Courses

I will be running letter carving  courses in stone on the weekends of 23rd-24th March and 22nd-23rd June. If you are interested in attending a course, please email me to check availibility. Places are limited to four per course so that you get plenty of instruction. Course costs are £220.00 for two days.

Want more in-depth tuition? I can give one-to-one teaching sessions at my workshop, covering drawing and layout and carving techniques in both wood and stone. The cost is £150 per day. Please contact me to discuss your requirements in more detail.

Course programme

Course Title: Letter Carving in Stone

Course Tutor: Simon Langsdale

Dates: 23rd-24th March and 22nd-23rd June 2024

Timings: Each course will run from 10am to 5pm each day

Location: Parndon Mill

                   Harlow

                   Essex

                   CM20 2HP

Course fee: £220.00 - There are places for a maximum of 4 people

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.

 I will have a selection of stones that you can choose to carve on. Alternatively, you may have your own piece of stone that you want to use. If this is the case please speak to me about this beforehand so that I can check the suitability of the stone for carving.

I will also have a wide selection of sources of lettering from my library to inspire you as well as examples of my own work. In preparation, think about a short word, (three to four letters max) that you may like to carve as this will save you time. 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 I will then show you the techniques that are used to carve letters in stone.  

I have 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 me know before the course begins if you will need any adjustments to the teaching (or if you are left-handed, as I carve 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, HB and or H

Pencil sharpener

Eraser

Ruler/set square

Calculator

Ideally a small drawing board A3/A2 in size. This can just be a wooden board

Dust mask to P3 and safety glasses

Covid mask

Steel toe capped boots or sturdy footwear

Packed lunch, water/flask for hot drink (There is a Sainsbury’s nearby)

I will supply all other equipment necessary for carving such as letter carving dummies (mallet), chisels, sharpening stones, easels and lighting. If you have your own dummy and chisels you may want to use these as you will be more familiar with your own tools. Should you wish to purchase your own dummy and chisels, I can give you details of suppliers.

Reading list :

If you are interested in getting some background reading in before the course, I recommend 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)

Payment:

Please pay by bank transfer. My account details are: Simon Langsdale Letter Carver,

Sort Code: 60-02-36

Acc No: 67679560

Contact Details:

Please feel free to contact me by email or telephone if you have any queries.

Simon Langsdale

Parndon Mill

Harlow

Essex

CM20 2HP

Mobile: 07701027042

Email: simonlangs@hotmail.co.uk

Website: www.simonlangsdalelettercarver.co.uk

Cancellation Policy: Once payment has been made, I can only offer refunds if I am able to fill your place.

If you test positive for COVID 19, or if you are required to self-isolate meaning you are unable to attend the course, I will offer you a place on a future course.

MY HISTORY

University of Roehampton

2006-07: studied calligraphy and bookbinding

Tom Perkins

2007-08: trained with the letter carver Tom Perkins in letter carving and letter drawing

MY VISION

I want to make letter carving more widely known about so that our environments can be enhanced with better quality lettering.

I have been fortunate to have received many hours of training from some of the country's finest calligraphers and letter carvers. I feel that I have a responsibility to pass on my skills, experience and knowledge so that others can benefit from the joy of this wonderful craft and art form.

USEFUL INFORMATION

The following sites may be of interest:

• https://calligraphyonline.org

• https://www.handcraftedtimber.co.uk

• https://largent-art.co.uk/tag/calligraphy/