Echinus Educational Programmes
Come and join us at one of our workshop, demonstrations, masterclasses, talks or study days at Woodchester Mansion. Suitable for all levels of skill and interest, alternatively book our Master to come to you.
All talks and lectures, demonstrations and workshops are given by Stephen L'Normand our Master Stonemason and Carver, past master at Windsor Castle; Doges Palace, Venice and The Vatican.
Stone Carving Workshops
Whether you’re looking for an experience to remember with a piece you carved to take home, to add some new techniques to your sculptors or stonemasons repertoire or learn more about the crafts history and while getting the feel for the tools little change over time you’ll find the academies extensive courses offer just the thing.
The Programmes
All our Programmes, Courses and Workshops can be tailored to a one, three or five day format.
Speaking Engagements
Through an eccentric and rare education and life, world travel and work at the highest levels of craft skills. A European craft lineage dating back to the eleventh century, a clientele of European and Middle Eastern royalty, Stephen lives in a world few know and even fewer have seen. A world of craft, music and poetry, where history, tradition and technology walk hand in hand, where philosophy, psychology, neurology and hand skills collectively known as “The Song” work together to create a better world for all it touches.
Demonstrations
At an entry-level event, Stephen can offer an inspiring glimpse into the craft, practically demonstrating a range of time-honoured techniques and tools with a brief explanation and opportunity for Q & A’s. Seminars may be more generalist or tailored to the interests of particular groups, e.g. museums, art clubs, freemasons’ chapters, corporate team building events and WI groups.
Echinus Academy Master
Dr. Stephen L’Normand occupies a place in a Duodecian, as one of twelve Guild Masters in the world. His doctoral research was in the field of sacramental geometry and metaphysics in architectural design. As Master Stonemason, he has worked on some of the most prestigious, protected and unique buildings worldwide, including: Doge’s Palace, Venice, Somerset House, Queen’s House, Greenwich and Windsor Castle. He was awarded a Blue Ribbon from The Academy of Free Stonemasons for his time as Master of Works at Stoneleigh Abbey. He is widely regarded to be the finest living English Baroque stone carver and has produced fine stone pieces for an extensive portfolio of notable clients.
He has devoted recent years to the protection and development of training in stonemasonry and stone carving in several countries and is based in the UK, where he oversees the training of a select group of Guild stonemasonry apprentices.
Educational Resource Collection
Through the work of the stonemasons and sculptors at Echinus Atelier and The Stonemasons' Guild of St. Stephen, an extraordinary collection of architectural carving and models, sculpture, maquettes, drawings, tools and materials have been developed.
Currently in residence at The Woodchester Mansion, the collection is truly unique and valuable as the vast majority of pieces have been created by the artisans who curate and present it to the audience.
The opportunity to engage with the craftspeople themselves contributes to a deeper understanding of the craft techniques and appreciation for the works themselves.
This educational resource is of value to artists, designers, architects, craftspeople, historians and the public at large.
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