Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn gilding with gold leaf
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Gilding means laying real gold leaf with traditional tools such as the gilder's cushion and tip, either on gesso and bole that can be burnished (water gilding) or by the simpler oil gilding method. Beginners' courses teach it on picture frames, plaster casts and even glass.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
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Water gilding, oil gilding and glass
Water gilding is the more involved of the two methods. At West Dean College it means applying gesso and bole and laying gold, with finishes that can be burnished, distressed or antiqued. West Dean says oil gilding is easily learned by an amateur.
Courses differ, so read the description. Richmond and Hillcroft's course covers oil and water gilding and repairing damaged gilded frames, with tools such as the gilder's cushion and tip. City & Guilds of London Art School's beginners' week teaches verre églomisé, gilding on glass, and oil gilding on a small plaster cast.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College, Richmond | Six Wednesday afternoons, 1.30pm to 4.30pm (November to December 2026 run); oil and water gilding, gesso and bole, frame repair; tools and materials supplied | £199, or £139 concession |
| City & Guilds of London Art School, London | Five days, Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm (summer 2026); verre églomisé and oil gilding; most materials and one book of gold leaf included; bring two sable brushes | £635 |
| Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts, Boston | Gilding & Frame Restoration, 12 Saturday mornings, 9.30am to 12pm (January to April 2027); water and oil gilding with genuine gold leaf on antique frames | $625 |
West Dean College's residential course covers water, oil and glass gilding but excludes gold leaf, which its shop listed at around £30 to £35 for a book of 25 leaves; its page did not show the course fee when last checked. In the US, the Society of Gilders, a non-profit educational organisation, lists approved workshops, online lectures and a members' directory.
How to start
- Look for a beginners' gilding course at an adult college, an art school's short course programme or a craft college.
- Check which methods are taught. Some courses cover water and oil gilding; others focus on oil gilding or gilding on glass.
- Ask whether gold leaf is included, and whether you may bring a damaged gilded frame of your own to work on.
Where to go
- Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College: Gilding and Gilded Frame Restoration UK
- City & Guilds of London Art School: Gilding and Verre Églomisé UK
- West Dean College: Traditional gilding techniques UK
- Society of Gilders (US) US
We opened these links on 12 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
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Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between water gilding and oil gilding?
Water gilding lays gold over gesso and bole, and the finish can be burnished. Oil gilding is a separate method that West Dean says is easily learned by an amateur.
Can I learn gilding as a complete beginner?
Yes. City & Guilds of London Art School's summer course is for beginners, and Richmond and Hillcroft's introduction is for beginners and people refreshing their skills.
Is gold leaf included in a gilding course?
Not always. City & Guilds of London Art School includes one book of gold leaf; West Dean College excludes it and sells books in its shop.
Can I restore my own gilded picture frame on a course?
On some. Richmond and Hillcroft invites learners to bring a damaged gilded frame, and the Eliot School course in Boston teaches restoring antique gilded picture and mirror frames.
Where this comes from: Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College, Gilding and Gilded Frame Restoration, Introduction; City & Guilds of London Art School, Gilding and Verre Églomisé; West Dean College, Traditional gilding techniques with Richard Walker; Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts, Gilding & Frame Restoration 1W27; Society of Gilders. Opened 12 November 2026.
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