Gilding and Verre Églomisé 5-day short course - 30 June-4 July 2025

Create your own stunning reflective artwork, by learning to apply and then etch in gold leaf on glass. After that we move on to oil gilding a small plaster cast, a technique you can go on to use on all sorts of surfaces, including plaster, wood and stone, indoors and out. Verre églomisé (gilding on glass) and oil gilding techniques have barely changed over the centuries and are amongst the most satisfying to learn.

Absolutely fantastic course, very informative and brilliant teaching. Really found something I love and feel like I’m leaving with confidence in a new skill.’ Alice

At the Art School, we teach our woodcarvers and our conservators a variety of techniques for the application of gold leaf to different surfaces and objects, old and new. In this short course, we introduce you to the specialist techniques of verre églomisé (gilding on glass) and oil gilding. The latter is suitable for use on external architectural features, including wood and stone, but in this course, you learn to apply it to plaster.

Verre églomisé, the technique of gilding the reverse side of a piece of glass, is now most often found in museums and galleries, and employed by sign writers and artists. In this course you learn how to apply loose gold leaf to glass, and then to etch your design in gold leaf, finally sealing it with coloured enamel. Along the way, we show you how to make size, and some interesting techniques for etching. You’ll be amazed at the end result of your endeavours: a stunning reflective artwork!

While the verre églomisé method is only ever used on glass, oil gilding is found on various substrates. Key to successful oil gilding is an understanding of how best to seal the substrate (though we will already have sealed the cast you’ll be working on) and working to timeframes (knowing when the size is perfect to then lay the leaf). Again, you learn how to apply loose gold leaf to plaster, using a gilder’s tip, and afterwards to ‘fault’ it, or identify where the gold has not taken. Getting it just right is tricky and requires guidance and a lot of practice.

With the skills you learn during this fascinating week, you’ll have all the essentials you need to start practising gilding at home.

What’s included: all teaching, and most of your tools and materials for gilding, including one book of gold leaf. Feel free to bring your own gilding equipment if you have some already.

What isn’t included: your meals, and bring a 1” flat sable brush and a small round sable brush no 1 or 2 Please also wear clothes you don’t mind spoiling, or bring an apron.

10% discount available for City & Guilds of London Art School undergraduate, postgraduate and foundation students and alumni, and staff. Contact [email protected] to receive the discount code.

Please note: in accordance with Eventbrite's Terms of Service, Eventbrite's fees are non-refundable. Any refunds made for Summer School bookings will have Eventbrite's fees deducted, unless we cancel the course. For more information, please see our terms and conditions.

‘An inspiring tutor who was not only able to give us her in depth knowledge but also to give us all individual time to work on what we wanted to try as the week went on. I felt like I’d achieved so much by the end of the week.’ Laura

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The Art School thanks The Grocers’ Charity for their generous support of this initiative.

City & Guilds of London Art School is a small, not-for-profit higher education provider in central London.

We specialise in teaching contemporary fine art, design, conservation and historic craft skills at Foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate levels, focusing on both traditional and contemporary skills, processes and theories.

Our summer short courses are a unique opportunity to step inside our renowned Art School, and explore and develop your skills and interests with our expert tutors.

Discover new talents, foster existing skills and develop your creative interests in a fun and supportive setting.

Class sizes are small, and our tutors make sure our intensive courses for adults (18 years +) are enjoyable and fun, as well as inspiring and informative. And as a student on one of our introductory courses, you’ll receive the same warm welcome that we extend to all our friends and students.

Current or former students (Foundation, BA or MA) of the Art School are eligible for 10% discount on all our summer courses.

Host or Publisher City & Guilds of London Art School