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Signwriting and Gold Leaf Gilding with Carlie Allan

Join us for a day of learning about traditional signwriting and gold leaf gilding, with Carlie from Buck & Bear Design. Perfect for beginners who are new to the craft and would like to learn the basics of brush control, pattern transfer and how to use gold leaf.

  • 20th September 2025 - 20th September 2025
  • 10:30 am - 3:30 pm

You will learn tips, tricks and techniques for using a traditional sign painting brush, learn how to transfer your pattern onto a surface, use gold leaf on your design and take away your own small wooden sign with you.

In the morning you will use practice sheets, draw out your chosen design and learn how to use gold leaf, and after lunch you will start to transfer your design onto your wooden board and gild it with gold leaf and paint it.

You will have some practice sheets to take away with you to continue your practice, Carlie will also give you details of what you would need for a signwriting starter kit.

All materials, notes and equipment provided.

In this workshop, you will:

  • Learn the basics of brush control, pattern transfer and how to use gold leaf.
  • Discover tips, tricks and techniques for using a traditional sign-painting brush
  • Uncover the history of traditional signwriting and gilding, and experiment with the tools used in this industry.
  • Get tips and tricks for signwriting, and learn which paints to use for different materials and effects.
  • Discover David Parr House with a brief optional inspirational walk-through.
  • Enjoy refreshments, tea, coffee and biscuits. Please bring a packed lunch.
  • Go home with your newly painted sign and the skills to continue painting at home.

Please see our Terms and Conditions before making a booking. Bookings are non-refundable and may not be exchanged or transferred.

More about Carlie: 

With a background in graphic design, Carlie is well versed with typography and letterforms, teamed with a love of colour and all things vintage this makes for a fun and informative workshop. Carlie at Buck & Bear Design is a Cambridgeshire signwriter who specialises in gold leaf and the traditional craft of sign painting.

www.buckandbear.co.uk 

All money raised from our workshops goes towards maintaining David Parr House – thank you for supporting us.

Facilities

  • WI-FI

Accessibility Facilities

  • Wheel chair accessible
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Not many pubs can claim to have served a man a pint just after he’d discovered the secret of life itself, but The Eagle can! It was in this city centre pub that scientists Francis Crick and James Watson announced their discovery of DNA in the 1953.