On this course, you will be developing ring linking techniques of chain mail to advance your jewellery designs. You can choose to either concentrate on practising and developing technical ring linking skills through sampling, or complete one or more pieces of jewellery. The usual material used on this course is silver, but you may work in base or mixed metals if you wish.
You should be conversant with ring linking and have at least simple soldering skills to be able to make your own clasps and findings.
You will start with refining your ideas, gathering or locating tools and materials, and then you will launch into your projects. Thereafter, all available time is spent on achieving individual aims.
The tutor will support and advise you in advancing your work, to stretch your abilities and challenge your skills. Teaching is by demonstration and individual support of technical processes and requirements.
What students need to bring
- It is useful to arrive with projects in mind. However, the tutor will encourage and help you to formulate ideas, dependent on your ability, on the first evening.
- Your own tool kit (a basic tool kit is also available on loan from the College Craft Shop)
- Any metals that you already have and may wish to incorporate in your work
Available to buy
- Available from shop:
- Silver can be purchased from the College Shop, which stocks a range of sheet, wire, rod, tube and findings. These will be available in set sizes and lengths suitable for a wide range of projects. Some base metals are also available. (You should be aware of the cost of silver when planning your project. Materials bought by you may work out cheaper, but only if you are quite sure of what you want to achieve, and your ability to achieve it.)
- Sketchbook, pencils and rubber
- Available from tutor:
- Additional materials will also be available for purchase from the tutor. Whatever cannot be bought can easily be made by you with specialist tools and supervision provided by the tutor.
Additional information
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear i.e. no open-toed shoes or sandals.
Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above
Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.
Daily timetable
Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.
From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).
Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.
Last day
Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.
Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.
(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)