One Day Instacoll Class
Next Class Dates - Hampshire, England
Saturday 27th June 2026
Saturday 25th July 2026
Saturday 26th 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:
Contemporary Gilding with Instacoll: A One-Day Practical Course
Traditional gilding has always moved at the pace of ritual — slow, deliberate, and steeped in centuries of quiet knowledge. A meditative, contemplative endeavour. Contemporary gilding, by contrast, is brisk and adaptable, designed for modern studios and working lives. It keeps the magic of gilding alive while embracing materials that are flexible, forgiving, and immediate
The Instacoll System, is a contemporary approach to gilding developed by Kölner. Rather than replacing traditional practices, Instacoll offers a modern alternative that sits comfortably alongside them—extending what is possible while respecting what has come before. The Instacoll system consists of a few products that work well together to create an exceptionally clean and shiny finish, way beyond traditional oil gilding, without all the mess and labour of water gilding.
At its heart, Instacoll is a high-performance gilding medium designed to make gilding faster, cleaner, and more accessible, without compromising on finish.
It is a water-based acrylic gilding size that can be used with both loose and transfer leaf, producing an exceptionally bright and durable surface. In many
cases, it achieves a level of shine beyond that of traditional oil gilding, while requiring far less physical labour than water gilding, creating a uniform
finish that provides maximum brilliance of the gold application. In the field of gilding, this isn’t an improvised finish – it’s an engineered one!
What the Course Covers
This one-day practical course introduces participants to a range of Instacoll gilding mediums and their applications within contemporary decorative and
applied arts. Designed as a hands-on workshop, the day will focus on understanding the properties, working methods, and creative potential of Instacoll
products, including Instacoll Base, Miniatum, Signcoll, Instacoll Matt, Instacoll Rapid, Permacoll and related variants.
The course is suitable for artists, designers, sign-writers, decorators, conservators, and craftspeople who wish to expand their gilding practice beyond
traditional water or oil gilding methods. It is also suitable for complete beginners who wish to understand the simplicity of high quality finishes within
the gilding discipline, so no prior gilding experience is required, though those with existing knowledge will benefit from comparative
insights and technical refinements between the various disciplines.
Aims
The main aims of the course are:
• To introduce participants to modern water-based gilding adhesives
• To build confidence in selecting and using appropriate Instacoll products
• To develop practical skills in laying metal leaf on a variety of surfaces
• To explore both functional and creative applications of contemporary gilding
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day, participants will:
• Understand the differences between key Instacoll mediums and their intended uses
• Prepare suitable surfaces for Instacoll gilding
• Troubleshoot common issues such as timing, tack, and adhesion
• Leave with a series of sample panels and reference notes for future use
Saturday 27th June 2026
Saturday 25th July 2026
Saturday 26th September 2026
The location is:
Making Space,
2 Bishopstoke Road,
Havant,
Hants.
PO95BN.
To book a place on the course, please 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.
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1 Day Gilding for Artists
This 1 day class is designed for artists wishing to incorporate gilding into their work. You'll explore how copper, silver and gold can enhance papers, canvases, paintings, sculpture and enhance other creative disciplines. The course covers applying leaf to different surfaces, looking at patination and other special effects such as verdigris and applied colour work, painting delicate fine lines.
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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.
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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.
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