All things gold: Gilding course

Join Aaron Stephens, our in-house fairground artist and UK leading expert in gilding for this comprehensive four day workshop course based at the restoration workshops for Carters Steam Fair in While Waltham. Aaron will share his 15 years of experience of gilding both two dimensional and three dimensional objects. He has extensive experience of working with gold and aluminium leaf  on a regular basis so you’ll gain an excellent understanding of using these materials on a variety of projects.

Who is this course for?

This course is ideal for crafters, those working in heritage and restoration or for signwriters looking to add gilding to their skillset. Whether you want to gild weather vanes, gates, wood carvings and cornices or want to create eye-catching artwork or signs for retail, hospitality or vintage vehicles, this course will enable you to gild and reverse glass gild with confidence. These skills take patience to perfect but by sharing his personal tips and tricks of working with a variety of gilding materials, Aaron will give you the confidence to gild your projects effectively and will help you avoid making costly mistakes that can occur when you self-teach.

What will you learn on the course?

You will learn how to apply gold and aluminium leaf to two and three dimensional objects via a mix of live demonstrations and will have plenty of opportunities to get ‘hands-on’ and try techniques.

Topics include:

• Reverse glass gilding; Featuring water gilding, oil gilding, puntie cuts, paint effects and abalone shell.
• Demonstration of acid etching.
• Demonstration of brilliant cutting.
• Loose leaf oil gilding including prep.
• Transfer oil gilding including layout.
• Imitation leafs oil gilding; Aluminium, Copper and Variegated.
• Using flamboyant paint to create special effects and add style
• Oil Glaze effects.
• Basics of directional burnishing.

Please note these courses are very popular. To secure your place you need to book and pay the full fee. The courses hold a maximum of 5 people, and we work on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for our Refunds Policy.

Apply for funding for your course

Signwriting, gilding, fairground art and coach painting are heritage skills and some organisations offer funding to those interested in learning these traditional skills.

We encourage you to research funding opportunities with QEST, Heritage Crafts, Lettering Arts Trust and the Crafts Council.

Find out more

Download our course factsheet (PDF) for more information on course timings, where to stay, parking and how to find us.