Short Course

Silversmithing - Beginners

Name: Hereford College of Arts
Price range: $

Duration

10 Weeks
Cost

£375
Tutor

Samuel Bowser
When

Tuesday Evenings

This course is designed to cover the essential techniques of silversmithing and jewellery, tailored to beginners.

Currently viewing:

Overview

Discover the art of silversmithing in this engaging short course. Through tutorials, demonstrations, and hands-on tasks, you’ll master techniques such as etching, enamelling, forming, texturing, and crafting a stacking silver ring.

Build confidence using professional tools as you develop the skills to create unique, personal projects. Base metals are provided to start, with opportunities to work with your own precious materials as your designs progress.

Man with green hat and blue shirt using a magnifier to see detailed silver work.

Tutor, Nicola, helps a student with their torch on the silversmithing course.

3 silver rings against a grey background, each with a small round gemstone.

Close up of someone using the torch to heat up a piece of silver.

A man in a grey hoodie using a small guillotine to cut sheet metal.

A student and tutor inspect a metal sample, they are turned away from the camera, but you can see they are both smiling.

Term Dates

Term will start on Tuesday 12th January. There will be 10 sessions, with a break for half term on 16th February. The final session will be on 23rd March.

Term will start on 20th April. There will be 10 sessions, with a break for half term on 1st June. The final session will be on 29th June.

Term will start on Tuesday 22nd September. There will be 10 sessions, with a break over half term on 27th October. The final session will be on 1st December.

About the Tutor

Sam is a Birmingham School of Jewellery alumni with 10 years of industry experience spanning jewellery design, manufacturing, and specialist CAD design. His career has given him an adaptable and versatile approach to design, enabling him to work with a wide range of clients and businesses while developing a strong understanding of the jewellery manufacturing process. He particularly enjoys combining digital and traditional techniques, using CAD to create highly detailed, bespoke designs alongside bench made fine jewellery. Through his own jewellery lines, he explores this combination further, creating pieces that balance intricate digital design with the craftsmanship and character of traditional making. As a tutor, Sam aims to share his industry experience and practical knowledge to help students develop both their creative ideas and technical skills, while encouraging an adaptable and considered approach to jewellery design.

See more of Samuel's work

Short course student Lianna uses a tool in the small metals workshop.

I’ve really enjoyed getting hands on with creativity again, learning new processes and having the freedom to make my own jewellery. I learned so much over the 10 weeks.
Lianna - Beginners Silversmithing Short Course

A wide shot of the Folly Lane Print workshop. Various students are working at different workstations throughout the workshop. The room is filled with old fashioned printing presses, ink stations and is flooded with natural light from big windows.

Industry standard workshops and studios

This is where you make your ideas happen. Find out more about the professional kit and spaces we provide at HCA.

Workshops and Resources

FAQs

All materials will be provided including copper to practice, silver, tools, and more.

You may want to bring a sketchbook for taking notes.

Make sure to bring some water, and dress appropriately for using college equipment (for example, no open-toed shoes, long hair tied back when using workshop equipment, and avoid flammable fabrics)

Courses like these can look great on your CV and are good for professional development. Therefore, we award certificates at the end of the course, provided that you attended enough of the sessions.

Our short courses are non-credit bearing programmes.

This course is aimed at complete beginners, but will also be suitable for people with some silversmithing experience who would like a refresher.

This course will be held at our Folly Lane Small Metals Workshop.

This course will take place over 10 sessions with a break for half term. Please see dates listed above.

Sessions will start at 6.30pm and will finish at approximately 9pm. You may have to arrive earlier on your first week for registration.

This course is suitable for anyone over the age of 16.

We recommend that attendees between the ages of 16 and 18 are accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also a paying participant.

We keep our class sizes small so that you benefit from a lot of contact time with the tutor. There will be a maximum of 10 people attending this masterclass.

Yes, there is parking available on campus. Please use the car park at the back of our Folly Lane Campus, just off Whittern Way.