Chris developed this course over years of teaching beginners in his Herefordshire studio and then turned it into a book: Relief Carving: A Practical Introduction (GMC Publications, 1998), which serves as the course text. During the week, Chris leads students step-by-step through two projects designed to give them a thorough grounding in low-relief and high-relief carving.

The course offers a strong foundation in carving skills applicable to decorative panels, architectural details, and furniture. Students develop a confident understanding of the functions of the various carving tools and how to sharpen and handle them; relief design and working wood grain; lining in, grounding out, setting in, modeling, and undercutting; finishing from the chisel; and many other aspects of the carving process. Tuition: $650