The workshop will be a practical, hands-on introduction to the engraver’s art, focusing primarily on its application to the jewellery trade, but that even an absolute beginner can enjoy.
Learn hand engraving from experienced hand engraver Martin O’Keefe in this 2-day workshop, which aims to demystify the engraving process and equip participants with the skills and confidence to begin their own engraving journey.
This course is open to b0th DCCI members and members of the public.
Course Overview
- Date: Saturday 21st, Sunday 22nd June 2025
- Duration: Two days; 10am – 5pm with hour for lunch
- Last day to apply: 15th June
- Venue: DCCIA School of Jewellery, Sessions House, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, R95 X9Y6
- Number of participants: 10
- Fee: €295
Why Attend
- Gain practical knowledge and skills in jewellery hand engraving
- Learn from a highly qualified hand engraver with more than 15 years of experience
- Enhance your jewellery designing skills
- Meet and network with fellow enthusiasts and professionals
Learning Outcomes
- At the end of the course, you will have several completed pieces in copper as well as a silver pendant to take home that you might rightly feel proud and hopefully inspired.
- You will also receive your own sharpened & polished graver so you can continue to practice and perfect your hand engraving skills when you complete the course.
Who Should Attend
- This course is suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to experienced jewellers looking to enhance their skill set.
The workshop will begin by stripping away the mystery often surrounding engraving. Martin will guide participants step by step through the foundations of the craft, focusing on tool handling, technique and control. You will learn how to hold and use a graver correctly, and gain knowledge into how simple lines and cuts can become beautiful decorative elements. Through a series of practical exercises, you will begin creating engraved designs.
Now that you’ve got the hang of engraving basics, Martin will demonstrate how to properly set-up, sharpen and polish a graver – essential skills for all engravers. You will also explore a wider variety of techniques for adding detail, depth and texture to your work on both flat and curved surfaces. At the end of the course, you will have several completed pieces in copper as well as a silver pendant to take home. You will also receive your own sharpened & polished graver so you can continue to develop your skills after the course.
Know Your Instructor
Professional hand engraver Martin O’Keeffe was traditionally apprenticed at sixteen years of age to Master Engraver Derek M. Egan of Castle Street, Dublin and has almost 40 years’ experience as a full-time, professional Hand Engraver (only a handful of whom still exist in Ireland).
Martin has worked with Ireland’s top Jewellery Designers and Manufacturers as well as leading International Retailers including Tiffanys, Cartier and Boodles. His approach to engraving and the teaching of this ancient craft is enthusiastic, informal and pragmatic, helping students to achieve the most surprisingly beautiful results.
Upskill and learn with DCCI Academy
DCCI Academy is a specialised academy for education, training and apprenticeships. We welcome everyone, from design and craft beginners, to established professionals.
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