The Framers Forum

Hi all,
I'm starting out as a framer (a wonderful craft I'm sure you'll all agree) and looking to find some 1:1 training with someone for a day or two. I'm also a new Dad - so my learning curves on all fronts are pretty steep right now!

For context: Two years ago I went on a 5-day commercial framing course at Wessex Pictures. I've not done loads since, so am a little rusty, but have the basics of mitring, joining, mount cutting covered. I've been picking things back up for the last couple of months on my own Morso, Cassese underpinner, Keencut, and some other pieces of kit for a couple of months - but I'm feeling that I need to advance various areas of my overall skills and knowledge to really start pushing ahead.

Generally looking at refreshing / deepening my knowledge on:
- Floating works
- Restoring and framing canvases
- Framing items like textiles or objects
amongst a few other bits, so would be great to refine a plan with someone based on their skills and specialisms.

I live on the south coast in West Sussex - so someone based in Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey or London would work well.
Please let me know if you'd be interested on working with me on something like this, or have a suggestion of someone that you know who might be good to talk to.
Many thanks,
Rob.

The obstacle of distance is something I hear a lot when talking to new framers. I always point out that framing is a small industry in the UK and in relation to other countries the UK is also small. It's also a case of you get what you pay for.
My top picks for training would be
- Jo and Alec at The Framing Lot in Dawlish, Devon, who are part of a team that run http://www.pictureframingtraining.com/.
- John at Handmade Framing in Bude, Cornwall, who runs https://pictureframingtuition.uk/
Closer to you in Twickenham is Sue at River Crane Framing https://rivercraneframing.com/courses
All of these trainers are at least GCF (Guild Certified Framers) and some are Advanced qualified framers and all are working to the Fine Art Trade Guild standards.

Thanks for the shout out, Justin.

Rob, we would be your nearest Advanced qualified Guild Accredited Trainers and can certainly tailor training for you if that would be of interest. We get lots of students from your part of the world as well as further afield. My husband Alec was actually sent on the Origin 5 day training course back in the early 1990s when he worked for his family framing business in London, run by Gary who now runs the Wessex 5 day course that you would have done. Wessex bought Origin a while back. Gary had a full head of hair back in those days. And we've certainly come a long way since Alec did that course!

Much appreciated Justin for the ideas on a few places to start - great selection - any of them could potentially work well, particularly as I'm headed through Devon to Cornwall in June for a family hol.
Jo thanks so much for replying directly to with the additional detail - I'll be in touch this week to discuss. Great that your origin story was also an Origin story - Gary's good fun and, yes, has the helpful advantage these days of not finding hairs behind the glass when finishing up!
(And apologies for the delayed reply - my wee one just started nursery so it's been croup week - the first of many delightful bugs no doubt!)
Best, Rob

You are asking for a very broad list of skills that do not compress into a single training course of a day or two. Many of us have spend decades in this trade. We did not learn everything in our first year. It's all practice - practice - practice

My suggestion is to attach a single skill at a time and after accomplishing that skill with practice, move on to the next skill.

I received some excellent training from Jo and her husband, they really know all aspects of framing. I had mine paid for by the wonderful Larson-Juhl Scholarship run by the Fine Art Trade Guild.