Gilding for Artists Class
Next Class Dates - Hampshire, England
Friday 26th June 2026
Friday 25th September 2026
The location is:
Making Space,
2 Bishopstoke Road,
Havant,
Hants.
PO95BN.
The cost for the course, is £195. This includes all materials for the class, as well as lunch.
To book a place on the course, please Send me an Email Here:
Incorporating gold, silver and copper leaf into your artwork
Gilding has been used by artists and craftspeople for thousands of years to bring light, richness and beauty to objects and surfaces.
Today, it remains an exciting and highly versatile process for contemporary artists wishing to add luminosity, texture, contrast and precious
detail to their work.
This one-day class has been designed as an introduction for artists who would like to explore how gilding can be incorporated into their own creative practice.
Whether you work in watercolour, oils, acrylics, mixed media, sculpture, photography, illustration, decorative panels or three-dimensional pieces,
this course will give you a practical and inspiring foundation in working with metal leaf.
You do not need any previous gilding experience. The class is suitable for complete beginners, as well as practising artists who would like to expand their
technical vocabulary and introduce new surface effects into their work.
What the course covers
During the day, you will learn how copper, silver, imitation gold and genuine gold leaf can be applied to a variety of artistic surfaces, including paper,
canvas and three-dimensional elements.We explore different ways of applying leaf, from covering larger areas to adding small, precise details. You will
also be shown how to paint fine lines in gold leaf, allowing you to introduce delicate highlights, decorative marks, contours and accents into your artwork.
The course includes chemical patination techniques, showing how copper and silver leaf can be altered to create beautiful and unexpected surface
effects. These may include verdigris, sulphurated colour work which create tarnishing, ageing and other decorative reactions that bring depth, atmosphere and
visual interest to a piece. You will also learn how to add texture and interest to canvases and surfaces before gilding, helping you understand how metal leaf can respond to
raised areas, brush marks, relief work and other surface qualities.
By the end of the course, you will have a clearer understanding of how gilding can be used as part of an artistic process, rather than simply as a decorative
finish.
What you will learn
• Apply copper, silver, imitation and genuine gold leaf to cover both small details and larger areas
• Paint fine lines and delicate marks in gold leaf
• Create texture and raised surface interest before gilding
• Use chemical patination to create verdigris, tarnished and sulphurated effects
• Protect and finish gilded surfaces where appropriate
• Develop ideas for using gilding within your own artwork
Who is this class for?
• Watercolour, oil and acrylic painters
• Mixed media artists
• Sculptors
• Decorative artists
Tools and materials
All tools and materials are provided for the course, including genuine gold leaf, copper leaf, silver leaf, imitation leaf, sample surfaces and the use of
specialist gilding tools and materials.
Students are welcome to bring along ideas, sketches, small artworks or surfaces they may wish to discuss during the class. Where suitable, you may be able
to experiment directly on your own piece, although completion of personal projects within the day cannot be guaranteed.
Friday 26th June 2026
Friday 25th September 2026
For more information on availability, location and course cost Send me an Email Here:
2 Day Intro to Gilding
These 2 days offer an ideal introduction to the mystery and fascination of gilding. You’ll learn how to handle leaf correctly, prepare surfaces, and explore the basics of oil, water and glass gilding — or even a taste of all three. Whether you’re amateur, professional or simply keen to learn a new skill, this course offers a fun, stimulating experience rooted in a craft whose history reaches back millennia.
READ MORE
1 Day Intro to Instacoll
This one-day practical course introduces participants to the
creative potential of Instacoll gilding mediums through any of the decorative and applied art fields.
With several hands on demos
and exercises, you will explore a range of Instacoll products. Suitable for those with
no previous gilding experience as well as offering refinements for those
who use any other traditional gilding methods.
Kintsugi
This 1 day Kintsugi class invites you to repair your cracked, chipped or broken ceramic or pottery pieces with pure gold, and turn those small imperfections into beautiful features. You can bring along needy vases, bowls and other vessels - or if you like, break something during class to repair! Using a range of materials, work on as many pieces as time allows, and turn those tragedies into treasures.
READ MORE
Personal Class
The Personal Class is ideal for those who prefer a private class with me here, or at your home / studio for an advanced learning experience. Arranged at your request, each session is tailored to your interests, skill level, and creative goals, ensuring focused tuition and development. All tools and materials can be brought to you, making the experience convenient and fully equipped. Sessions can be arranged for one-to-one tuition or shared with one or two others to help divide the cost.
READ MORE