Silversmithing Summer School
Charlestown, Cornwall
5 full days of jewellery making — the fastest way to properly learn silversmithing.
A week to slow down, learn properly and make jewellery you’re proud of.
If you’ve ever wanted to fully immerse yourself in jewellery making, this is it.
Over 5 days, you’ll spend focused time at the bench, building real skills, gaining confidence and creating your own jewellery in a calm, supportive studio environment.
This is not a quick experience — it’s a proper learning week.
Dates for 2027
Jewellery Essentials Summer School (early summer)
Monday 10th May – Friday 14th May 2027
🕙 10 AM – 4.30 PM daily
📍 Charlestown, Cornwall
£495 per person | Maximum four students
If you’ve always wanted to learn how to make silver jewellery, this is your chance to spend a whole week discovering what you can do.
Over five days in my Charlestown studio, you’ll learn the core techniques of traditional silversmithing, with clear demonstrations, individual guidance and plenty of time to practise.
You won’t simply follow instructions to make the same pieces as everyone else. I’ll help you understand how the tools and techniques work, so you can develop your own ideas and make jewellery you’re genuinely proud of.
What we’ll cover
- Sawing, piercing and shaping silver.
- Soldering confidently and understanding how it works.
- Filing, sanding and achieving a professional finish.
- Forming and texturing metal.
- Making rings, pendants or earrings to your own designs.
- An introduction to setting a cabochon stone.
- Choosing appropriate tools, materials and techniques for different projects.
You’ll have around 30 hours of practical making time, which gives us the freedom to slow down, revisit anything you find tricky and build your confidence properly.
This week is ideal for complete beginners, anyone returning to jewellery making after a break, or those who have tried a short workshop and want to learn more.
No previous experience is needed. Just bring your curiosity and be prepared to leave with new skills, finished jewellery and plenty of ideas for what to make next.
Secure your place with a deposit. Payment by instalments is available.
Silversmithing: Next Steps (Intermediate/Advanced)
Monday 23–Friday 27 August 2027: FULLY BOOKED
NEW DATE ADDED
Monday 9th August – Friday 13th August 2027
🕙 10 AM – 4.30 PM daily
📍 Charlestown, Cornwall
£550 per person | Maximum four students
If you already have some experience at the bench and want to move your jewellery making forward, this week gives you the time, support and freedom to take on more ambitious work.
Rather than following a fixed project, you’ll develop techniques around your own interests and ideas. Before the course, I’ll ask what you would like to explore so I can plan demonstrations and guidance around the group.
Depending on your experience and the projects you choose, we might cover:
- More advanced soldering and managing multiple joins.
- Hollow forms, domed shapes and three-dimensional construction.
- Bezel, tube and prong settings for different stone shapes.
- Making settings for oval, round and pear-shaped stones.
- Creating simple hinges, articulated elements and handmade chains.
- Working with Mitsuro Hikime and other wax-modelling techniques.
- Improving accuracy, fit and structural strength.
- Professional finishing and polishing.
- Troubleshooting when a piece doesn’t go to plan.
You’re welcome to bring your own stones, sketches, unfinished projects or an idea you haven’t yet felt confident enough to attempt.
With just four students, there is time for proper one-to-one guidance, detailed demonstrations and the occasional change of direction when a project develops.
This course is suitable for makers who can already saw, file and solder and want to build on those foundations. Previous summer school students and returning learners are particularly welcome.
By the end of the week, you’ll have developed new skills, tackled more challenging techniques and made jewellery that reflects your own ideas—not somebody else’s project sheet.
Following the success of this year’s course, all four students have already booked their places for next summer.
Join the waiting list below to hear about cancellations or future Next Steps courses.
WHY THIS IS DIFFERENT
A single day is a great introduction.
A full week changes everything.
With around 30 hours of making time, you’ll move beyond just following instructions and start to really understand the process.
You’ll have time to:
develop your own ideas
practise techniques
refine your work
build confidence
What You’ll Learn
Jewellery Essentials (Beginners):
- Sawing and filing silver
- Texturing and shaping
- Soldering basics
- Polishing and finishing
- How to design and make your own simple pieces
Silversmithing: Next Steps (Intermediate/Advanced):
- Advanced soldering and construction
- Stone setting (tube, flush or prong)
- Hinge making for lockets or articulated pieces
- Hollow construction (pods, beads, or containers)
- Professional finishing techniques
THE EXPERIENCE
The studio is small, calm and focused.
You’ll be working alongside a small group of like-minded people, with plenty of individual support throughout.
There’s no pressure, no rushing — just the time and space to properly learn.
who this is for
This is ideal if:
- You want to properly learn jewellery making
- You’ve done a taster course and want more
- You’d like a creative week focused on making
- You enjoy learning in a small, supportive group
Suitable for beginners and those with some experience.
Prices and booking
Spend a week immersed in the joy of jewellery making. Whichever course you choose, you’ll leave with new skills, fresh inspiration and pieces you’ll be proud to wear or gift.
Jewellery Essentials (Beginners)
📅 Monday 10th – Friday 14th May 2027
💷 £495 per person
Silversmithing: Next Steps (Intermediate/Advanced)
📅 Monday 9th – Friday 13th August 2027
💷 £550 per person
Payment options
I know committing to a course is a big decision, so payment in stages is available.
A deposit secures your place, with the remaining balance payable in instalments before the course begins.
If you’d like to chat through options, just drop me a message.
FAQ
What will I make during the week?
You’ll make several silver jewellery pieces during the week while learning core techniques at the bench. Summer school students can also choose a stone from my collection (value up to £30) to set and take home, creating a finished piece that reflects their own style.
Do I need any jewellery making experience?
No. The beginner summer school is suitable for complete beginners as well as those who have tried a short class before. The intermediate/advanced course is designed for people with existing experience who want to develop their skills further. If you’re unsure which course is right for you, I’m always happy to advise.