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Course intent

Over three Saturday sessions, you will design and make a small leaded stained glass panel using traditional techniques.

You'll be introduced to the fundamentals of stained glass design, accurate glass cutting, and working with lead came. The course also includes a gentle introduction to traditional glass painting, allowing you to add a simple decorative detail to your work.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a finished glass panel to take home and have a solid foundation in stained glass techniques, with the confidence to continue developing your skills in future projects.

What will I learn?

You will learn:

Design Techniques

• Develop a simple stained glass design (approx. 10 pieces of glass) and learn how to draw a working cartoon to guide your project.
• Sustained glass design principles including balance, line, and colour.
• Select suitable glass to complement your design and highlight key features.

Material Knowledge

• Gain an understanding of the properties of glass, lead came, solder, and paint used in stained glass work.
• Learn how to choose and use different types of glass and how light interacts with them.
• Receive an introduction to traditional glass painting techniques, including the use of grisaille.

Craftsmanship

• Learn how to cut glass accurately to match your cartoon.
• Paint a simple detail or line design onto your glass using traditional methods.
• Assemble your glass pieces with lead came, then solder, cement, and polish your final panel.

Production Process

• Follow each stage of creating a leaded stained glass panel, from drawing and cutting to assembly and finishing.
• Understand the sequence of making: design > cartoon > cutting > painting > leading > soldering > cementing.
• Gain confidence using hand tools safely and effectively.

Workshop Practice

• Work safely in a glass studio environment, following proper health and safety procedures.
• Learn how to handle glass, lead, and paint materials responsibly and cleanly.
• Develop good habits for studio organisation and tool care.

Who is this course for? Is there anything I need to know before joining?

Stage 1 - This course is perfect for complete beginners or anyone who wants to build confidence and improve their stained glass skills. No previous experience is needed — just curiosity and a willingness to learn. It’s also a great refresher for those returning to the craft after a break.

What do I need to bring to the first class? Will there be any extra costs?

Access to the Stained Glass studio is via the Harvey Road entrance.

What to Wear

• Old clothes or an apron
• Sensible, closed-toe shoes (no open-toe sandals)
• If required for specific techniques, you will be issued one Face Fit Protection (FFP3) mask. You must bring this to all future sessions. If you forget it, a replacement must be purchased.

What to Bring

• A notepad, pencil, pen, and rubber
• Waterproof fine or very fine marker pens (ideally a metallic Sharpie and a very fine black pen)
• Graph or squared paper to the size of your project (available to buy in class if needed)
• Safety or over-spectacles goggles (available in the studio if needed)

Note on glass:

Glass for your final project is not included in the course fee. It can be purchased from the studio. Expect to pay between £25 and £30, depending on project size and your choice of colours. Prices may vary with market rates.

What Will Be Provided

• All specialist tools and materials required for stained glass work
• Access to equipment and supplies for classroom use only
• One FFP3 face mask (if your chosen technique requires it)

What can I do when I finish the course?

After completing Stage 1, you can progress to a Stage 2 course, where you'll continue to build your skills and take on more complex stained glass projects. You can remain at Stage 2 for up to three terms, refining your technique and exploring new methods.

From there, you're welcome to move on to Stage 3 and then Stage 4, developing more ambitious designs and larger, intricate work. With stained glass, there’s always more to learn — you can take the craft as far as you wish, from simple panels to detailed, architectural pieces.

You may also want to explore our Glass Fusing courses, which offer the chance to create decorative fused elements that can be incorporated into stained-glass panels or stand-alone objects.

Additional Information

We welcome learners with additional needs and disabilities. When you enrol, please let us know if you would like to discuss your extra support needs with a member of the Supported Learning Team who will then contact you as soon as possible. If you are enrolling within 10 days of the course start date, we may not be able to contact you before your first class.

We value and support equality, diversity and inclusion by promoting fairness and respect at all times.

How to enrol

Our courses are for adult learners aged 19 or over. If you are under 19, please call 0300 200 1044.

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