Two-Day Introduction to Gilding

Next Class Dates - Hampshire, England

Friday 17th and Saturday 18th July 2026.

The location is:

Making Space,
2 Bishopstoke Road,
Havant,
Hants.
PO95BN.

The cost for the course, is £295. This includes all materials for the class, as well as lunch. Any extra goldleaf is availabe at trade cost, allowing you to gild as much as you like on your own projects.

To book a place on the course, please Send me an Email Here:

Discover the Ancient Art of Working with Gold Leaf

Gilding is one of the world’s most beautiful decorative crafts. For thousands of years, artists and craftspeople have used impossibly thin leaves of gold and other metals to transform ordinary surfaces into something luminous, precious and enduring. This two-day course offers a rich and practical introduction to the fascinating world of gilding. Whether you are an artist, restorer, frame-maker, designer, photographer, maker, or simply someone who would love to try something wonderfully different, this course will give you a confident foundation in the basic principles of the craft.

You may wish to gild glass, wood, furniture, frames, photographs, artworks, decorative objects — or perhaps you are simply curious to discover what is possible. Whatever your background, this class is designed to be friendly, stimulating and accessible, while still giving you a genuine insight into traditional gilding techniques.

What the Course Covers

Over the two days, you will be introduced to the three main areas of gilding:

Oil gilding — the most versatile and accessible form of gilding, suitable for a wide range of surfaces and projects.

Water gilding — the traditional method used on frames, furniture and decorative objects, capable of producing the beautiful burnished brilliance associated with historic gilded work.

Glass gilding — the specialist process of applying gold leaf to glass, creating bright reflective effects often seen in signs, panels and decorative glasswork.

You will learn how to prepare surfaces correctly, handle gold leaf with confidence, understand the different adhesives and materials used, and explore decorative effects using gold, silver, copper and imitation leaf. We will also look at patination techniques on silver and copper, giving you the chance to create aged, tarnished and decorative finishes.

Alongside the practical exercises, you will discover something of gilding’s long and fascinating history — a craft dating back more than 4,500 years to the ancient Egyptians, yet still wonderfully relevant to artists and makers today.

What you will Learn

By the end of the course, you will have a clear understanding of the basic principles behind gilding and how different methods are used for different surfaces and effects, including:

      •       Prepare surfaces for gilding
      •       Handle and apply metal leaf correctly
      •       Understand the difference between oil, water and glass gilding
      •       Work with genuine gold leaf and other metal leaves
      •       Create decorative patinated effects on silver and copper
      •       Choose the right process for your own future projects
      •       Avoid common mistakes when beginning gilding

The course is practical, relaxed and hands-on, with a selection of exercises designed to help you understand each process clearly. Two days gives enough time to enjoy the craft properly, ask questions, experiment, and begin to appreciate both the discipline and the beauty of working with gold leaf.

Bringing your own Project

Students are welcome to bring along a small item or project idea to discuss during the class. Where suitable, you may be able to begin gilding your own piece as part of the course, although completion within the two days cannot be guaranteed. This can be especially useful if you have a particular interest in frames, furniture, artwork, glass, photography, restoration or decorative surfaces.

Tools and Materials

All tools and materials are provided for the course, including genuine 23.5 carat gold leaf, metal leaf, sample pieces and the use of specialist gilding tools. Additional materials may also be available to purchase directly from the school should you wish to continue practising after the course.

Friday 18th and Saturday 19th July 2026.

For more information on availability, location and course cost Send me an Email Here: