This year the CLAS Festival of Calligraphy was held at Warwickshire College in Leamington Spa.

The CLAS Festival of Calligraphy gives everyone a chance to indulge in calligraphy and lettering. World class tutors teach a variety of courses in lettering. This year’s tutors were Mary Noble, Manny Ling, Ian Garrett, Lin Kerr, Clare Whittaker and Vivien Lunniss

The workshops take place during two 2 1/2 day sessions with Monday afternoon free.

We were delighted to be asked to attend Monday afternoon. As usual it is very hard to decide what Calligraphy equipment and materials to take to an event. We can’t take it all, and you guessed it we were asked for one type of nib, which we had left behind. Another dilemma we have is what quantities of stock to take. Thankfully we got this about right. We only sold out of three items and one of these we had limited stocks because the supplier is also out of stock.

It was great meeting lots of keen calligraphers in a relaxed environment. You could tell the calligraphers were really enjoying the Festival, because every single one of them who wrote us a cheque for payment could not remember what the date was!

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The aim of this special group is to promote the understanding, appreciation, study, practice and creative extension of a period of American artistic endeavour now regarded as the Golden Age of Ornamental Penmanship. This outstanding period of American penmanship flourished for seventy-five years from approximately 1850 to 1925 when its demise was brought about by changes in commercial practice and the invention of the typewriter though it continued to a lesser extent into the 1950s.

The Spencerian Study Group holds two major workshops a year in the City of York. Meetings are held at St Lawrence’s Hall, Lawrence Street, Walmgate, York. Fixed dates are the second Saturday in April and the last Saturday in September. Between times, members are encouraged to develop their penmanship skills by not only corresponding with others, but exploring creative ideas in a modern context from study day initiatives. Tools and materials are readily available through the group.

POSTAL MEMBERSHIP has now been running for two years for those enthusiasts interested in this period of penmanship yet for whatever reason are unable to attend study group meetings. Members receive the quarterly ‘Spencerian Review’ full of news, interesting articles and scans of original penmanship and calligraphy from the period. If you are at all interested in becoming a member of our postal group then please get in touch.

Brian G Walker

Download Spencerian Study Group information sheet for further details

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The Copperplate Special Interest Group was founded in 1995 by Jim Linwood to address the needs of pointed pen enthusiasts. Prior to this, there had been a lack of focus for lovers of Copperplate and other pointed pen calligraphy. The aim of the group is to promote Copperplate as a beautiful calligraphic hand.

Since the group was set up, interest has grown in the hand, and we now have an enthusiastic membership of over 180 worldwide, incorporating all ranges of ability from the very beginner to some eminent and expert broad-edge calligraphers.

We keep our members in touch with four newsletters a year, which include information on nibs, suitable inks and papers, samples of work, hints and tips, events and workshops.

We run an Envelope Exchange scheme every six months, and a ‘mentoring’ scheme in which the less experienced can receive help to improve their Copperplate from the more experienced. There is also an ongoing project which culminates in a yearly calendar.

We are a friendly and inclusive group, and we welcome new members. Membership is open to anyone who has an interest in Copperplate.

Membership is currently £9 per year for UK members, and £13 per year for overseas members.

For more information email Joy Daniels at: joydaniels [at] ntlworld [dot] com

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