Hand Engraving: Basic Principles In Person, 21st-22nd March 2026

Hand engraving is the embellishment of metal and 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 UK venues, and since 2020 online as well. Our courses are known for the quality of teaching and experience which we can deliver by using highly skilled professionals and keeping class sizes small. 

This in person course, provided by the Hand Engravers Association, is aimed at complete beginners and those with limited experience of the craft. All tools and materials will be provided during the course. Students must be aged 18 or over.

 
The course fee includes all the tools you need to start and carry on engraving; the graver, custom made scriber, sharpening plate and polishing paper.

** Members of the Hand Engravers Association can receive a £35 discount. Not a member? Join in minutes at https://membermojo.co.uk/handengravers **

Aims of the “two-day plus” course

- For beginners to develop a sound basic understanding of the tools, techniques and materials used in hand engraving, on which to progressively build skills and knowledge.

Basic Techniques Covered

- Holding methods.

- Marking out and transferring a design.

- Beginning to engrave supplied samples.

- Health and safety issues.

Format

- The course will run for two consecutive days plus an additional short follow-up session a couple of weeks later. Each full day will start promptly at 10am and finish at 4pm with an hour for lunch and breaks as needed. The follow-up session will start at 10am ONLINE. All times stated are UK times.

- A course WhatsApp group for all participants, the course tutor and the Hand Engravers admin staff will be set up, on which participants can ask questions and share work. This will be active for 2 months after the course.

- There is a maximum class size of 10 students to enable us, as far as we can, to tailor the course to the needs and level of the students.

- Students will learn through watching the tutor demonstrations and trying engraving for themselves. Students will learn to sharpen and set up their own graver which they can take home.

 Tutor: Vicky Tawamana -Sungirl Bespoke

Vicky is an award-winning jeweller, silversmith, and hand engraver with over twenty years’ experience across professional practice and education. Trained in Jewellery & Silversmithing, she specialises in hand engraving for jewellery and metalwork, combining precise surface work with strong technical and workshop practice.

Alongside her engraving practice through Sungirl Bespoke, Vicky has delivered jewellery and engraving education since 2005 across adult learning secondary education and FE, and specialist institutions including the Goldsmiths’ Centre. 

Course Requirements

All students must ensure they attend wearing appropriate clothing for a workshop setting including clothes that protect arms and legs, as well as close toed shoes, and something to tie long hair back.  

If you regularly wear glasses don’t forget to bring them, and for detailed viewing a pair of optivisors can be handy (not included in the course) which can be purchased from Amazon, or different tool supply companies such as Walsh’s or Cooksons. 

Course fees:

£330.00 (non members), £295.00 (members)

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.  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: Basic Principles

 

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.