Enamelling with Heather Larson

Photography credit: Juliet Sheath

Course:	Enamelling
Date:	26-28 August 2026 (residential)
Price:	£850
Tutor:	Heather Larson
Objective:	Learn enamelling techniques on silver, including preparation of enamels and hand finishing.

Book NOW

Aim of the course

In this course you will learn champlevé and cloissoné enamelling techniques on silver through demonstrations and both group and one-on-one instruction.

Designed for makers who want to add enamelled elements to their work, participants will learn about selecting appropriate silver alloys, preparing and texturing metal, and how to grind and apply enamels. We will cover use of electric and gas fired kilns, safe handling of enamels, and hand finishing techniques.

Participants will make a series of enamel samples and one or two enamelled pieces.

What you will learn:

An understanding of how to design for enamel and select the appropriate metal

Knowledge of enamelling techniques
How to prepare enamels and make samples
How to wet lay enamel and place cloisonné wires
Hand finishing techniques for enamel

FAQs

Why Bishopsland?

We offer the time and space to develop your skills alongside a community of other makers in similar situations to yourself. Swap stories of life as a designer-maker, share ideas, challenges and solutions. We allow plenty of time for communal discussions and relaxation so, although you will be joining us to learn, we aim to also provide a fun and enjoyable community atmosphere.

Our inherent understanding of silversmithing and the expert nature of the tutors leading each workshop mean that the course will directly feed into your practice. Tutors will taylor their teaching and provide detailed 121 feedback to as to maximise the return on your time and financial investment.

Who is this course designed for?

You will be an intermediate maker with prior experience of creating jewellery and objects in a workshop setting. We will induct you on our workshop practices and the tools/machines that you will use during the course, but a good understanding of tasks such as using abrasives and working with precision will be helpful.

How is the course tailored to my needs?

This three-day course is designed to empower jewellers and silversmiths to take control of your materials, enhance your practices, and work more sustainably. A key takeaway will be that you will have gained confidence in using enamel to enhance your work.

We will ask you in advance what your key objectives are for the course, and how enamelling fits into your practice, so that over the three-day course we can ensure your learning is customised to deliver the most impact on your professional practice.

Course outline

Day 1: Wednesday 26 August 2026

Learn

We will spend today learning about different types of enamels, metals suitable for enamelling, and designing work with enamel in mind. We’ll discuss how to prepare metal and enamels for the best quality outcome and how to use kilns

Plan your enamel designs for Day 2
Texture silver pieces for colour samples
Texture pre-etched sterling silver blanks for your enamelled pieces using a pendant motor (participants with engraving experience can experiment with engraved textures)
Grind and wash enamels
Make enamel samples

Day 2: Thursday 27 August 2026

Learn

Today will be a discussion and demonstration of wet laying and tools for applying enamel.

Complete enamel samples, if necessary
Enamel your pre-etched champlevé blanks, option to use cloisonné

Day 3: Friday 28 August 2026

Learn

The focus on Day 3 is finishing techniques for enamel and on completing your enamelled work. You will learn about abrasives for enamel, how to use them, and the difference between hand finishing and a fired finish. We’ll also discuss ways to use a pendant motor for the finishing stage.

Hand finish one or both of your enamelled pieces, depending on time

Materials and tools list for participants

Materials required

Participant to bring/buy

Bishopsland/Tutor to supply

Sketchbook and pen/pencil
A fine 000 paint brush, ideally sable
Fine pointed tweezers
A ceramic mortar and pestle for grinding enamel, if you have one.

We will supply etched blanks for champleve and will confirm the small cost in advance.
We will also supply all enamels, but if you have your own that you would also like to experiment with, please do bring them.

Accommodation

This is a residential course with all teaching delivered within Bishopsland’s purpose-designed silversmithing and jewellery workshops. You will be staying in our student houses, which are a short walk from the workshops. The houses are Grade II listed cottages. They are basically but comfortably decorated and furnished. Rooms vary from single to double. The accommodation is offered as a convenient, and low cost, option for staying locally.

Your course fee includes 3-nights accommodation (arrive Tuesday, depart Friday once the course finishes).

Is financial assistance available?

Unfortunately, Bishopsland cannot discount or provide financial assistance to cover the course fee or your material costs. We will, nearer the time, try to arrange a bullion loan for those who require it (your costs would be for processing, and the material would need to be returned after the course).

There are organisations that might provide funding and we recommend you research grants available through The Goldsmiths Centre, Heritage Crafts or The Benevolent Society.

Next steps

Please go to the booking page. Once your booking is made, you will receive a confirmation email. In the run-up to the course next August, you will receive full joining instructions in plenty of time.

Contact us

For all questions related to this course, please contact Claire Murdoch: c.murdoch@bishopsland.org.uk

Lastly, we are looking forward to welcoming you to Bishopsland.

Heather Larson

Enameler

Heather Larson is a Buckinghamshire-based maker, who specialises in basse-taille enamel. She has won a number of awards for her work from the Guild of Enamellers and the GCDC and is a regular tutor at the Jewellery and Silver Society of Oxford.

Book NOW