Whether you’re discovering engraving for the first time or building on existing skills, our courses and workshops give you the opportunity to learn directly from professional engravers. With expert tuition, small class sizes, and a supportive environment, you’ll develop traditional hand engraving techniques at your own pace.
Become a member and enjoy discounted course fees.
Current Courses
Hand Engraving: Basic Principles ONLINE
Learn at Home
Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 March 2026, 10am - 4pm
Two-day intensive course with follow-up session: Saturday 21 March 2026, from 10am.
Stay updated on future courses by subscribing to our newsletter.
Fee: £305 (non-members) / £270 (members)
Tutor: Angus McFadyen
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An in-depth introduction to the tools, techniques and materials associated with hand engraving. Students will learn from live demonstrations by the professional hand engraver tutor and have plenty of opportunity to try engraving with traditional push tools.
This online 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 sent out in advance of 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.We replicate the workshop atmosphere and individual attention our students would receive in a face-to-face course as much as possible by keeping class sizes small, up to ten students maximum. Good internet access, a laptop/tablet and a smartphone are required.
Aims of the 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 is taught by a professional engraver online and will run via Zoom.
- 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. The follow-up session will start at 10am on Saturday 18th October. 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 live demonstrations and trying engraving for themselves. The tools will be set up for you and sent out with all materials prior to the course starting.
Hand Engraving: Basic Principles ONLINE
Learn at Home
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July 2026, 10am - 4pm
Two-day intensive course with follow-up session: Saturday 8 August 2026, from 10am.
Stay updated on future courses by subscribing to our newsletter.
Fee: £305 (non-members) / £270 (members)
Tutor: Angus McFadyen
-
An in-depth introduction to the tools, techniques and materials associated with hand engraving. Students will learn from live demonstrations by the professional hand engraver tutor and have plenty of opportunity to try engraving with traditional push tools.
This online 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 sent out in advance of 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.We replicate the workshop atmosphere and individual attention our students would receive in a face-to-face course as much as possible by keeping class sizes small, up to ten students maximum. Good internet access, a laptop/tablet and a smartphone are required.
Aims of the 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 is taught by a professional engraver online and will run via Zoom.
- 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. The follow-up session will start at 10am on Saturday 18th October. 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 live demonstrations and trying engraving for themselves. The tools will be set up for you and sent out with all materials prior to the course starting.
About the Tutors
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Angus is a professional silversmith and engraver with over 25 years of experience producing tableware and working to commission. The majority of Angus’ work is surface decorated with low relief pictorial engraving, often with gold or silver inlays. In recent years Angus has specialised in clock and watch engraving. Angus is an experienced workshop leader, having taught at the Goldsmiths’ Centre and for the Creative Dimension Trust.
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Anastasia is a highly experienced educator, with more than two decades of teaching at Central Saint Martins, as well as Morley College, School of Jewellery Birmingham and several international venues. She is the author of four technical jewellery books, including The Workbench Guide to Jewellery Techniques and Gemstone Settings.
Anastasia has been engraving for twenty years, specialising in surface engraving and copperplate, for which she has been recognised with a Silver Award in the Senior Engravers section by the Goldsmiths Craft and Design Council in 2022.
Examples of her work can be seen HERE.
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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.
Explore All Our Courses
We offer a range of workshops, including:
Hand Engraving: Basic Principles
An introduction for beginners, covering the essential tools and techniques.
Hand Engraving: Focus
Follow-on courses for those building their skills or exploring a specialism.
Browse the courses below and register your interest.
Hand Engraving: Basic Principles
In Person or Online
Learn the tools and techniques of hand engraving on metal with guidance from a professional tutor in person. All equipment is provided, and you’ll take home your engraved copper sheet along with your own graver.
Hand Engraving: Taster Sessions
Curious about hand engraving? Our three-hour Taster Sessions let you watch live demonstrations from a professional tutor and then try engraving with traditional tools.
Hand Engraving: Focus
on Traditional Scroll Carving
Learn traditional scroll engraving with deep relief carving techniques used by gun engravers. The tutor will demonstrate transfer and cutting methods before guiding you through carving a scroll into brass.
Hand Engraving: Focus
on Tool Preparation
Discover how to set up and maintain an onglette, round, and flat graver, with demonstrations from a master engraver. Students will prepare their own set of tools to take home and practise re-sharpening under guidance.
Hand Engraving: Focus
on Lettering
An introduction to engraving lettering for inscriptions, from single initials to short texts. The workshop focuses on two contrasting styles, bold roman and flowing script, giving students the chance to develop skills in both.
Hand Engraving: Focus
on Seal Engraving
This workshop offers an introduction to the specialist skill of seal engraving, giving line engravers the chance to learn the techniques involved in cutting seals.
