Making Skills: Foundations for Further Study This intensive four-day programme offers a practical introduction to the core making skills that underpin West Dean’s Higher Education pathways. Through focused, hands-on sessions, students will build confidence, technical ability, and studio familiarity while gaining a clear insight into the expectations and experience of HE-level study.

Designed for incoming HE students, those considering applying, and learners seeking a skills top-up, each course acts as a foundation and taster—supporting a smooth transition into, or informed decision about, further study at West Dean.

This course aims to introduce you to metal forming by raising, forging and scoring hollow work, flatware or boxes. Those with more experience have the opportunity to develop these skills further. You will learn a range of techniques through demonstration and individual tuition.

This course is primarily focused on box-making techniques: forming over a pre-shaped former, scoring and forming, assembly of pre-formed sides and press forming. Estimating materials, the properties of metals, use of necessary tools, use of the gas torch for annealing and soldering and procedures for metal finishing will be covered.

Beginners should be able to accomplish a simple hinged box. Advanced students will develop their skills further.

Materials available to work with are silver, gilding metal and copper.

This course is part of a themed week of short courses selected to offer basic skills and an experience of what to expect from a Foundation Course or Higher Education course in a chosen subject area. These courses are taught by selected tutors who teach on or run the full-time courses at West Dean, who can give insight into the full-time programme and offer a snapshot of what to expect if you were to continue this pathway either at West Dean or another institution. Tutors teaching on this themed week are:

• Mary Dalton – Hybrid printmaking
• Vanessa Rolf – Object: memory - exploring tactile ways to tell stories
• John Norgate – Silversmithing with an emphasis on box making
• Adrienne Chinn – Interior design intensive – process, planning and presentation
• George Charman – Experimental concrete casting for sculpture
• Adam Greenwell – Blacksmithing – fundamentals and individual projects
• Melanie Rose – Painting inspired by Goldsworthy’s chalk stone walk
• Philip Sanderson – Tapestry weaving – the basics plus further techniques

There will be tutor talks on Tuesday, 8th September evening, from 5:15pm in The Old Library as part of the course. Studio visits are encouraged to share work and experiences (out of core teaching hours).

Included

The materials used on this course are not included in the course fee. You will need to purchase silver or copper to complete your project.

What students need to bring

You will need to purchase silver or copper to complete your project. The college stocks a small range for emergencies.

Please contact the bookings office at: [email protected] to speak to your tutor before starting the course to discuss the project and materials required before purchasing.

• Sketchbook, with a range of possible ideas
• 8" 2nd cut pillar file (may be borrowed from the College)
• 8" 2nd cut ½ round (may be borrowed from the College)

Available to buy

Available from shop:

• Tools (some tools are available for hire from the College)
• Pencils and drawing materials
• Piercing saw blades
• Solder

Additional information

Recommended bullion suppliers: Argex Ltd, Metalor Ltd, Exchange Findings Ltd, Bloomsteins. Please note: some bullion suppliers have minimum order levels (e.g. £25). Please ask for your requirements to be checked against this before placing an order.

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals.

Arrival day - first date of course
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration  
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm-9pm (attendance is essential)

Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am-5pm  
Morning session: 9.15am-12.45pm including coffee/tea break  
Lunch break: 12.45pm-2pm (lunch included)  
Afternoon session: 2pm-5pm including coffee/tea break  
Teaching finishes: 5pm    
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Departure day - last date of course
Course teaching: 9.15am-3pm (lunch included)  
Teaching finishes: 3pm  

Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am.
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.

Terms & Conditions