Carving Stone In Its Place Of Origin

Tout Quarry overlooks spectacular sunsets from high on the clifftop above Chesil Beach
Our courses create an inspirational environment for creativity and health, surrounded by the pure quality of air and the balance of elements sea, sky & stone.
[elfsight_instagram_feed id=”7″]

Course overview

Our courses are designed for beginners and all levels of skill run annually, now in their thirty-seventh  year, continuing to deliver professional tuition and a high level of skill to a diverse range of people from different backgrounds  Courses are held in the  open air socially distanced stone carving & sculpture workshop in the heart of Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve and  in the well equipped Drill Hall Stone / Work / Space.
Tutors are highly experienced in 3D sculpture, architectural forms, relief carving,letter cutting, stone masonry  and give one to one tuition in the development and completion of individual  work.Courses include selection of freshly quarried stone  for individual ideas.
Portland stone is  the finest of carving stones and a freestone that can be carved in any direction. This calcium carbonate rich stone  was once an ancient sea,  formed  from pure sunlight interacting with calcium carbonates in sea water. Working with the  pure quality of natural light  throughout the day  reveals forms and surfaces that haven’t been exposed to the light for 150 million years, creating  a more powerful visually informed piece of work.
Carving stone in the trusts outdoor workshop in the heart of the quarry puts you in touch with this huge timescale “where human time and the vastness of geological time visibly intersect  “”…You have to consider the material as part of the place; as part of the earth. The joy of this project at Tout is that this very special place provides the inspiration, the material, the studio and the exhibition space” .  Antony Gormley June 1985
[elfsight_instagram_feed id=”3″]

One Week Course 

Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm
Courses are designed for beginners and all levels of skill
Monday:
  • Demonstration of tools and stone carving techniques.
  • Selection of freshly quarried stone for individual work.
  • Lifting, moving and handling stone.
  • Starting points for carving with individual tuition.
Tuesday to Thursday:
  • One to one tuition in learning skills and techniques from roughing out to fine detail for low relief and 3D carving.
Friday:
  • Finishing techniques.
  • Individual discussion on work achieved, pointers for the future.
  • Photographing work and loading into vehicles with supervision.
Thursday Evenings: Eating out (optional) overlooking the sea and sunset-The Cove House Inn,The Crab House or BBQ at the Beech Hut at Church Ope Cove

5 Days – £250

  • fees include professional tuition, use of hand carving tools and provision of freshly quarried stone either in Tout Quarry open air workshop (with weather cover), or indoors in the newly refurbished Drill Hall Stone Workspace.  Please Note: there is  an additional cost for powered equipment re Stone Saw, Air Tooling, Rotary Equipment / Polisher, Fork Lift Truck, Drills, Consumables, etc;    
  • fees do not include travel, personal medical insurance, accommodation or food (self-catering accommodation is offered by PSQT in connection with courses).
  • reduced rates for full-time students at School, College or University and people with Unemployment Status at the time of the course taking place. 
  • courses run each summer in the open air stone carving & sculpture workshop in the heart of Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve. and year round  in the well equipped Drill Hall Stone / Work / Space

Covid 19 & Social Distancing

We are pleased to reassure our course participants that courses take place in socially distanced workshops with individual working spaces, reduced numbers and allocated tool sets.  We have hand sanitiser, face coverings, lightweight cotton gloves and prtotective  glasses available for purchase  but encourage people to bring their own 
* Note: Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust (PSQT) reserves the right to change details of course dates, daily times of courses, course fees, course content, evening arrangements and location at Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve (open air workshop with weather cover) or Stone / Work / Space at the Drill Hall (indoor carving studio with outdoor carving area) .  

Bookings

courses run each summer in the open air stone carving & sculpture workshop in the heart of Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve. and year round  in the well equipped Drill Hall Stone / Work / Space
[elfsight_instagram_feed id=”4″]

4 Week Course 

Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm
Four Week Courses start on any Monday of our listed weeks and can run through consecutively or be taken as blocks of two weeks with a break in the middle, or as individual weeks spread over the summer months.
The courses are ideal for those who want to carve works that persue a personal idea that needs more sustained time to develop or as an opportunity to develop specific examples of stone masonry and mouldings, carved architectural detail, letter cutting and relief carving.
We can also cover clay modelling, mould making and casting techniques that can be used to inform carving.  If you are interested in this type of work please discuss with PSQT before booking your course to arrive at a programme that fits with your needs.

4 Weeks – £720

  • fees include professional tuition, use of hand carving tools and provision of freshly quarried stone either in the Tout Quarry open air workshop (with weather cover), or indoors in the newly refurbished Drill Hall Stone Workspace.  Please Note: there is  an additional cost for powered equipment re Stone Saw, Air Tooling, Rotary Equipment / Polisher, Fork Lift Truck, Drills, Consumables, etc;    
  • fees do not include travel, personal medical insurance, accommodation or food (self-catering accommodation offered by PSQT is in connection with courses only).
  • reduced rates are for full-time students at a School, College or University and people with Unemployment Status at the time of the course taking place. 
  • Summer Courses May to September take place in the open air stone carving and sculpture workshop at the heart of Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve.  Indoor courses take place in the well equipped the Drill Hall Stone / Work / Space.

Covid 19 & Social Distancing

We are pleased to reassure our course participants that courses take place in socially distanced workshops with individual working spaces, reduced numbers and allocated tool sets.  We have hand sanitiser, face coverings, lightweight cotton gloves and prtotective  glasses available for purchase  but encourage people to bring their own 
* Note: Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust (PSQT) reserves the right to change details of course dates, daily times of courses, course fees, course content, evening arrangements and location at Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve (open air workshop with weather cover) or Stone / Work / Space at the Drill Hall (indoor carving studio with outdoor carving area) .  

Bookings

Courses run each summer in the open air stone carving & sculpture workshop in the heart of Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve. and year round  in the well equipped Drill Hall Stone / Work / Space
[elfsight_instagram_feed id=”5″]

Weekend Course

2/3/ or 4 days Friday to Monday (week dependant)  9.30am to 5.30pm
Courses are designed for beginners and all levels of skill
  • Weekend Courses start Friday morning at 9.30am and work through to 5.30pm each day Friday to Sunday 3Day, or Friday to Monday for 4Day Bank Holiday Weekend. If you would like to book a 2Day Course it can start on Friday or Saturday.
  • The courses provide an introductory experience of carving Portland stone, with time to achieve work mainly in relief carving, letter-cutting and fine detail.  We can also offer themes such as the Green man, Gargoyles, house names, bowls, floral carving; , etc., for people who prefer a more exercise based approach.

2 day – £175 | 3 day – £200 |4 day £225

  • fees include professional tuition, use of hand carving tools and provision of freshly quarried stone either in the Tout Quarry open air workshop (with weather cover), or indoors in the newly refurbished Drill Hall Stone Workspace.  Please Note: there is  an additional cost for powered equipment re Stone Saw, Air Tooling, Rotary Equipment / Polisher, Fork Lift Truck, Drills, Consumables, etc;    
  • fees do not include travel, personal medical insurance, accommodation or food (self-catering accommodation offered by PSQT is in connection with courses only).
  • reduced rates are for full-time students at a School, College or University and people with Unemployment Status at the time of the course taking place. 
  • Summer Courses May to September take place in the open air stone carving and sculpture workshop at the heart of Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve.  Indoor courses take place in the well equipped the Drill Hall Stone / Work / Space.

Covid 19 & Social Distancing

We are pleased to reassure our course attendees that strict social distancing will be adhered throughout your experience with us, we have ensured that working spaces, and reduced numbers are allowing strict social distancing for all of our users.

Bookings

Courses run each summer in the open air stone carving & sculpture workshop in the heart of Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve. and year round  in the well equipped Drill Hall Stone / Work / Space
* Note: Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust (PSQT) reserves the right to change details of course dates, daily times of courses, course fees, course content, evening arrangements and location at Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve (open air workshop with weather cover) or Stone / Work / Space at the Drill Hall (indoor carving studio with outdoor carving area) .  
[elfsight_instagram_feed id=”7″]

Taster Day Course

Tuesday – Sunday 9.30am to 5.30pm
  • Taster Days can be booked to take place during any One Week or Weekend Course (except Monday)  The course starts at 9.30am through to 5.30pm and normally takes place in the open air stone carving & sculpture workshop in the heart of Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve and year round in the well equipped Drill Hall Stone|work|Space
  • The courses provide a short introductory experience, with time to achieve a finished work.  We like to work with people on individual ideas that can be discussed with the course tutor when starting your course.

1 day – £75

  • fees include professional tuition, use of hand carving tools and provision of freshly quarried stone either in the Tout Quarry open air workshop (with weather cover), or indoors in the newly refurbished Drill Hall Stone Workspace.  Please Note: there is  an additional cost for powered equipment re Stone Saw, Air Tooling, Rotary Equipment / Polisher, Fork Lift Truck, Drills, Consumables, etc;    
  • fees do not include travel, personal medical insurance, accommodation or food (self-catering accommodation offered by PSQT is in connection with courses only).
  • reduced rates are for full-time students at a School, College or University and people with Unemployment Status at the time of the course taking place. 
  • Summer Courses May to September take place in the open air stone carving and sculpture workshop at the heart of Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve.  Indoor courses take place in the well equipped the Drill Hall Stone / Work / Space. 

Covid 19 & Social Distancing

We are pleased to reassure our course attendees that strict social distancing will be adhered throughout your experience with us, we have ensured that working spaces, and reduced numbers are allowing strict social distancing for all of our users.
* Note: Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust (PSQT) reserves the right to change details of course dates, daily times of courses, course fees, course content, evening arrangements and location at Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve (open air workshop with weather cover) or Stone / Work / Space at the Drill Hall (indoor carving studio with outdoor carving area) .  

Bookings

Courses run each summer in the open air stone carving & sculpture workshop in the heart of Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve. and year round  in the well equipped Drill Hall Stone / Work / Space

Course Vouchers

Can be purchased for any of our courses and can be personalised with a name and message and posted to an address of your choosing.  After you have purchased the voucher the course date can be decided between the course participant and the Trust.

Course Duration
Full Name Of Receiver
Email Address Of Receiver



 

Hannah Sofaer studied at Goldsmiths CollegeChelsea College of Art & Design  before her Masters in Fine Art and Sculpture at the Royal College of Art. One of the first of 50  artists  to make work during the first sculpture symposium in Tout Quarries and helped to save the quarry from further mineral extraction. She set up the stone carving courses in Tout Quarry. She is a visiting Tutor in Art Colleges / Universities and has shown work in galleries, other sculpture parks as well as one off projects such as Art By Pass.  She has been commissioned to create work / public art  in UK, Singapore,  Northern Spain.  Hannah is skilled in the selection of stone for individual ideas and has extensive knowledge of direct carving and stone carving techniques (drawing directly with tools), helping students to achieve a high standard of work.  Hannah was admitted to the Freedom of the Worshipful Company of Masons in 2016.

Paul Crabtree studied at Bradford Regional College of Art and Fine Art Sculpture at the Central School of Art & Design.  Paul trained as a stone conservator at the British Museum where he worked with limestone and low relief carvings from the Egyptian Department and including block figures from the Duke of Northumberland’s collection.  Paul has a MA in Art and Design and Education from University of London Institute of Education and also holds a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Applied Architectural Stone Work from Weymouth College.  Paul was admitted to the Freedom of the Worshipful Company of Masons in 2016.

It’s not difficult to find a nice place to stay on Portland, but it’s good to book early.

PSQT offers self catering accommodation for course participants – for further details call 01305 826736 Or Contact Us for further details.

Wakeham Garden Wakeham-Living-1 Wakeham Kitchen Wakeham Kitchen 2
Wakeham Bathroom Wakeham Bed 1 Wakeham Bedroom 2 Wakeham Bedroom 3

We can also assist overseas participants in booking accomodation who should call +44(0)1305 826736.

Accommodation also recommended by previous students:

Fairview, 14 Old Coastguard Cottages, Portland Bill
B&B.
Tel: 01305 820368
Old Lower Lighthouse (Bird Observatory – warden is Martin Cade)
Self-catering accommodation – hostel type, shared rooms but comfortable. Bring sheets / sleeping bag.
Tel: 01305 820553 (quote PSQT)
Heights Hotel
Coffee shop, restaurant. Use of heated outdoor pool, gym, squash courts sauna and steam room inclusive. Reduced group rates available.
Tel: 01305 821361
Queen Anne House, Fortuneswell (Margaret Dunlope)
B&B.
Very comfortable – very full breakfasts and all rooms en-suite.
Tel: 01305 820028 (quote PSQT)
Royal Breakwater Hotel. Castletown
B&B.
Full English breakfast. Mid-week & large parties special rates. Bar food lunch-time / evenings.
Tel: 01305 820476 (quote PSQT)
Portland YMCA – Red Triangle Club, Reforne
B&B.
Shared accommodation. Packed lunch if required at additional cost.
Tel: 01305 823761 (quote PSQT)

Please note that we are not agents for the accommodation providers listed above.

Local resources which may also help:

[elfsight_instagram_feed id=”5″]

Bespoke Courses

We also offer  art & environmental science opportunities  that applies  interdisciplinary approaches to rewilding  our landscape and ecosystems  linked to :
  • University undergraduate, postgraduate and research level students.
  • Continue Professional Development ( CPD) short courses for artist, architects, landscape / interior designers, educators,
  • Team building 1 to 2 day courses designed to stimulate creativity, cooperation and problem solving,
  • Schools and FE Colleges (external examinations GCSE / AS / A Level, national curriculum and foundation studies)
  • Community (incl. adults, young people, families, out of school activities, home learners)
Please-Contact us if you interested in courses or working with us in any areas within the website.

We are UK Registered Educational Charity 1086659 ©2024  Copyright Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust

CONTACT US

Thank you for taking the time to view our website, please submit your enquiry and we will come back to you very shortly.

Sending
Explore our other websites

Log in with your credentials

Forgot your details?