Description
Alternative Metals Summer School: Colour, Contrast & Construction
Level: Suitable for makers with some prior experience. Get in touch if you are unsure at hello@cssj.co.uk
A three-day intensive exploring vibrant surface, innovative materials and decorative metal techniques.
As the cost of precious metals continues to rise, many makers are seeking creative ways to diversify their practice while keeping material expenses manageable. This summer school embraces that opportunity — introducing alternative metals and composite techniques that offer bold visual impact without the price tag of traditional silver and gold.
Across three carefully structured days, you will explore the radiant colours of torch-fired titanium, surface decoration through anodised aluminium and pattern through the traditional technique of married metals. Each day focuses on a distinct material and process, building technical confidence while expanding your creative repertoire.
Suitable for makers with some prior experience (with accessible elements for confident beginners), this course encourages experimentation, sampling and resolved outcomes.
Day One: Titanium — Colour Through Fire
Industrial yet expressive, titanium offers jewellers a striking alternative to precious metals. Through controlled torch-firing, the surface develops a stable oxide layer that produces luminous, iridescent colour.
This practical day introduces the precision and understanding required to work successfully with titanium. You will begin with structured sampling before developing a small finished piece.
You’ll Explore
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Controlled heat application to create consistent colour
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Working with titanium sheet and wire
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Secure cold connections, including wire and tube rivets
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Finishing techniques to enhance and preserve surface colour
Day Two: Married Metals — Pattern Through Contrast
Married metal describes the process of soldering contrasting metals together using hard solder to create a unified sheet that appears to be formed from a single patterned surface. By combining silver with gilding metal, this technique allows intricate designs to emerge through repetition and reconfiguration.
After soldering layered metals together, sections can be cut, rearranged and re-soldered in contrasting orientations. This process may be repeated multiple times to build increasingly complex patterns.
You’ll Explore
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Preparing and soldering layered metal sheets
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Solder inlay techniques
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Puzzle inlay construction
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Ammonia patination
These traditional yet highly versatile techniques create striking visual contrast while maintaining structural integrity. You will produce patterned sheet samples which time dependant can be developed into finished components or jewellery pieces.
Day Three: Aluminium — Colour, Pattern & Form
Lightweight, durable and vividly coloured, aluminium lends itself beautifully to bold, contemporary jewellery. Working with pre-anodised aluminium sheet, you will explore decorative and forming techniques that celebrate colour and texture.
Through guided experimentation, you will develop surface samples before refining your ideas into finished pieces.
You’ll Explore
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Decorative stamping and texturing
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Dip-dye techniques for layered colour effects
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Cutting, shaping and forming aluminium
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Teaming aluminium with other metals using cold connections
While cuff bangles are a popular outcome, Day 3 encourages flexibility — earrings or other small pieces may also be created depending on your pace.
By the end of the three days, you will have
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Explored three distinct metalworking approaches
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Developed technical understanding across heat colouring, anodised surface design and hard solder construction
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Produced a collection of samples and finished pieces
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Gained practical strategies for working confidently with alternative and mixed metals
This summer school offers a rich and varied experience — combining experimentation with refined technique — and provides an inspiring route into contemporary jewellery that balances creativity with material economy.
Course Info
Friday 7th August, Saturday 8th August and Sunday 9th August 2026
10 am – 4 pm each day.
Central Scotland School of Jewellery, Craft Central, High Street, Dunblane
Please note: Classes may occasionally be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances or insufficient bookings. Should this occur, you will be notified no later than the day before the scheduled class and will receive a full refund.
