Katherine Worthington

Stone Carver & Sculptor

STONE CARVING SCULPTURE & RELIEF courses

Learn stone carving and how to carve a sculpture or relief for beginners - advanced. In a class of 7 people* make something in 1 day or longer. This could make an ideal gift, or decorate your home/garden. Learn traditional carving skills. Group talks on the characteristics of stone and working in relief (raised or incised) and 3D. You may also get a chance to view some letter carving*


 Contact Katie if you are keen on future courses.


2017 Dates Hope to start in the summer.  

Time: 10.45am - 4.45pm  -  When: Saturdays or Sundays

Address: Islington, London, N1 (Full address TBA soon)


Relief carving/sculpture Ideas - carve a green man, face/head, animal, abstract/shape, part of a figure, hand, flower, architectural leaves/design, ornament, boat, house, landscape (see course photos below). There are no limits to a relief (incised) carving it is like drawing onto stone​.


Making a clay model - or templates* on the first day as a visual aid for the stone sculpture (depending on time), students may omit this and carve straight from their mind/brought ideas*, or book an additional course for more time.


Bring your own - sketches, pictures and ideas* to be looked at or choose from the course inspiration*.

Wear sturdy shoes - or steel toe cap boots (are best). Safety glasses provided. 


All materials are included in course cost (there are no hidden costs).


Small - medium stone of random size/type - is included in course cost. Approx carving time 1-3 days.

Stone is supplied to suit your design, timescale and whether you want to concentrate on learning technical skills, being creative, or both. Students will be asked this at the beginning of the course.


Creative learning - how to transfer your ideas onto the stone in an outline profile. Primarily the front face of the stone will be looked at for relief carving. For a sculpture the front, side, back and top will be looked at. This outline profile is then removed with tools and chiselling, for a relief the surrounding stone is dropped down leaving a raised profile protruding as a silhouette. For a sculpture large areas of 'negative space' are removed effectively working along lines, e.g. from front to back forming the silhouette. Detail is found and carved within the silhouettes, refining small forms, creating shadow and depth to make the carving come alive.

Technical control - of hammer and chisel will be taught individually and/or in a group. Learn correct use of hammer and chisels, carve a flat surface and effective removal of stone bulk. This is key to the successful progression of stone carving, often overlooked in other classes.


*Your brought ideas can be a sketch, printed pictures, books, magazines, Google internet. Objects to copy, such as ornaments, teddy bears, flowers, shells and leaves.

*Course Inspiration can be used as a visual aid for your clay model or templates. Choose portrait pictures, animal pictures, anatomical drawings/models, small animal toys. Life size human body casts, head/face, hands, fingers.

*Scaling your pictures to fit the stone and template - this is very effective and simple. There is a photocopying shop next door to the course where you can do this.

*Your Templates are an outline profile of the front, back, sides and top of the sculpture. If drawn onto card these can be traced onto the stone.

*Class size 7 (maximum) people. Sometimes rare errors can occur due to booking methods and the allowing of letter carving* students to the class, so the class size could fluctuate a bit.


View course reviews.


Click on Images - for large/best quality

Sculpture - beginner student - 4 day courseSculpture - beginner student - 4 day course
Beginner student's relief carving - 1 day courseBeginner student's relief carving - 1 day course
Alabaster sculpture - Torso - Katherine WorthingtonAlabaster sculpture - Torso - Katherine Worthington
Beginner student - Barbara Hepworth style holeBeginner student - Barbara Hepworth style hole
London Hippodrome - Unicorn - Katherine Worthington 2007London Hippodrome - Unicorn - Katherine Worthington 2007
Students work - 1 day courseStudents work - 1 day course
Relief style hand carving - Katherine WorthingtonRelief style hand carving - Katherine Worthington
Relief carving and template - beginner student - 4 day courseRelief carving and template - beginner student - 4 day course
Cartman relief - 18 cm square - 2 days carvingCartman relief - 18 cm square - 2 days carving
Students hard at work - crypt room 1Students hard at work - crypt room 1
Compass carvingCompass carving
St Mary's course venueSt Mary's course venue