Introduction to Gilding

Tutor - Richard Walker 1-day workshop Monday 7 December 2026, 10am - 4pm Gilding has been around for over 4500 years, and is conducted through three disciplines of oil, water and glass gilding. Celebrate this ancient craft by having a taster of two of these, oil and glass gilding, in a single project. You will create an antique-effect mirror in a gilded frame. In this introduction, you will work on a small frame using various metal (fake gold/copper/silver), and decorated to your own manner. The inset glass will be glass gilded in a Verre Églomisé decorative style in silver. The workshop will cover preparing the frame alongside an adjacent A4 piece of wood that will be used as a sample / tester piece to conduct various finishes. You will then select your favourite finish to complete upon the surface of the frame. The glass insert of the frame will also be gilded with pure silver, and decorated in a manner of your choice to create an antique mirror finish. By the completion of the day, you will have a basic understanding of the oil gilding technique on frames, in a range of different metals, including pure gold, white gold, copper and silver and have an introduction into patination of gold and copper finishes. You will understand the basic principles of applying silver leaf to glass, ways of tarnishing or antiquing the leaf and how to back-up the leaf up on the reverse of the frame. You may also bring small items for discussion about gilding, as well as engage in general conversation about the pedigree of this most beautiful of crafts. Please wear clothes and footwear suitable for a studio environment and bring a bag or box for taking your framed mirror home.