Master calligrapher Kirsten Burke and  Jill Hembling, managing director of The Modern Calligraphy Company, are hosting two incredible workshops this weekend at Mercato Mayfair. Aimed at amateur and professional calligraphers, the all-day classes take place in the beautifully converted St Mark’s church, where guests can also experience the full range of food and drink available over three floors. 

Masterclass: Brush Calligraphy | Building Your Career, 22nd January 10am – 3pm
£195 per ticket – book here

With more than 25 years of experience in the business, Jill and Kirsten give you an absolutely invaluable insight into this highly competitive field. This masterclass is aimed at enthusiastic amateurs and professional calligraphers who wish to be trained to do event work at the highest level. As the most creative form of calligraphy, brush lettering with its free-flowing style is currently the most popular form of lettering used by leading luxury brands, as it works perfectly across a variety of different forms of packaging, so mastering this skill will open up lots of ‘eventing’ possibilities.

Jill will introduce you to the commercial aspects of the business. This will include clarifying how to break down a brief, navigating a brand guideline, awareness of legal obligations, and meeting client expectations. She will also impart important information regarding rates of pay.

Modern brush calligraphy is considered to be quite forgiving for beginners, but in the professional arena it is one of the hardest to perfect so in this workshop, Master calligrapher Kirsten Burke will teach you all the tips and tricks you need to deliver ‘product perfect’ calligraphy with confidence at this level.

We will look at how to use balance, scale, and bounce to create beautiful brush lettering in situ and how to work around unusual shapes with tricky messages. We will work with brush pens, brushes, paints and inks. You will receive one to one feedback on your skills and so if you are a self-taught modern calligrapher, this course will give you the opportunity to discuss and review your working methods with the professionals and check that you are working in the most efficient way, in order to succeed in this environment.

Jill will run through the do’s and don’ts of social media and explain how to use this powerful medium positively for your business. Finally, Kirsten will show you how to use photography on location to wow your clients and impress your followers.

This course looks to identify calligraphers with the ability to join The Modern Calligraphy Co. team as a freelance associate calligrapher. As such you will be considered for opportunities at prestigious live events for world-renowned luxury brands.

You don’t need to bring anything, all materials will be provided.

Masterclass: Pointed Nib | Building Your Career, 23rd January 10am – 3pm
£195 per ticket – book here

This Masterclass in pointed nib calligraphy is aimed at enthusiastic amateurs and professional calligraphers who wish to be trained to do event work in the luxury market. Run by Kirsten and Jill, this masterclass draws on 25 years of experience, giving you an absolutely invaluable insight into this high profile, prestigious world – essential if you are new to live events!

Jill will talk about the national campaigns that she organises for high-profile clients, examine the client brief, navigate brand guidelines, legal obligations, meeting client expectations and rates of pay.

Kirsten will look at how to vary your style to meet your clients’ brief and deliver ‘product perfect’ calligraphy with confidence at high profile, high volume, high-pressure events. She will take you through the regular issues that event calligraphers can come up against. You will work onto a variety of different challenging surfaces and learn how to adjust the balance of your lettering and be able to work successfully onto awkward objects ‘live’.

You will receive one-to-one feedback on your skills and expert tips, tricks, and most importantly, troubleshooting!

Jill will navigate you through the do’s and don’ts of social media and how to use this powerful medium to maximise your impact and then lastly, Kirsten will give you advice on how to use photography on location, to wow your clients and impress your followers.

If you are a self-taught modern calligrapher, this course will give you the opportunity to discuss and review your working methods and check that you are working in the most efficient way, in order to succeed in this environment.  There is no need to bring anything, however, if you have a nib and holder that you prefer using then do bring it with you.

This course will also be looking to identify calligraphers with the ability to join The Modern Calligraphy Co. team as a freelance associate calligrapher. As such you will be considered for opportunities at prestigious live events for world-renowned luxury brands. Places are extremely limited, so book now to avoid disappointment.

If you are going to book both masterclasses please contact enquiries@kirstenburke.co.uk and for a 25% off discount code for both! 

Mercato Mayfair, St Mark’s, North Audley Street, London W1K 6ZA.

Getting There: Mercato Mayfair is a five-minute walk from Bond Street tube station.