Stone Masonry Masterclass
Four Night Residential Check in Monday 13th July 2026
Available spaces
Embark on an unforgettable week-long stone carving retreat at the tranquil Cober Hill, nestled in the heart of North Yorkshire’s stunning countryside. Guided by Alex Macey, a seasoned stone mason with over 20 years of experience in heritage restoration and intricate carving, this residential offers a deep dive into the ancient craft of stone carving. Whether you’re drawn to the tactile beauty of stone or eager to master traditional masonry techniques, this retreat will leave you with new skills, a unique masterpiece, and lasting inspiration. Perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike, the programme features three structured days, each focusing on a unique aspect of stone carving, however seasoned carvers are welcome to use this residential to work on a specific project of their choosing. During the week Alex will cover the following with structured demonstrations and a chance for you to practice these new skills including: Stone Selection - Learn the essentials of stone selection, tool handling, and basic carving techniques. 2D Relief Carving - Transforming a limestone block into a personalised design of your choice. Alex will guide you through selecting and transferring an image onto stone, using traditional tools like chisels and mallets to carve texture and depth. Letter Carving - Discover the precision and creativity of inscribing stone with elegant, enduring text, inspired by Alex’s work on replacement plaques and memorials. You’ll learn to design and carve lettering, focusing on proportion, spacing, and traditional techniques to achieve clean, professional results. Sculptural Carving - Focusing on low-relief sculptural forms, you’ll carve a nature-inspired design, such as foliage or a mythical figure, into stone, learning to add depth and texture to bring your piece to life. This week includes all materials, limestone, tools, and safety equipment and you will leave with completed carvings to take home with you. The residential package includes full board, en-suite accommodation in Cober Hill’s historic mansion house with breakfast and evening meals provided, alongside a daily buffet lunch. Complimentary refreshments, including tea, coffee, and snacks, are available throughout the day in breakout areas. Check in begins at 3:00pm on Monday 13th July 2026 with check out by 10:30am on Friday 17th July 2026.
Cancellation Policy
All residentials are priced including VAT charged at 20%. By completing this purchase you are securing a place for a residential, including full board accommodation at Cober Hill. We understand that plans can change, so we’ve outlined our cancellation and rescheduling policies for our residentials to ensure clarity and flexibility. At North Yorks Art School (NYAS), we incur a number of costs as soon as a residential booking is made — including venue, tutor, bank charges and administration fees. Unfortunately, due to the increasing number of cancellations, we now need to pass on a portion of these costs to customers when cancellations occur. Rescheduling Your Booking You can reschedule your booking up to 8 weeks before the start date of your residential free of charge — provided you transfer your place to another NYAS residential event taking place at Cober Hill (subject to availability). Reschedules outside of this time will be subject to a 10% booking fee. We will confirm the change in writing and transfer your place accordingly. Cancellations & Refunds If you choose to cancel your booking rather than reschedule, the following cancellation fees will apply: Over 6 Months 90% Refund 4 to 6 months 80% refund 2 to 4 months 70% refund 31 to 60 days 50% refund 30 days or less No refund Refunds will be processed to your original payment method within 3–5 business days once the cancellation is confirmed. Your Right to Cancel (Cooling-Off Period) If you live in the UK or EU, you are entitled to a 14-day cancellation window from the date of booking. Within this period, you may cancel for a full refund without providing a reason. To exercise this right, contact us at info@bookaclass.org within the 14-day period. Refunds will be processed to your original payment method. For all booking-related enquiries, rescheduling requests or cancellations, please email: info@bookaclass.org