Carved in Stone: Relief Carving Inspired by Ancient Egypt

Dates:

10 weeks from 15th September 2026

15, 22, 29 Sept

6, 13, 20 Oct

October Half Term: 27th October 2026

2, 10, 17, 24 Nov

Course Outline

Release your creativity, unwind and learn an absorbing skill as you carve an elegant design in Portland limestone inspired by the art of Ancient Egypt. You’ll use hand tools to make a relief image on one side of a flat tablet of stone over ten Tuesday evenings.

Prepared patterns featuring Egyptian deities, pharaohs and scenes of daily life will be provided, making the course suitable for beginners and experienced carvers alike. You’re also welcome to bring your own designs if you prefer. Amanda will discuss the suitability of your designs and help you adapt them where necessary so they are practical for carving.

Throughout the course, you’ll also enjoy presentations about the skill and craft of Ancient Egyptian carvers.

This course is ideal if you’re interested in trying stone carving in a supportive setting. Beginners, creative adults and young people aged 16 or over are all welcome. If you’ve already started a relief carving project on a previous course, you’re also welcome to continue it. Simple templates will be provided for beginners, while more experienced carvers will be encouraged to challenge themselves with a multi-layered design featuring varied textures.

Please note this course does not include letter cutting.

Course Content

You’ll explore:

• Designing an Ancient Egypt-inspired relief sculpture
• Using a flat chisel tool to set out your design
• Creating the illusion of depth
• Making textures with a claw chisel
• Using a riffler to smooth your design and add detail

This course gives you the tools and space to shape something lasting—with patience, focus and your own hands. You’ll also discover how carving stone invites a kind of attention that is slower and quieter than your typical daily life, and something that is deeply connected to the material.

Materials
Provided: 

• UK-sourced Portland stone
• Tools
• Safety glasses
• Dust masks

You don’t need any particular skills when you first join the course. You’ll simply need the ability to hold tools in both hands: a chisel in one hand and a dummy (stonemason’s hammer) in the other.

You’re welcome to bring your own pictures or design sketches for a 20 × 20 cm stone tablet if you wish. Simple designs with few overlapping shapes are best. Your tutor will discuss the suitability of your designs and help you adapt them where necessary so they are practical for carving.

Tutor Bio: 
Amanda Randall is a stone sculptor whose work is inspired by plants, fungi and the forms found in the natural world. Using traditional mallets and chisels, she hand-carves mainly British limestone to create abstract sculptures that celebrate nature, material and biodiversity.

Alongside her studio practice, Amanda teaches stone carving to adults and young people through workshops and community learning programmes. She has delivered courses at venues including the Landmark Arts Centre, Ham Youth Club, Burngate Purbeck Stone Centre, Corfe Castle and the Geological Society. Through teaching and making, she aims to foster creative, compassionate communities while encouraging confidence, connection and hands-on engagement with materials.

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