Our Services

Here at Insitju we offer a range of courses including framing, gilding and conservation which are available for different lengths and ability’s to suit your needs. We are passionate about passing on the knowledge and skills which we have enquired through 12 amount of years in practice.

In all of our courses we talk about business set up, the equipment and materials needed to start and run your own framing workshop and where is best places to acquire your stock.

Workshops and courses at Insitju Framing and Conservation Ltd are given in small groups and give step-by-step tuition in various framing, gilding and conservation techniques. Unless otherwise stated workshops and courses are held at the workshops in the Georgian Heritage town of Modbury in the South Hams, Devon, and run from 10:00am to 4:30pm. Tea/coffee, hand-outs and materials are included in the fee unless otherwise specified.

Your

Course

Instructor

Martin Edwards MA

Martin Edwards MA has been working with framing and conservation for 12 years, first discovering his passion as a collection manager for a private fine art and heritage collection in Portsmouth . Martin has continued to gain specialist knowledge of gilding, carving and frame making, spending 10 years as a conservator, specialising in frames and polychrome objects, he then went on to achieve two masters degrees in history and conservation from Newcastle and Lincoln University.

Martin is also passionate about teaching and sharing his knowledge to promote the continuation of traditional craft skills. He is qualified as a vocational assessor as well as an Adult and Further Education Teacher and has been awarded a City & Guilds Licentiateship in Training and Development. He has also been commended by the Fine Art Guild and therefore our vocational training in picture framing is in line with the Fine Art Guilds code of ethics and standards. He is also currently undertaking an ICON accreditation.

Vocational Framing Courses

1 Day Picture Framing for Beginners

Next course date: TBC

The one-day hands on workshop will introduce the subject of bespoke picture framing; including:

Tools & materials
Terminology
History
Mount Cutting
Glass Cutting

You will make one or two A4 size bespoke frames.

Whether you are considering starting a professional framing business, an art gallery owner or artist, this course is suitable for all levels with no prior experience required.

This course is limited to 4 students.

This course is £99 per person + VAT this includes materials.

2 Day Advanced Framing Course

Next course date: TBC

This two day advanced course is designed to follow our three day introductory one.

It includes more advanced framing such as box framing for medals, sports shirts and other three dimensional items which is a staple part of running a framing business.

This course is £500.00 per person + VAT this includes materials.

3 Day Introductory Framing Course

Next course date: TBC

This introductory framing course starts by covering the theory with a presentation, this will provide you with the knowledge for the rest of the course which is purely practical. The next two days will consist of a series of practical demonstrations, which you will then try yourselves.

By the end of the course you will have completed two fully finished frame of your own to take away with you.
We have tailored this course to teach you the foundations of framing techniques.

Suitable for beginners, whether you're considering setting up a framing business or in need for some refresher training for those already working in the field.

The course is designed for 2 - 4 people to assure that all participant are given one to one contact time.

This course is £750.00 per person + VAT this includes materials.

5 Day Course - Introductory & Advanced

Next course date: TBC

We also offer the 3 Day Introductory Framing and 2 Day Advanced Framing courses consecutively for the price of £1250 plus VAT, this will allow you to learn all of the skills necessary to run a framing business of your own.

Email Insitju to Book

Specialist Courses

1 Day Introduction to Gilding Techniques

Next course date: TBC

This fun and informative day which will introduce the subject of Gilding; including:

Tools & materials
Terminology
History
Oil Gilding Techniques
Water Gilding Techniques

Each student will oil gild at one A4 size frame.

Suitable for all levels with no prior experience required.

This course is limited to 3 students.

This course is £125 per person + VAT this including all materials.

2 Day 1-2-1 Conservation Course

Next course date: TBC

This course is designed to be bespoke to you, we will focus on a set of skills or techniques you would like to learn.

We recommend that you bring your own piece to work no bigger than A3. So that you can gain the most out of the course and continue to work on this at home.

Some examples of interest could be:

Mould Making
Ornament replacement
Gold Leaf Repair
Restoring and Cleaning a Frame

A personal example is David from Artisan Fames in Ireland, he wanted to learn/ refine his composition recipes, replacing ornament, mould making and toning gold leaf.

This course is £550.00 + VAT this includes materials.

3 Day Guiding Course

Next course date: TBC

This three day hands-on workshop will cover different gilding techniques and their uses, including Oil Gilding and Water Gilding principles. It is both instructional and hands on, the mornings are spent on lectures whilst the afternoons are practical and hands on. The course will include:

Preparing the substrate (frame and test board).
Making and applying size.
Making traditional Gesso from rabbit skin glue size and whiting and its application.
Smoothing of dried gesso layers.
Manufacture and application of Bole Clay.
Analysing antique gilding from our collection of gilt frames and objects
Final preparation for gilding; Application and handling gold leaf.
Cutting and laying gold prior to application to test board and frame using both oil and water gilding techniques.
Burnishing and finishing of gilded surfaces

Each student will prepare a small test board, and prepare a pre-made A5 bespoke frame for water gilding in 23ct Gold leaf.

Suitable for all levels with no prior experience required.

This course is limited to 3 students.

This course is £750.00 + VAT this includes materials.

Email Insitju to Book

Framing and Conservation Restoration Course

1 Day Picture Framing and Conservation Course

Next course date: TBC

This one-day hands on workshop builds on the knowledge gained from the entry level course and is suitable for people with some experience in picture framing.

The course will cover:

Appropriate selection of conservation materials and their use and application
Conservation mounting of artwork
Preventative conservation principles.

Each student will make at least one A4 size frame.

This course is limited to 4 students.

This course is £99.00 + VAT this includes materials.

3 Day Making Composition for Frames Course

Next course date: TBC

This three day hands-on workshop on the construction of Victorian composition frames aims to give the student a foundation in the manufacture of composition and the application of this ornament onto frames. This course goes hand in hand with the gilding course.

Over the three days you will cover:

Tools & Materials
Terminology
History
Traditional recipes of composition
Making and adequate amount of composition for use on the course
Applying composition using our Georgian and Victorian box wood moulds
Making a test board using various moulds
Preparing two A5 mirror frames (gesso) for application of Composition Ornament
Preparing frames prior to gilding or surface decoration

Suitable for all levels with no prior experience required.

This course is limited to 2 students.

This course is £750.00 + VAT this includes materials.

3 Day Framing Conservation Course

Next course date: TBC

This three-day intense theoretical and practical hands on workshop builds on the knowledge gained from the entry level courses and is suitable for people with some experience in picture framing.

The course will cover, appropriate selection of conservation materials and their use and application, conservation mounting of artwork, and preventative conservation principles.

Conservation Materials, types of mount board and their uses, types of backing boards, types and use of glass and acrylic museum glazing.
Principles of Conservation, professional bodies, resources and guidelines
Preventative Conservation an introduction
Art handling
Practical framing conservation methods
Environmental impacts on framing: private collections, exhibitions, galleries

Each student will make at least three different conservation A4 size frames.

This course is limited to 2 students.

This course is £750.00 + VAT this includes materials.

Email Insitju to Book

What People Say

"Having been on numerous career courses, I have often been dissappointed by either ‘lack of instructor time’ or ‘poor instruction and content’. However during the 3 day vocational course run by Martin my experience was the polar opposite. Martin’s relaxed & flexible approach encouraged participation & questions. Knowing that getting things wrong is part of the learning process allowed me focus on getting things right, not worrying about getting things wrong. Whilst delivery & content were excellent, it is Martin’s experience and willingness to pass on his hard learnt lessons within the framing business which truely sets him apart from other instructors. Since finishing the course I have managed to navigate the difficult process of setting up my own framing business and feel that I owe this to Martin’s philosophy - he is not instructing potential competitors but rather work colleagues. Cheers!"

J Butler, Q&A Frames