Illuminated Letters Workshop - Saturday 7th November 2026

Join us as we explore the beautiful world of calligraphy, specifically illuminated letters, creating your very own work of art.

Illuminated letters are the embellished, oversized capital letters, marking the beginning of a paragraph or section in medieval manuscripts such as the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Kells. These traditional works of art now adorn contemporary notecards and even interiors.

Following an introduction to the history of illuminated letters and the traditional materials used to create them, you will be guided through the techniques of creating and transferring a design, influenced by sample lettering from the Victorian era.

Your talented tutor will show you how to flat gild and burnish parts of your letter with 23ct gold leaf and give you a step-by-step process to paint in rich gouache colours with small brushes. Your finished masterpiece, approximately A5 in size, will put your newly acquired skills to use and will be complete in time to take home with you – to frame and be admired by all.

This special workshop will run from 10.00am until 4.00pm, with pause for a ploughman-style lunch. Your lunch and all the material to create your illuminated masterpiece will be provided, as will a workshop apron for you to wear during your day.

For an illuminating, gold leafed day of creativeness, be sure to join us!

Places on this workshop are limited to 8.

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Our workshops are for adults aged 16+. Exceptions can sometimes be made for those aged 12-16, by prior arrangement. Booked places on our workshops are non-refundable and non-transferable. If we should have to cancel a workshop for any reason, a substitute date for the same workshop will be arranged. If this cannot be achieved, a full refund will be given. Participants bringing along valuables and personal property to a workshop do so at their own risk, and participants are responsible for their own safety when attending a workshop.  For more details, please read our Terms and Conditions.

The space we use for our workshops is airy with plenty of ventilation. If you have any concerns regarding covid, click or tap here to find out more.