Cloisonné Enamelling with Linda Connelly

This course will help you:

• Develop a deeper technical understanding of cloisonné enamelling, from wire preparation and enamel application through to firing, grinding and polishing, strengthening your ability to produce consistent, high-quality surfaces.
• Improve your control over colour, layering and shading, enabling you to achieve more refined and detailed enamel work suitable for professional pieces, commissions or exhibition work.
• Build confidence in working with complex, multi-stage processes, helping you to plan and manage your workflow more effectively when developing enamelled jewellery.
• Refine your finishing techniques to achieve a smoother, more even enamel surface, supporting a higher standard of presentation and durability in your work.
• Receive focused one-to-one guidance and group feedback to help you troubleshoot technical challenges and make informed decisions that support your individual design direction.

Across the two days, you’ll be introduced to the full process of cloisonné enamelling, from preparing materials to finishing your piece. Through demonstrations, guided exercises, and individual support, you’ll have the opportunity to explore key stages such as:

• Preparing silver blanks and cloisonné wire
• Shaping and forming a domed surface suitable for enamel
• Applying wet-packed enamel and working with colour blends and shading
• Firing and counter-enamelling using a kiln
• Grinding and polishing the enamel surface to a smooth, reflective finish

You’ll work on a fine silver disc provided by the Goldsmiths’ Centre and may also create test pieces on copper. Health and safety practices related to working with leaded enamels will be covered throughout.

Please bring:

• Your own basic bench tools (e.g., saw frame, hand files, pliers)
• Reading glasses, Optivisors or other magnification for detailed work
• Fine nail scissors for wire cutting
• Notebook and pen
• Any cloisonné enamel work you'd like feedback on
• A design idea for your piece
• Apron and face mask (for sieving enamel)

What will I be provided with?

• Access to the workshop tools and equipment
• A 25mm fine silver disc and 3 copper discs for try-outs
• Cloisonné wire and transparent enamels

Beginner and Intermediate

This course is best suited to beginner and intermediate makers with some prior experience of enamelling or metalwork. You should be confident working independently in a workshop setting and comfortable using basic hand tools.

Teaching takes place in our Silversmithing Workshop, a dedicated space where all participants will be based for the duration of the course, no shared use with other groups. If you’ve had some time in a workshop and feel confident with basic techniques such as sawing, filing, or soldering, you’ll be well placed to follow along and make the most of the course.

We are committed to making our training programmes and events as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have any access requirements, please inform us as early as possible so we can make the necessary arrangements. While we will do our best to accommodate your needs, advance notice is essential to ensure we can provide appropriate support.

To discuss your requirements when booking tickets for our Goldsmiths’ Centre training programmes, please contact us at boxoffice@goldsmiths-centre.org 

We believe that talent should not be held back. Here at the Goldsmiths’ Centre, we are open, accessible and inclusive to all. Our Access Grants help anyone to build thriving creative careers, supporting jewellers, silversmiths and allied industry practitioners to access our training courses for free.

If you need help to cover fees for our business and technical skills short courses, please apply for one of our Access Grants. To find out more and read our application criteria, click here

The Access Grants are delivered by the Goldsmiths' Centre and funded via the Goldsmiths’ Foundation.