Your design, your stone

Want to know more?

What you’ll make

Whatever design you want to carve. This could be a name (yours or someone else’s), a symbol or image that matters to you – flowers, cats, dragons, something personal. If you’re thinking of a three-dimensional piece or a large relief carving, that will need multiple sessions.

How long depends on both the design and the stone. A large green man relief in Maltese limestone might take two days. The same design in sandstone could need four or five days because the stone is harder to work.

We’ll plan the project in advance to work out realistic timescales and what stone suits it. I’ll be honest about how long things actually take rather than promising you’ll finish something in a day when it needs proper time.

I’ll demonstrate techniques specific to what you’re making, guide you through difficulties when the stone doesn’t behave as expected. But the design decisions are yours.

You’ll leave with a finished piece that began as your idea and was carried through to stone under your own hand.

For multi-session projects, your work stays at the workshop between sessions until it’s complete. I don’t let unfinished work leave – if it’s going out with my name attached to the teaching, it’s going out finished.

Stone choice

Entirely up to you, within practical limits. Maltese limestone works well for many designs and is provided as standard when it suits your project. If you want something else – Portland, Ancaster, Bath stone – we can arrange that.

Some stones I won’t teach with: granite needs specialist chisels; alabaster is too expensive and unforgiving for learning. And I stick to British stones plus Maltese – others take too long to source, and you can’t guarantee the quality when they arrive.

If you want a specific stone, contact me early. Some need ordering from the quarry and can take several weeks.

How it works

One-to-one tuition, or you can bring a second person if you’re working on related projects. Sessions run 10am – 4pm, the same structure as the foundation course but tailored entirely to what you’re making.

If you bring a second person, pricing is per person – I’m teaching two people, providing stone and tools for two, and managing two projects. Each person pays for their own course.

Morning tea/coffee is included, and there will be a lunch break between 12:30–1:15pm, else the Secret Cafe is next door if you don’t bring your own.

For multi-session projects, we’ll work out a schedule that makes sense – consecutive days, separate weekends, whatever fits the work and both our availability. Stone takes the time it takes.

What you’ll learn

That depends on what you’re carving. A name needs different techniques from a relief image. A flat design requires different planning from something three-dimensional. I’ll teach what’s relevant to your specific project rather than running through a standard curriculum.

If you’ve done the foundation or intermediate course, this builds on those skills. If you haven’t carved before but have a clear idea of what you want to make, we can work with that – though be realistic about what’s achievable depending on the complexity.

Pricing

Price depends on the stone choice, project complexity, and how many sessions you’ll need. A single-day project in Maltese limestone costs less than a multi-session piece or one using Portland stone.

Contact me with details of what you want to carve, and I’ll quote based on materials, complexity, and the time needed.

Practical details

Location: The Stone Man Workshop, Luddendenfoot, Halifax, HX2 6EQ. Free parking on site.

What to wear: Old clothes that can get dusty, closed-toe shoes (steel toecaps not required but sensible). Long hair should be tied back.

What to bring: Lunch if you prefer not to use the pub. Water and tea/coffee provided throughout the day.

Group size: Maximum 2 people per bespoke course, meaning individual attention when you need it.

Enquiry Section

Ready to carve your own design?

Contact me to discuss your project. I’ll need to know:

• What you want to carve (general idea or specific design if you have one)
• Preferred stone type (if you have a preference)
• Your timeline (especially if I need to order specific stone)
• Whether it’s one-to-one or paired tuition

Gift vouchers can be used for bespoke courses – mention this when you contact me.