Silverclay Jewellery Workshop

Metal clay is a substance consisting of tiny silver particles held together with an organic binder and water. This renders the silver into a clay-like substance. When the clay is fired (with a gas torch or in a kiln) the binder burns away, and you are left with solid silver. This is purer than sterling silver and can be hallmarked.

Across the 10 weeks, you’ll be taught a range of specialist jewellery making techniques needed to work with silver clay and you’ll refine your new skills through a series of projects.

Techniques that you’ll cover include soldering, sanding, polishing, texturing, and basic stone-setting. You’ll also learn how to make your own moulds to set your silver clay and will experiment with both torch and kiln firing.

Each week, you’ll cover a different area or skill relating to silver clay jewellery making, after which you’ll receive a mini-brief. Your projects will typically include items such as pendants, earrings, rings, and cuff links of your own design. Each brief is specially written to enable you to enhance both your design and practical skills.

One of the great advantages of working in metal clay is that it's relatively easy to continue working at home after the course without a big investment, as you don’t need many tools or specialist equipment.

• Rolling out the clay to a consistent thickness
• Mould-making
• Texturing and cutting out shapes
• Sanding, polishing, and burnishing
• Torch firing and basics of kiln firing
• Use of syringe paste
• Basic stone-setting
• Basic soldering

• Possess improved design and jewellery making skills using silver clay
• Be the proud owner of a small collection of beautiful, wearable jewellery that incorporates the new skills you’ve developed throughout the course
• Have the confidence to design and create your own jewellery pieces outside the course setting
• Be knowledgeable and skilled in a variety of different specialist techniques required to work with silver clay
• Be able to apply a range of finishes to your jewellery pieces
• Have increased confidence in your own skills and feel inspired
• Have boosted creativity and imagination
• Be encouraged to experiment and explore your ideas, remembering that there's no right or wrong way to be creative
• Possess the foundations to continue creating beyond this course

All students with 100% course attendance will be issued with an official AUB Short Course certificate of attendance. To request your certificate contact the short courses team: shortcourses@aub.ac.uk or call 01202 363222.

After this course, you could:

• Elevate your skills further and earn a Level 2 Skills Education Group accredited qualification in Jewellery Design; this’ll open the door to further academic study
• Continue to harness your creativity and develop your skills further; explore our full range of Jewellery Making short courses
• Broaden your creative horizons and try your hand at a range of disciplines; explore our full range of evening and weekend courses
• Continue to develop your skills at home as a hobby

• You'll study at a leading specialist university – we know what we're doing when it comes to providing unparalleled courses
• Our tutors are industry professionals, so you'll learn from the best
• We cater for all abilities and have no formal entry requirements for this course, so there's nothing holding you back
• You'll learn in a safe and encouraging environment where there's no right or wrong way to be creative
• You'll learn 'by doing' and always feel fully included and supported
• Benefit from our incredible campus and its industry-standard studios, and use state-of-the-art equipment and software to unleash your creativity