Description
Wax Ring Carving Workshop for Silver Casting with Shirley Lowe
Level: beginners as well as makers with experience who are keen to add another technique to their skill set.
Design and carve your own sculptural wax ring ready to be cast in solid silver in this creative one-day jewellery workshop.
Working in traditional blue jeweller’s wax, you’ll learn how to transform a simple block of wax into a finished ring design using a range of carving and shaping techniques. Wax carving is a versatile method widely used by contemporary jewellers and designers, allowing you to create organic forms, sculptural surfaces and bold geometric shapes that are difficult to achieve using sheet metal and wire.
During the workshop, Shirley will guide you through both subtractive carving techniques and additive wax working, showing you how to build texture and form using heat and wax tools. As you work, you’ll develop an understanding of how wax models are prepared for the lost wax casting process, a production method used throughout the jewellery industry.
By the end of the day, you will have created a finished wax “master” of your ring design. Your wax will then be sent to Jewellery Casting Scotland, where it will be professionally cast in solid silver. Once the rings return to the studio, they will be hand-finished before being posted out to you.
This relaxed and imaginative workshop is suitable for beginners as well as makers who already have jewellery experience and would like to add wax carving and casting to their design toolkit.
Your tutor:
Shirley Lowe is a jeweller and tutor based in Central Scotland who divides her time between her own practice and teaching at the Central Scotland School of Jewellery. Her work is inspired by the environment and often uses reclaimed or recycled materials, reflecting her interest in more ethical approaches to jewellery making. Shirley particularly enjoys sharing techniques such as wax carving and casting, encouraging students to experiment with sculptural forms and develop their own creative ideas.
Techniques covered
-
Understanding jeweller’s carving wax and its properties
-
Designing a ring for lost wax casting
-
Measuring and sizing a wax ring blank
-
Subtractive wax carving using files and carving tools
-
Shaping and refining ring forms
-
Creating texture and surface detail
-
Additive wax techniques using heat and molten wax
-
Smoothing and polishing wax models
-
Preparing a wax master for casting
-
Understanding the lost wax casting process
Outcome
You will design and carve your own wax ring, which will be professionally cast in silver and posted to you after the workshop.
What to bring:
- We’ll provide everything you need for your wax carving workshop, including tools and enough wax to make your ring
- Please bring along glasses if you need them
- Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for a studio environment, including closed-toe shoes. Why not treat yourself to a CSSJ-branded apron to make you feel right at home?
- If you have long hair, please wear it up
- If you are the type of person who prefers to arm yourself with some knowledge ahead of time, then we have prepared a Pinterest page filled with jewellery-making information and wax carving inspiration just for you!
- Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided. Please bring your own lidded cup for use in the studio. While we do not have a dedicated lunch area, you are welcome to eat at your desk, and we can also recommend nearby places to eat if you prefer.
Course Info
Friday 20th March 2026
11 am – 4 pm
Location – Upstairs in the Central Scotland School of Craft, Craft Central, High Street, Dunblane
Please note that classes may be cancelled if there are insufficient bookings. In the unlikely event of a cancellation, you will be notified the day before the scheduled class and will receive a full refund.
