Things to do · Arts and crafts
Try stone carving
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
With a mallet, a few chisels and a block of soft limestone, a beginner can carve a small relief panel in a week or less and take it home. Short courses lend the tools and supply the stone, so you can find out whether you enjoy it before buying anything.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
Someone who has done it
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What it's really like
Beginners usually start on soft stone. At the Building Crafts College in Stratford, London, students learn the safe use of traditional hand tools, work in soft limestone, then carve a traditional low-relief or sunk design to take home, in a class of no more than six.
West Dean College's weekend introduction uses Maltese limestone, a soft sedimentary rock, and soapstone, with three projects including an oak leaf relief. Tools, oils and two pieces of limestone are included, and the studio is open on one side, so it asks for warm clothing.
In the US, the Carving Studio & Sculpture Center in West Rutland, Vermont, a non-profit that has taught carving for more than 35 years, runs a two-day introductory workshop using the studio's tools and a moderate piece of Vermont marble.
What beginners pay
| Where | Course | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| City & Guilds of London Art School | Stone Carving for Beginners: one week, 10am to 5pm; tools and materials provided; carve a small low-relief panel | £614 |
| West Dean College, West Sussex | Introduction to Stone Carving: a weekend; tools and two limestone pieces included; no experience needed | £590 |
| The Carving Studio & Sculpture Center, Vermont | Intro Stone Carving: a two-day workshop in marble; studio tools and stone included | $375 |
The Building Crafts College's Thursday evening Stone Carving short course, for complete beginners, is listed at £300.
How to start
- Book a beginners' course at an art school, a craft college or a carving studio; most supply tools and stone.
- Buy or borrow steel-toe-capped boots before you go, as several courses require them.
- Wear old clothes or overalls, and expect dust.
Where to go
- West Dean College: Introduction to Stone Carving with Paula Haughney (West Sussex) UK
- The Building Crafts College: Short Course, Stone Carving (Stratford, London) UK
- City & Guilds of London Art School: Stone Carving for Beginners UK
- The Carving Studio & Sculpture Center: workshops (West Rutland, Vermont) US
We opened these links on 8 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.
Plan this
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
Do I need experience to try stone carving?
No. West Dean's introduction needs no experience, and the Building Crafts College's short course is aimed at complete beginners.
What stone do beginners carve?
Often a soft stone. The Building Crafts College uses soft limestone and West Dean uses Maltese limestone and soapstone, while the Carving Studio in Vermont starts beginners on Vermont marble.
What should I wear to a stone carving course?
Old clothes or overalls and safety boots. The Building Crafts College and City & Guilds of London Art School require steel-toe-capped boots, and West Dean also asks for fitted gloves, covered footwear and a hat.
Are the tools provided?
On most beginners' courses, yes. City & Guilds of London Art School provides tools and materials, and teaches you to use and maintain them.
Where this comes from: West Dean College, Introduction to Stone Carving with Paula Haughney; The Building Crafts College, Short Course, Stone Carving; City & Guilds of London Art School, Stone Carving for Beginners; The Carving Studio & Sculpture Center, Workshops; The Carving Studio & Sculpture Center, Intro Stone Carving: October 3-4. Opened 8 November 2026.
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