2 Day Workshop - "Manuscript Illumination" with Toni Watts
Date: Saturday 21 to Sunday 22 March 2026
Cost: Members/Visitors - £105 per person
Venue: Glasgow City Centre
Level: Suitable for new and existing calligraphers
Day 1: Basic illumination techniques using ‘off the shelf’ gilding sizes and an introduction to manuscript gesso.
Day 2: Manuscript gesso in more depth - laying complex shapes, burnishing, tooling, refining edges etc.
Tutor Details: Toni Watts is a professional illuminator, artist, calligrapher, author and UK/International tutor. She is a member of the Heritage Crafts Association and has the following qualifications - Diploma from the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, Open University M.A. Art History with Merit, Open University B.A. Hons. (First Class) Humanities with Art History and Classical Studies. Toni is one of the few remaining professional illuminators practising the medieval craft of illumination in the UK and uses 24-carat gold leaf, handmade gesso, home made paint, replicating techniques and recipes dating back to the medieval period when books were handwritten and decorated by hand.
Examples of Toni’s work can be found on her website https://toniwattsartstudio.com.
To book a place on the workshop please email glasgowscribes@yahoo.co.uk or text 07895 935106.
