Calligraphy (October Day School)

19/10/2025

Duration : 1 day

| Arts & Craft

Introduction to Gothic Script

Course details:

Participants will be introduced to writing the Gothic script. This is an angular script sometimes known as “blackletter” and was used during the 12th to 15th centuries. We will also include a few decorative letters known as “Lombardic Versals” which sit well with the Gothic minuscule.

Previous knowledge and experience needed

Everyone is welcome – those who currently attend a weekly calligraphy class will enjoy adding another script to their repertoire, but complete beginners will also find the day accessible.

Aim of the day

To use the Gothic script with a decorative capital, to make a small item such as a lettered bookmark, or a small folded concertina which would make a lovely and unusual greetings card.

Learning objectives

· Write out a short text in Gothic lettering style

· Add a decorative capital letter in the Lombardic Versal style

· Put the two lettering styles together to make a small item to take home

Materials and equipment needed

If you already attend a weekly calligraphy class, please bring your usual “kit” including pens, ink, and drawing board. We will be using A3 paper which the tutor will have available for sale if you don’t have your own.

For beginners, broad-edged nibs, ink, and paper will be for sale on the day. Please bring some cash to purchase these from the tutor, as she is unable to

take card payments. You are likely to spend approx £5.00 depending on what you wish to purchase.

Everyone will need to bring the following: pencil, ruler, protractor, eraser, old jam jar (to use as a water pot), old/cheap small brush for loading the pen with ink, and an old cloth or tea towel for protecting the table. You may wish to bring coloured pencils or gouache (along with a fine brush) for adding some decoration to your Capital letter. The tutor will have a few colours of gouache available, as well as a few offcuts of coloured paper available for making a cover for a concertina, but if you want a specific colour you may prefer to bring your own (A4 size paper is plenty big enough to make the cover).

For beginners who do not have their own drawing board, there will be a few to borrow – please make the tutor aware in advance that you will need one. You could use the board in your lap resting against the edge of the table, or alternatively please bring two fat rolls of kitchen towel to prop the board up on the table, and a couple of blobs of blu-tack to prevent it sliding.

What might your next steps be?

If you have enjoyed the workshop, you may like to come along to our weekly calligraphy class at Coleridge on a Friday morning – please enquire about spaces. Calligraphy is a hugely broad subject and there is always something new to learn. Over time, you would have the opportunity to learn different scripts and, if wished, work towards CLAS (Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society) Certificates. The classes will also offer a chance to consider layout and design, and to use calligraphy for creative projects.

‹ To overview
Calligraphy (October Day School)

Course details

Location

Coleridge Community College, Radegund Road, Cambridge CB1 3RJ

Time

10:00am - 4:00pm

Fees

£55

Booking notes

To book onto this course, please either call the office on 01223 712340 or email office@adultlearning.education

Tutor

Liz Barrow

I am a CLAS (Calligraphy and Arts Society) Accredited Tutor. I’ve been teaching Adult Learning calligraphy classes since 2014, at various centres in Cambridgeshire including Comberton and Bottisham Village Colleges. When not teaching, I’m kept busy providing calligraphic services to the University of Cambridge, and scribing certificates for Quaker and other weddings. I love sharing my enthusiasm for calligraphy with my students.

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