting stone, and the tools and methods used at each stage.
This is a fantastic opportunity to create your own piece of art, and at the end of the two day workshop you’ll take home with you a piece of stonework to be proud of.
The stone sculpture workshops are aimed at all abilities, and are particularly suitable if you’ve no prior experience of working with stone. The atmosphere in the workshop is always relaxed, and leads to a positive experience for all.
The next sculpture course with available places is on .
View the complete current list of abstract sculpture courses.
Stonemasonry Courses
The introduction to stone masonry courses will teach you the core fundamentals of architectural stonework through the working of an ovolo mould, complete with mitred returns.
The ovolo is a classical masonry mould formed from a quarter circle bound by two fillets, and can be found in numerous guises from classical architecture through to modern day builds. As well as being an architectural element, the ovolo also forms the basis of egg and dart ornamentation, and can be found as a component element in the Doric, Ionic, and Composite orders of Classical Architecture.
The three day stonemasonry workshops use the techniques and tools that have remained unchanged for centuries, and although technology has changed, no power tools are utilised during the courses.
Examples of recent client work from the masonry workshops can be found in the blog, tagged under stonemasonry and client work.
The next stonemasonry course with available places is on .
View the complete current list of stonemasonry courses.
Letter Cutting Courses
Letters have been cut by hand into stone for thousands of years by many civilisations, with perhaps the most notable and recognisable being the Romans.
The letter carving courses are based on the creation of V cut lettering, an incised V cut into the stone that catches light and throws shadow. This is one of the traditional methods of cutting letters, and is far removed from the modern practice of sandblasted letters through a rubberised template stuck to the face of the stone. Our letter cutting workshops are both the ideal introduction to carving letters in stone, and the perfect opportunity to enhance your existing skills.
Using a hands on approach, we discuss and practice the fundamental constructs needed for successful letter cutting in both classical and contemporary styles, before applying them to the piece of lettering you’ll be taking home with you.
Examples of recent client work from the letter cutting classes can be found in the blog, tagged under letter cutting and client work. If you’ve previous experience of cutting letters then we can add to your skill set and increase the rate at which you work.
The next lettering workshop with available places is on .
View the complete current list of letter cutting in stone courses.
Stone Carving Courses
As with all of the courses, the stone carving courses are ideal if you’ve never worked with stone before.
The stone carving workshops follow the direct carving method, so there’s no need for any preliminary drawing or model making; using this approach allows you to let your skills develop as we progress, rather than struggle with trying to copy something from the off. However, please feel free to bring along your ideas, whether they be thoughts, sketches or photographs.
The courses are entitled carving gargoyles and grotesques, but you’re certainly not limited to this if you’ve another idea you’d like to explore; there have been some excellent pieces of work made by previous clients along entirely different themes.
The next stone carving course with available places is on .
View the complete current list of stone carving courses.
Gift Certificates
Gift certificates are available for the one day taster stone carving courses.
The certificates are valid for up to one year after the purchase date, so if you're looking for an unusual gift for the person with everything visit the one day taster carving course gift certificates page for further information.
Special Offers
Various courses are occasionally offered at reduced prices; these can either be found advertised on the individual course lists, or collected together on the offers page. Offers are subject to availability and the list changes on a regular basis.
Latest Posts
The blog section of the website is where you'll find posts showing the progress of clients during courses, various other items of stonework produced in the workshop, and information relevant to working with stone.
If you’d like an idea of what you could achieve, them please browse though the various sections.
Chinese Symbols For Tranquillity
The Chinese symbols for serenity, tranquil, or tranquillity, depending on the context. V cut in slate and finished with gold enamel paint. 300mm high by 150mm wide by 12mm thick.
MDF Letters, 12cm To 50cm High
Quality letters cut to order in 9mm thick Caberwood Pro MDF. Standard sizes: 12cm high: £2 each 20cm high: £4 each 30cm high: £9 each 50cm high: £21 each The letters are available in both uppercase and lowercase, and are … Continue reading
Elephant Wall Art
Another commission finished, a big blue elephant for Chloe, 38cm high, 62cm wide, 2.1cm deep. If you’d like to commission something then please do send a message. These can be mounted easily on a wall with Command Strips, or left … Continue reading
Wedding Gift Monograms
Another commission finished and a happy customer. A wedding gift 360mm high, 300mm wide, 24mm deep MDF. Loving the contrast of the matt black with the deep red Please do send a message if you’d like to commission a similar … Continue reading
Love, In Lincoln Cathedral Limestone
Love, cut by hand in Lincoln Cathedral limestone and finished with gold enamel paint, £25. The approximate sizes are 10cm high by 16cm wide by 2.5cm thick. Available for collection from the workshop at The Terrace on Grantham Street in … Continue reading
Start Of A Taster Stone Carving Course With Ken
The start of today’s taster stone carving course with Ken. Ken is working the border of the sunken panel surrounding his Fleur De Lis in Ancaster limestone.
Christmas Gifts Available
Christmas is coming and there’s lots of affordable handmade gifts available to buy at the workshop, all carved by myself in local Lincolnshire limestone. Single hearts finished in matt red enamel paint are £8 each, doubles finished in gold enamel … Continue reading
Letter S, Cut By Hand In Lincoln Cathedral Limestone
S is for sun. Cutting finished, gold enamel paint next. Traditional V cut letters done by hand, it’s all about the shadow. Individual hand drawn and cut letters available, message for more information.
The Start Of A Taster Stone Carving Course With Liam
The start of today’s taster stone carving course with Liam. Liam is making a start by cutting around the outline of his Fleur De Lis in Maltese limestone.
Entwined Hearts In Maltese Limestone
Entwined hearts cut by hand in Maltese limestone and finished with gold enamel paint. £15 each. Approximately 17cm wide by 12cm high by 4cm thick. Available to buy from the workshop at The Terrace on Grantham Street in Lincoln, LN21BD.
Phoenix Carved In Maltese Limestone
The end of a three day stone carving course with Gerry. Gerry has carved a phoenix in his Maltese limestone; he’s a complete beginner to carving stone but that hasn’t stopped him from producing an excellent result.
Shanti, In Lincoln Cathedral Limestone
Shanti, cut by hand in Lincoln Cathedral limestone and finished with gold enamel paint. Approximate sizes are 30cm wide by 27cm high by 3cm thick. £25, available to buy from my workshop at The Terrace on Grantham Street Lincoln, LN2 … Continue reading