Hand Engraving: Focus on Lettering, one day workshop - Friday 4th December, London
Organised by the Hand Engravers Association at Cockpit Bloomsbury, London WC1

 

Hand engraving is the embellishment of precious objects using traditional engraving tools known as gravers. British hand engravers are some of the best in the world – and it is crucial that we preserve this part of our heritage. The Hand Engravers Association of Great Britain was formed to raise the profile and preserve the skills of this specialist craft and its practitioners.

The Hand Engravers Association has been running courses introducing hand engraving to beginners for over ten years at London venues, since 2019 at a Manchester venue and since 2020 online. Our courses are known for the quality of teaching and experience which we can deliver by using highly skilled professional engravers and keeping class sizes small. 

This workshop course, provided by the Hand Engravers Association at Cockpit Bloomsbury in London WC1, is aimed those with some experience of the craft who wish to develop their skills in lettering. It is not suitable for beginners. Students must be aged 18 or over.

** Members of the Hand Engravers Association can receive a 10% discount. Not a member? Join in minutes at https://membermojo.co.uk/handengravers **

 

Aims of the one-day workshop

This will be an introduction into engraving lettering; specifically monograms. You'll learn the traditional techniques used to create beautifully balanced Victorian-style monograms, from understanding classic letterforms and layout to developing confident engraving cuts. Suitable for those with some engraving experience as well as engravers looking to expand their decorative lettering skills.

This is for students who have had some previous experience with engraving and will have some basic skills, and samples of their engraving. Please note this workshop is not suitable for complete beginners (who may wish to book one of our Hand Engraving: Basic Principles courses first).

 

Basic Techniques Covered

The tutor will demonstrate cutting lettering in a monogram.Students will then be given the opportunity to create their own design and under the guidance of the tutor, practice cutting a monogram or name.

 

Format

 - The course will run for one day 10am-4.30pm

-  It is taught by a professional engraver in an intimate setting with a small cohort of students.  

-  Students will learn through watching demonstrations by the course tutor and trying engraving for themselves, on copper supplied by the tutor.

-  Students should bring their own square graver, sharpening stone/plate, scorper (optional), scriber, pencil, ruler, compasses and dividers.  Tools will also be available to borrow, as well as purchase from the tutor.

 

Tutor: John Cook

John trained in hand push engraving in Florence, Italy, under the supervision of Beppe Casale. He is the winner of numerous engraving awards, most recent being the 2025 Goldsmiths award for hand engraving and the UK Hand Engravers Association design award for copperplate 2024.

Course fees:

£250

*** Discounts are available to members of the Association.  Please contact info@handengravers.org.uk for more information.

Payment in full required at time of booking. We can accept credit/debit card payments via the PayPal facility provided at the end of this form, no PayPal account needed.  To take advantage of the discounted members rate, you can join in minutes at www.membermojo.co.uk/handengravers

For access purposes, if you require the booking form in a different format please email us at info@handengravers.org.uk and include your name and contact phone number and we will do our best to assist you.

To tailor the course to your needs, please tell us a little about . . .

Terms & Conditions – Hand Engraving: Focus on Lettering (in person)

 

Please read these terms and conditions carefully to ensure you fully understand them before making a booking.

Please read the following terms and conditions relating to your booking with the Hand Engravers Association. BY BOOKING A COURSE WITH THE HAND ENGRAVERS ASSOCIATION IT CONSTITUTES AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

1. Please note in order to arrange the courses, all details provided in this booking form including your name, email and telephone number will be shared with the course tutor and staff at the Hand Engravers Association. These will be kept confidential.
2. We cannot hold places unless we have full payment in advance accompanied by a completed booking form. Once we have received these we will confirm your place by email.
3. Payments should be made by bank transfer or by PayPal via the course booking form page. You must pay all charges and costs incurred in connection with any payments made to by bank transfer to the Association.
4. Courses are open to anyone aged eighteen and over.
5. The Association will not be held liable for the safety of the participants for any injuries or accidents that happen during the course. You are responsible for ensuring that you use the tools in an appropriate manner.
6. The course fee and access is per person, so your place is for one named student only and is not transferrable. Course notes are solely for the student’s own use and must not be shared or passed on in any format.

CANCELLATION or CHANGES TO THE COURSE
7. We are a small charitable organisation committed to passing on our skills. Please bear in mind that while we aim to be as flexible as possible, due to the small numbers on our course, any last minute cancellations could be detrimental to our programme.
8. If you wish to cancel your booking, please inform the Association staff as soon as possible by email. If you cancel your place for any reason you must give us three weeks’ notice in writing to obtain a refund. The refund will be subject to a cancellation fee of £30
9. If you cancel for any reason with less than three weeks’ notice we will only refund your payment if we are able to find another student to take your place and you return any tools and materials you may have received from us in unused condition, at your own cost. This refund would also be subject to cancellation fee of £30.
10. If we cancel the course you have booked we will offer you a suitable alternative course or refund your fee in full.
11. We reserve the right to make minor changes to the course content and administration arrangements at any time
12. We reserve the right to discontinue or suspend a course up to 14 calendar days before the advertised start date of the Course if
• It is not financially viable to run the course
• the course is no longer viable for academic, regulatory, legal and/or market-related reasons.
13. We always hope to run our courses as advertised. If due to circumstances beyond our control a tutor becomes unavailable we reserve the right to either substitute an alternative tutor or cancel at short notice. If we have to cancel, we will refund your fee in full.
14. If you have booked onto a course which is cancelled by the Association, we will notify you by email of any such cancellation and you may request either:
• to be rebooked onto the next available course
• a full refund
15. The Association reserves the right to cancel a course if it is prevented from or delayed in the carrying on of its business due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control. In such circumstances, you will be entitled to receive a full refund.
16. The Association is not liable for business losses. We have no liability to you for any loss of profit, loss of business, business interruption, or loss of business opportunity
17. Should you arrive late or not at all the Association will not be able to offer a refund. We suggest you look at more than one travel option in advance.

STUDENT PARTICIPATION
18. We expect that, at all times, all participants behave with respect and without discrimination toward tutors, staff and fellow students. The Association reserves the right, acting reasonably, to remove you from the course in circumstances where your conduct is deemed by the Association to be damaging to the Association or its reputation. If you are removed from the course in accordance with this clause, the Association will not refund any sums paid by you to the Association.
19. You must indicate any concerns you may have in relation to access/technology etc at the time of booking. You will then be contacted by a member of the Association’s staff who will discuss your individual requirements.
20. If we are unable to offer you access to the course of your choice we will inform you and your name will be added to a waiting list. Any sums you have already paid to the Association in respect of this course will be returned to you.