The Stone Carving and Lettering Takeaway

In honour of Richard Kindersley we have re-released the interview we recorded late last year.

Have a questison or tip for the fitting room, want us to discuss a particular topic, then send your nice questions and comments to 'The Stone Carving and Lettering Takeaway' - we'd love to hear from you.

info@abraxasacademy.co.uk

www.abraxasacademy.co.uk

Stone carving courses (abraxasacademy.co.uk)

This month we talk to the fabulous Zoë Wilson who very generously gave us a whole morning to talk. We have edited down this conversation so you get all the best bits. She has a large following on instagram, her page if beautifully curated showing off her work off to its very best. 

Zoë Wilson is a sculptor specialising in creating intricate geometric patterns hand-carved into British Stone. Her work focuses on precision, craftsmanship and the slow process of making

https://zoewilsoncarving.com/

https://www.instagram.com/zoewilsoncarving

Have a questison or...

Charlotte and Nina talk to Amelia Crowley-Roth and Sam Lee from London Stone Carving.

They joyfully discuss their early influences, take us through their projects they have worked on and share the struggles of running a stone carving business. 

Sam offers up our Top Tip for the month!

https://www.londonstonecarving.com/

https://www.instagram.com/londonstonecarving/

Rosie Musgrave

https://www.instagram.com/rosiemusgravesculpture/

Her exhibition can be seen at

The Crypt, St. Michael's Hill, Bristol, 17 -19 November 10am - 5...

After a break, Nina and Charlotte are back, with a promise of more episodes to come.

Listen to their short intro to season 3 of the Stone Carving and Lettering Takeaway.

Top tips and more

Two day intensive drapery in clay course

Fontself - The Easiest Way to Make Fonts

We talk to the inspirational Miriam Johnson about her journey in stonecarving and sculpture, her teaching stone carving in AlUla in Saudi Arabia with the King's Foundation and her current evolving work which manages to merge traditional skills with contemporary expression. 

About | miriamjohnson

Instagram@miriam.johnson.stone

The King's Foundation

Courses 2025

Have a questison or tip for the fitting room, want us to discuss a particular topic, then send your nice questions and comments to 'The Stone Carving and Lettering Takeaway' - we'd love to hear from you.

Charlotte and Nina talk to Michael Paraskos about the craft of articulating your thoughts on carving and the value of open debate. Where is carving going and where do we fit in the conversation.

Michael is an writer and educator, publishing novels and books on art and culture, appearing on television and radio, including BBC Radio 4's Front Row. He also writes for newspapers and magazines, including The Spectator and The Guardian

Michael Paraskos | art historian and writer

Pygmalion 1: Provocations in Contemporary Carving: Provocations in Contemporary Carving: Amazon.co.uk: Paraskos, Michael: 9781999368081: Books<...

We talk to Tim Crawley about his long and interesting career in carving - working on a wide and impressive range of commissions, both in scale and public profile. He talks us through his career progression and 

Tim Crawley | Stonecarving, Sculpture and Design

Women in Conservation: a conversation | spab.org.uk

Short Courses 2025

Abraxas Academy

Have a questison or tip for the fitting room, want us to discuss a particular topic, then send your nice questions and comments to 'The Stone Carving and Lettering Takeaway' - we'd love to h...

Richard Kindersley talks to Nina and Charlotte, looking back over his long career, early influences and curiosity of materials and process. 

Have a questison or tip for the fitting room, want us to discuss a particular topic, then send your nice questions and comments to 'The Stone Carving and Lettering Takeaway' - we'd love to hear from you.

info@abraxasacademy.co.uk

www.abraxasacademy.co.uk

Stone carving courses (abraxasacademy.co.uk)

In this episode Nina and Charlotte talk to Rosie Musgrave, a wonderful stone carver based in Bristol. We talk about her career, work and life, how as a women,  artistic freedoms and opportunities gave way to family life, and now, later in her career, how she takes each day she carves in her workshop as a gift.

rosie musgrave (@rosiemusgravesculpture) • Instagram photos and videos

Have a questison or tip for the fitting room, want us to discuss a particular topic, then send your nice que...

In this episode Nina and Charlotte talk to Michelle de Bruin, brilliant stone carver and artist based in Scotland. Michelle talks us through her career highs and lows, making us laugh and feel at ease along the way. Tune into this conversation and we challenge you not to feel inspired.

Michelle de Bruin - Artist, Stonecarver and Lettercutter based in Scotland

michelle de bruin (@artistorguk) • Instagram photos and videos

Sharp - Sean Hellman

We still have spaces available on our stone and lettercarving courses in September

Stone carving courses (ab...

In this episode Nina and Charlotte talk to Rian Kanduth, expert gilder and conservator. Rian tells us about her background, work experience, and teaching. We delve into the different mediums for gilding, different substrates and different types of gold. We discuss problems that can happen when gilding and how to avoid them. There is a lot of laughter!

https://www.instagram.com/londongildingcompany/

Have a questison or tip for the fitting room, want us to discuss a particular topic, then send your nice questions and comments to 'The Stone Carving and Lettering Takeaway' - we'd...

🎉 In this episode, Nina and Charlotte dive into the exciting world of Abraxas Academy's Summer School, kicking off this September! If you've ever dreamed of mastering the art of stone carving, this is your chance to turn that dream into reality.

Ready to chisel your way into this unique experience? Find out all the details and secure your spot by clicking the link below:

Got a burning question or a brilliant tip for our fitting room? Want us to explore a specific topic in our next chat? We'd love...

In this episode Nina and Charlotte talk to Jess Eyre a trained stone mason, and Paul Synan, senior mason from Gloucester Cathedral, who Nina met at Mansion House in London where they all received awards for their work and recognition for the skills they have aquired.

Gloucester Cathedral

Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre: Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth | Heritage Ireland

Digital Repository of Ireland Search Results (dri.ie)

The Rock of Cashel | Heritage Ireland

Cathedrals' Workshop Fellowship – Supporting the development of traditional craft skills for the conservation, maintenance & repair of ca...

In this episode Charlotte and Nina talk to sculptor and mason Tom Waugh who talks openly about his practice in contemporary stone sculpture and his journey from mason to artist.

Sculpture in Stone and Marble (tomwaugh.com)

BBC Radio 4 - This Cultural Life, Frank Auerbach

DIVA - Exhibition at V&A South Kensington · V&A (vam.ac.uk)

Women In Revolt! | Tate Britain

Have a questison or tip for the fitting room, want us to discuss a particular topic, then send your nice questions and comments to 'The Stone C...

We celebrate our first 12 months of the podcast with a rundown of our top tips, a few old and a few new to add to your carving repertoire. 

Top tips links below

Welcome to Letter Exchange

Hand made carvings, letter press & personalised gifts. — The Lettering Arts Trust

Kirsten Buick on Edmonia Lewis - The Great Women Artists | Podcast on Spotify

Listen — The Sculptor's Funeral (thesculptorsfuneral.com)

How to make a pencil extender (youtube.com)

Have a questison or tip for the fitting room, want u...

Part 2 of our interview with Peter Randall-Page RA - - We reccomend listening to part 1 of this interview before you listen to part 2

Peter has an international reputation for his sculpture, drawings and prints. His work is held in numerous collections throughout the world.

He very generously agreed to be on our podcast and we are delighted to share our interview we recorded with him. We continue this conversation with him in part 2.

He shares his insights and knowledge about stone, art and life, and the connections between them all in this fascinating...

Peter Randall Page RA has an international reputation for his sculpture, drawings and prints. His work is held in numerous collections throughout the world.

He very generously agreed to be on our podcast and we are delighted to share our interview we recorded with him.

He shares his insights and knowledge about stone, art and life, and the connections between them all in this fascinating conversation.

Links below are where you can see examples of Peter's work

Peter Randall-Page - artist, sculptor and Royal

'The One and T...

Heather Newton is the Fabric Projects Manager at Canterbury Cathedral. We talk to her about her career progression, her work and the training scheme she helped to develop.

With colleagues from other cathedrals she became a founder member of the Cathedrals' Workshop Fellowship, (CWF), a collaboration between ten of England's cathedrals to deliver enhanced training for crafts and trades-people working in cathedrals and the wider historic buildings sector. Heather wrote and have led the conservation module of the course and is a member of the management and delivery group (see The CWF Foundation Degree in Applied Historic...

In this episode Nina and Charlotte talk to the amazing Annet Stirling, discussing her work with Incisive Letterwork, Ian Hamilton Finley and other insights after a long career working with letters and stone.

Cut - A fantasitc short film

Watch this | Incisive Letterwork

Designers and letter carvers | Incisive Letterwork

Fontself - The Easiest Font Maker For All Creatives

Have a questison or tip for the fitting room, want us to discuss a particular topic, then send your nice questions and comments to 'The Stone Carving and Lettering T...

In this episode Nina and Charlotte discuss the joys of working onsite and the correct way to place an order for stone from a quarry or stone supplier as well as offering up a Top Tip to help you in the workshop.

Have a questison or tip for the fitting room, want us to discuss a particular topic, then send your nice questions and comments to 'The Stone Carving and Lettering Takeaway'

info@abraxasacademy.co.uk

www.abraxasacademy.co.uk

Stone carving courses (abraxasacademy.co.uk)

Southern S...

In this episode Nina and Charlotte talk about what happens when you make a mistake carving your stone, be it spelling or taking away to much stone, and ways of dealing with this.

Have a questison or tip for the fitting room, want us to discuss a particular topic, then send your nice questions and comments to 'The Stone Carving and Lettering Takeaway'

info@abraxasacademy.co.uk

www.abraxasacademy.co.uk

In this episode we talk to the wonderful Alan Micklethwaite, authur of 'Restoration Stone Carving', stone carver, conservator, sculptor and fabulous interviewee.

https://instagram.com/micklethwaitestudios

https://instagram.com/alanmicklethwaitesculpture

Have a questison or tip for the fitting room, want us to discuss a particular topic, then send your nice questions and comments to 'The Stone Carving and Lettering Takeaway'

info@abraxasacademy.co.uk

www.abraxasacademy.co.uk

STONE WILL ANSWER by Beatrice Searle

In this episode we talk to Beatrice about her book 'Stone Will Answer', a beautifully written account of her journey pulling a 40KG stone on a jouney of 100s of miles, travelling by boat from Orkney and walking over 500 miles through Southern Norway to Nidaros Cathedral.

Beatrice is a stone mason, artist, lettercarver and author.

https://instagram.com/beatrice.searle?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Have a questison or tip for the fitting room, want us to discuss a particular topic, then send your n...

In this episode Charlotte and Nina discuss carving angels, visiting the Donatello exhibition in London, fixing memorials on site as well as tips and tricks in the fitting room to help with your carvings.

Chatting to Catherine Samy, chair of the Lettering Arts Trust and Sue Apergis letter and stone carver. 

In the fitting room we discuss the boob in the B

Nina and Charlotte talk about tool literacy, recommend a set of carving tools for beginners and offer a few tips and tricks in the fitting room

Our very first podcast - We talk to Nina about her commission to carve statues of the Queen and Prince Philip for Canterbury Cathedral and learn about the emotional highs and lows of taking on a high profile job. We have our first question for the Fitting Room where we offer help and advice to anyone