2026
9th – 13th February, 9th – 13th November
The Venue for the London Workshops will be published well in advance but will be in zone 1 central London.
Why My Exclusive Stone Carving Workshops Belong in London
For me, teaching stone carving isn’t just about passing on a skill; it’s about sharing a legacy deeply etched into my very being and the fabric of London itself. I was born in Islington, grew up within a mile of St. Paul’s Cathedral – whose magnificent dome was a constant presence from my childhood bedroom window – and was surrounded from an early age by a vibrant tapestry of traditional craftsmen.
My upbringing was steeped in the very essence of British craftsmanship. From woodturners in Haggerston to clockmakers in Clerkenwell, glass engravers in Shoreditch, and stonemasons working on monumental sites like St. Paul’s, I witnessed firsthand the dedication of skilled hands. My grandfather, working at the Tower of London, only deepened this fascination with craft, architecture, and history.
This isn’t just a casual interest for me; it’s a lifelong calling. I embarked on my stonemasonry apprenticeship in the early 1980s with Ashby and Horner, a City of London company tracing its roots back to the 1690s. Since then, I’ve spent over four decades working on every aspect of stonemasonry, learning from seasoned Masters and, in turn, training new generations – including 11 qualified apprentices and 12 current craft apprentices.
My hands have touched some of the most iconic structures in London and beyond. From the new Seven Dials Monument and the painstaking restoration of Somerset House, St Paul’s Church Covent Garden, and The Queen’s House, Greenwich, to the delicate conservation work at the Palace of Westminster and Windsor Castle. My career has taken me from the Sultan of Brunei’s Palace to The Savoy Hotel and the British Museum’s Great Court, working on sites spanning centuries of architectural history, from Westminster Hall to Selfridge’s.
It is this profound connection to London’s heritage, this lifetime immersed in the discipline of stone, and this unwavering commitment to preserving and passing on these ancient skills, that underpins my decision to hold these exclusive stone carving workshops right here in London. It’s where my story began, and it’s where the heart of this enduring craft truly beats. Come and join me to discover the quiet power of stone.
London’s Enduring Craftsmanship: My Apprenticeship in 1981’s Crucible of Excellence
In 1981, London wasn’t merely a city; for a young craftsman finding his feet, it was an unparalleled crucible of excellence. As an apprentice during that vibrant year, I had the extraordinary privilege of witnessing first hand how centuries of tradition fused with an unyielding commitment to quality. These weren’t just businesses; they were institutions, each a living testament to meticulous handwork and the pursuit of perfection. For a budding artisan like myself, having these venerable establishments to look up to provided an invaluable roadmap for my own progression, setting an impossibly high, yet endlessly inspiring, standard. My days were spent immersed in the sights, sounds, and scents of true dedication, learning from masters who, in every precise cut and stitch, defined what excellence truly meant in their fields.
Bespoke Footwear: The Art of the Last and Leather
Walking through the hallowed streets where these masters plied their trade, the evocative scent of fine leather was always in the air. London’s shoemakers were, and indeed remain, celebrated worldwide for their precision and artistry.
John Lobb Bootmaker (St James’s Street):
For anyone like me, just starting out, John Lobb was the gold standard. Their workshop, established in 1866, was a place of quiet reverence for the craft. In 1981, seeing their unwavering dedication to hand-welted construction and personalised lasts was a daily, potent reminder of the immense precision and care that goes into creating truly bespoke footwear. It showed me the heights to which one could aspire.
On Savile Row, George Cleverley continued to define bespoke shoe artistry. Their distinctive “paper cut” lasts and a client list that included royalty and celebrities spoke volumes about their calibre. Observing their artisans in 1981, one truly understood that every single cut and stitch was part of a legacy of unparalleled craftsmanship – a benchmark that continuously pushed me to refine my own skills.
This workshop, established in 1857, was a beacon for comfort and bespoke fit. In 1981, they were still perfecting shoes for even the most challenging feet, demonstrating that true skill goes beyond mere aesthetics, extending to creating something genuinely functional and enduring. Their pragmatic excellence was a valuable lesson.
Savile Row Tailoring: The Epitome of British Style
Savile Row, for an apprentice like me, wasn’t just a street; it was nothing short of a cathedral of cloth. The quiet snip of shears, the smooth glide of a needle – it was all part of the sublime symphony of bespoke tailoring.
Henry Poole & Co:
As the undisputed “Founders of Savile Row” (established 1806), Henry Poole & Co was central to London’s bespoke tailoring scene in 1981. They set the benchmark for hand-stitched garments that were not just clothing, but statements of classic British elegance. Witnessing their meticulous process ingrained in me the importance of precision.
Standing proudly at No. 1 Savile Row, Gieves & Hawkes, with roots dating back centuries, perfectly blended military heritage with civilian sartorial excellence. In 1981, they continued to embody the very essence of bespoke precision, providing yet another masterclass in enduring quality.
Established in 1865, Dege & Skinner on Savile Row upheld its formidable reputation for bespoke military, civil, and sporting tailoring. Witnessing their artisans at work in 1981, you saw the painstaking effort that went into every perfectly tailored piece – a truly inspiring commitment to detail.
Founded in 1849, Huntsman’s distinctive house style – a powerful, clean silhouette – was instantly recognisable. In 1981, they maintained their uncompromising approach to bespoke craftsmanship, a true testament to their enduring vision and a constant reminder for me of what uncompromising standards looked like.
Bespoke Furniture: Precision and Design
Beyond attire, London’s craft excellence extended seamlessly to the very spaces we inhabited. The quiet hum of lathes and the rich scent of seasoned wood often filled the air in these distinguished studios.
Rupert Cavendish:
What was particularly exciting in 1981 was seeing new talent emerge. Rupert Cavendish, establishing his workshop that very year, quickly made a name for bespoke furniture with striking Neoclassical and Art Deco influences. It was incredibly inspiring for a young apprentice to see such fresh vision immediately embrace such exceptionally high standards of craft.
Also embarking on his independent work in 1981, Andrew Lapthorn immediately applied his profound expertise in fine craftsmanship and design to bespoke furniture. His dedication underscored the continued demand for custom-made, meticulously constructed pieces in the capital, providing further proof of the longevity of true skill.
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My time as an apprentice in London in 1981 was nothing short of transformative. It solidified my understanding that these weren’t merely businesses, but dedicated custodians of profound skill and enduring beauty. They were, without a shadow of a doubt, the beating heart of London’s artisanal soul, and a true crucible of top craft that profoundly shaped my own journey and progression as a craftsman.