As co-owner of The Sculpture Gallery in Leeds I offer stone carving courses for beginners in my studio at 1853 Studios. The focus is on getting people to enjoy the pleasures of an ancient art form and feeling the stone and how to work it rather than to create a work of art, that will follow.

Knowing how to carve the 5 elements of form with the right tools in the right way is a critical foundation to go an to realise your own creative designs. We use Ancaster Limestone as its ideal for beginners, its not to hard, takes an edge and a fine finish. The course runs for 2 days and usually students have mastered the 5 elements of form by the end of the 1st day and then spend the second day developing their own ideas and having a play, be it as relief carvings, abstract forms or even rudimentary faces.

If you're interested please visit The Sculpture Gallery website for details