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Course intent

If you've completed a beginner’s calligraphy course, this inspiring course will help you take your skills to the next level. Illumination means ‘lighting up’, and when we look at Medieval manuscripts, we notice that the gold and some other pigments, reflect and bring light into the decoration. In this course, we’ll explore both traditional and more contemporary methods of gilding and decorative techniques to elevate your calligraphy. Calligraphy will be an important part of this course, and you may wish to work on the two topics of calligraphy and illumination independently or combine them together.

What will I learn?

You will learn

Design Techniques: Learn how to focus on a specific historical era and combine the calligraphic styles of that period with its decorative elements—whether Medieval, Renaissance, or even contemporary manuscripts. Explore how to use colour effectively to enhance your work and gain confidence by working on a range of projects and layout designs.

Material Knowledge: Advance your skills with a dip pen, mastering broad strokes for expressive writing. Explore various types of paper and their suitability for different techniques. Learn how to mix colours and incorporate a range of inks into your work. Discover gilding materials such as Dutch metal and powdered metallics, and how to apply them to enrich your designs.

Craftsmanship: Develop your understanding of calligraphic tools and techniques. Focus on the precise formation of each letter, working systematically through the alphabet to build fluency and control.

Production Process: Study the creation of drawn capitals, known as Versals, and explore their stylistic variations and embellishments. Learn traditional and contemporary gilding methods using materials like Dutch metal and powdered metallics to add brilliance and texture to your work.

Workshop Practice: Recognise the importance of maintaining a clean, safe working environment and understand key health and safety requirements in the studio.

Who is this course for? Is there anything I need to know before joining?

Stage 2 - Suitable for learners who have completed stage 1 and would like to gain more experience and refine their skills within their chosen subject area. The focus will be on developing more control and proficiency in practice and learning and completing more complex projects.

This course is for those who have attended at least a year of calligraphy and may have looked at some illumination. You should be familiar with writing with a broad edged nib and are comfortable writing in gouache. You should know how to do a cut and paste layout and how to design, trace and draw a simple decorated capital.

What do I need to bring to the first class? Will there be any extra costs?

Your usual calligraphy materials, Pen, nibs and reservoirs, sketch or layout paper (A3), a hard and a soft pencil (2H and HB). The tutor will go through materials as and when required. Gilding materials may be purchased through the course.

What can I do when I finish the course?

At the end of 3 terms, you can progress on to the Stage 3 Calligraphy course. Throughout the year you can enrich your understanding by enrolling on different workshops. You can join a local calligraphy group or do further study with the Calligraphy and Lettering Arts Society (CLAS) or the Society of Scribes and Illuminators (SSI). Your Tutor will be happy to advise you.

Additional Information

We welcome learners with additional needs and disabilities. When you enrol, please let us know if you would like to discuss your extra support needs with a member of the Supported Learning Team who will then contact you as soon as possible. If you are enrolling within 10 days of the course start date, we may not be able to contact you before your first class.

We value and support equality, diversity and inclusion by promoting fairness and respect at all times.

How to enrol

You can't currently enrol online for this course, so please call 0300 200 1044 to express your interest or to make an enquiry for further information.

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