Stone Carving: Magical Monsteras and Other Leafy Beauties

WEEKLY: Tuesdays, 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm

DATES: 5 weeks from 21st April 2026

21, 28 April
5, 12, 19, May

Class overview

Release your creativity, unwind and learn an absorbing skill as you carve an attractive botanical design in Portland limestone, using leaves and flowers as inspiration. You’ll use hand tools to make a simple relief image with a textured background, working over five Tuesday evenings.  Prepared patterns of a monstera leaf, echinacea flower, and ginko biloba leaf will be provided, which are suitable for beginners and experienced carvers alike, but you are welcome to bring your own designs if you prefer.  Amanda will discuss the suitability of your designs and help you to adapt them if necessary so they are practical for carving.

Please note this course does not include letter cutting.

What you’ll explore:

• How to design your botanical stone 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 and preparation

You’ll receive a UK-sourced Portland stone, tools, safety glasses and dust masks.

You do not 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 and a dummy (stonemason’s hammer) in the other.

You are welcome to bring your own pictures or design sketches for a tablet of stone 20 x 20cm if you would like. Simple designs of leaves without overlapping shapes are best as this course is only 5 weeks long. Roses are tricky!  Amanda will discuss the suitability of your designs and help you to adapt them if necessary so they are practical for carving.

Please note that this course does not include letter cutting. Please do not include letters or numbers in your image design.

What to wear

Please wear old clothes, an apron and sturdy closed-toe shoes, which are essential for your safety. Closed-toe shoes are a strict safety requirement – please do not come to class without them.

About the tutor

Amanda Randall is a sculptor who creates abstract stone carvings inspired by plants and fungi.

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