This is a two day intermediate class focusing on hand engraved lettering, so prior experience of engraving is desirable.  Lettering is a little different to other styles of art. We are taught how to construct letters from a very young age. We are all calibrated to know what an “S” should look like, and a G etc. Compare this to a flower where no two flowers are the same. We can draw a flower with artistic interpretation. Lettering comes with the customer having some expectation on the execution of the letter or text. A wonky ‘s’, a larger letter in the middle of a word or irregular spacing etc are all visual standards that the customer can and will judge. Although this may sound daunting, this adherence to a standard structure can actually work in our favour. It gives us, as engravers, rules in which to follow. If we have rules, we just need to follow them. This course will teach you the rules.

Step by step. What fonts work best for engravers? What tools to use? How to lay out and align text. What cuts are used and where ? How big should the letters be ?

What gravers to use and where to use them.

Talking of gravers and tools. We will be using 5 gravers. I will bring these so don’t worry if you don’t have them. A small flat 6, large flat 1.2, small round 4, large round 1. And our trusted square v graver.

It’s obviously going to be fun. That’s a given. We are going to start slowly on day one with some simple line fonts and end up on day two with a three letter ribbon cut Victorian monogram.

Hand engraved lettering is one of the most beautiful styles of engraving. It can turn a piece of jewellery into something personal and unique that the owner will cherish forever.