Adult & Higher Education

This course is suitable for complete beginners with very little or no experience. Students will learn a set of jewellery techniques and skills, enabling them to design and create unique pieces of jewellery in silver or other materials.

Please note that the course fee does not include the essential material costs required for this course and you will need to purchase some items. The exact cost will depend on your chosen project and the current market value of the metal you are using. Your tutor will discuss materials and costs with you as the course progresses. You are very welcome to contact us at ahedleisure@psc.ac.uk if you would to discuss these extra costs and course materials before the course starts.

Participants will learn about and experiment with sheet metal and wire and will use a variety of jewellery making tools. You will be introduced to basic jewellery making skills, such as designing and cutting and your tutor will guide you through the process of creating beautiful and unique pieces of jewellery.

We will cover:

• Health and safety in the workshop environment
• Making a ring
• Making a bangle
• Cutting and drilling through metal
• Understanding how and when to use different shaped wires
• Learning what is needed to make pendants and earrings
• Bending and manipulating wires in a creative way
• Stone setting using bezel with cabochons of different shapes 
• Using the tools needed to give fundamental skills and knowledge for silversmithing and jewellery-making
• Texturing 
• Soldering 
• Understanding the practical application of annealing, cleaning and polishing

No entry requirements - this course is for those completely new to Silversmithing. Please note that this course is for beginners only - any returning students will need to enrol on our intermediate/open studio course.

This course explores working with cabochon gemstones, fine silver, sterling silver, and base metals including brass, copper, and bronze. Students will need to purchase their own silver and any gemstones they wish to incorporate into their pieces. Your tutor will guide you in selecting the most suitable materials based on your chosen project and provide clear guidance on costs, helping you understand what to expect for different types of work.

All tools are provided throughout the course, though you're welcome to build your own toolkit as you progress. Your tutor will offer expert advice on which tools are worth investing in to support your ongoing silversmithing practice. Please feel free to contact us at ahedleisure@psc.ac.uk if you would like to discuss these costs prior to enrolling. 

You could develop these skills into an ongoing hobby and explore more advanced techniques with our Silversmithing and Jewellery Open Studio course or Saturday workshops.