Courses
Course sizes are kept deliberately small so you can benefit from individual support and advice whenever it’s needed.
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Bespoke Training
10-session training course
This course will be run in the autumn/winter evenings across a total of 10 sessions. The sessions will not necessarily run on consecutive weeks, but can be followed on any available dates over the period. Sessions will run from 6.30-9.00pm (2.5hrs).
Bespoke (Hill House studio)<details to follow> – max 2 persons – £tbc
Itinerary
We can discuss this at the time of booking, to ensure the course is suitable for your skill level.
Contact me now for more information.
SUMMER 2025 WEEKEND WORKSHOPS
It’s amazing just how fast the first half of 2025 has gone and in the blink of an eye we’ve completed our spring and summer 2025 programme.
Lost in Stone, from a standing start in 2024, has now put on 12 courses for over 60 participants. Our aim is to introduce as many people as possible to the joys and benefits of stone carving and in pursuit of this aim Lost and Stone Carving Courses have been held at a variety of fantastic venues and historic locations across North and West Cumbria including;
CARLISLE ROMAN BATHHOUSE ARCHEOLOGICAL DIG SITE ( Carlisle Cricket Club)
BROUGHAM HALL (Penrith)
MUNCASTER CASTLE (Ravensglass)
THE SETTLEMENT (Maryport)
THE MAKERS MILL (Keswick)
HILL HOUSE STUDIOS (Aspatria)
GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION
GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION
We keep group sizes to about 6 people, to ensure each participant receives the attention they need. All courses are suitable for either the absolute beginner, or those with some previous experience.
Courses include all tuition and advice, use of tools and personal protection equipment (PPE), plus refreshments (tea, coffee & biscuits).
Accommodation is not included with the 2-day courses, but I am happy to help you with this, if needed.
Each course member will work on a block of limestone using one of my carving templates to produce a finished piece.
(If you have your own idea you want to work on, let me know in advance, and I can work with you to create a template suitable for the size of stone used in our courses).
Each day’s class runs from 9.30am-4pm with a break for lunch.
You’ll receive full tuition on how to use the tools, learn the basics of carving and get advice on carving techniques. You will be able to create a finished carving of your own to take away with you.
We are currently working to be able to offer 3 day courses at unique venues throughout Cumbria, price to be confirmed.
Typical Itinerary
Day One, I will help you take a blank piece of stone to completion of preparatory work and where the rough form has been carved ready for Day Two.
Day Two, the focus is on learning how to carve to add detail, and completing your finished carving.
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Lost in Stone – Whale tail carving day
We were made to feel welcome from the moment we pulled up outside the workshop – It’s a great venue with a happy relaxed atmosphere and everything you need to spend a day focused on carving. There are individual work benches, everyone has plenty of space to work and the course structured and very well organised.
Tonys obvious enjoyment and passion for stone carving is contagious and before long we were all completely absorbed by the experience. He’s is an excellent tutor – calm, very patient, happy to share his knowledge, pass on tips and his clear instructions with informative demonstrations ensured that we all got the most from the day.
We made two group bookings – each a mix of very different skill levels and every one of us went home with a carving we are proud of.
We would definitely recommend this course to anyone interested in trying something new.
– Solway Wooodcarving Group
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The Lost in Stone course was a fantastic introduction to stone carving. As a complete beginner, who isn’t the most practical person, I wasn’t sure what I’d end up with! I was delighted with the end result and my green goddess carving has pride of place in the garden. Looking forward to the next one!
—Jody, Carlisle
I did Tony’s stone carving workshop for beginners and it was absolutely brilliant. I have never done any kind of stone carving before and wondered how I was ever going to get a good looking carving in two days. Tony was a fantastic tutor – patient, knowledgeable and let everyone work in their own way and with their own style. My green goddess looks wonderful out in my yard and I love showing it to people who come round and telling them ‘I carved that!’ I would highly recommend the course to everyone who wants to have a go. I would love to come back and do some more.
—Cath, Carlisle