Pargetting & Relief Sculpture in Lime Plaster

Wick Farm, Somerset, TA10 0NL | Saturday 18th - Wednesday 22nd April 2026

5 Days of Hands-On Learning in the Beautiful Somerset Countryside

Join Rebecca for a five-day immersive workshop at Wick Farm, Somerset, where we will explore the artistry of pargetting & relief using lime plaster. This is an opportunity to learn traditional decorative plasterwork techniques in a peaceful rural setting, surrounded by nature and a supportive creative community.

Through a mix of practical sessions, demonstrations, and presentations, you’ll gain hands-on experience with sculptural plaster while deepening your understanding of materials, form, and craftsmanship.

During this workshop, we will have the opportunity to learn from special guest tutors Bill Sargent and Andrew Fawcett who will join us for one day; two master Pargetters with many years of experience and who are based in East Anglia. This is a very special and rare opportunity and will be the first time Rebecca has collaborated with them.

The workshop will also be supported by Mandrin Gaudez; a professional sculpting tutor, artist and animator from France, who Becky has worked with on a number of occasions before both at Wick and internationally.

What You’ll Learn

-Lime plaster mixes – Learn the properties of different materials and how to choose the right mix for different surfaces and applications. We will be using both pre-mixed lime products and our own mixes.

- Pargetting & relief sculpture – Experiment with raised decorative patterns in lime plaster, using both historical techniques and contemporary approaches.

- Design transfer techniques – Learn how to scale and mark out a design using grids, pricking through, and projectors.

- Observational drawing & sculpting – Develop your eye-hand coordination through drawing and working from reference.

- Natural pigment processing – Discover how to prepare and use natural pigments for plasterwork.

- Wet casting lime – Learn how to mould & cast repeat lime reliefs, such as leaves, and integrate them into sculptural plasterwork.

- How to apply these techniques in your home – Learn approaches for incorporating pargetting and lime relief sculpture into your home, and how to approach a variety of substrates e.g. drywall/ plasterboard, stone, wood wool board etc.

What You’ll Do

This workshop combines solo creative projects with a collaborative plasterwork piece on-site. You’ll have the opportunity to:

- Work on a live pargetting and relief sculpture project in lime

- Create your own smaller work to take home with you

- Practice drawing and sculpting techniques to improve your observation and craftsmanship

- Learn how to wet cast lime and apply them to a surface

- Take part in informal discussions and presentations on historical and contemporary decorative plasterwork

There will also be space for reflection, discussion, and connecting with the landscape and materials.

What to Expect

Five days of immersive, hands-on learning

- A mix of theory, demonstrations, and practical making

- Nutritious daily lunch provided

- The option to stay on-site (very much recommended!)– camp or book a room in the cottage

- 5 days of connection, community and collaboration and study

Sample Schedule

Here is an example to give a flavour of the schedule - exact timings may change.

- 9.30AM - 12:30 PM | Theory & Skill Lab

- 12:30 - 2 PM | Lunch & Rest

- 2:00 - 5:30 PM | Practical Project Work

- 6:00 - 7:30 PM | Free time/ dinner (to organise yourself)

- 8:00 PM | (example/ only 1-2 evenings) Presentation: What actually is Pargetting? / Fireside hangout

About the tutors

A little about who will be guiding you through this experience...

Becky Gilling (England)

Becky is a craftswoman and artist dedicated to celebrating the harmony between nature and creativity. Her passion for working with natural materials shines through her sculptural and decorative plasterwork, where she weaves clay and lime into beautiful, soulful expressions. Her field of work ranges from creating artisanal wall finishes in homes and conserving historic buildings to producing pargetting and giant sculptures. She is also a certified yoga instructor and loves river swimming, hiking in mountains and salsa dancing. Becky is an advocate for 'if you can draw, you can sculpt' and for this reason is very exited to incorporate observational drawing into this workshop.

Mandrin Gaudez (France)

Mandrin is a sculptor, 3D Artist, Animator and Sculptor tutor from France. Becky met Mandrin whilst they were both studying figurative sculpture at the Florence Academy of Art. He assisted her previous Pargetting workshop at Wick farm as well as being an assistant tutor on her Earthen Artist apprenticeship in California last year.

Bill Sargent (England)

Bill will be guest teaching for one day during this workshop, to share an introduction to traditional Pargetting techniques alongside Andrew Fawcett.

Bill Sargent is amongst the highest regarded pargetters (also spelled pargeter) in the country. His work can be seen in Suffolk, Essex, Kent and Norfolk and covers most areas of Conservation Plasterwork and pargetting (also spelled pargeting). This includes conservation plastering for listed buildings, Lime washing, Lime plastering (mouldings etc.) Arches, Lime floors and Brick stone and slate work.

Bill began plastering in the mid-sixties, doing a formal apprenticeship and studying at Hertfordshire College of Building. After College, Bill worked with his father, continuing the tradition of conservation plasterwork and pargetting begun by his grandfather in 1926, throughout the Anglia region.

Since 1971 Bill has been based in mid Suffolk, where many examples of his work may be seen. His work varies from claylump and brick to timber framed period properties, using materials such as clay plasters, chalk lime and sand lime putty plasters to produce a traditional finish and preserve the property.

About the location

Wick Farm (Awakenings at Wick) is an artist residency set in the rolling hills of Somerset, a peaceful setting surrounded by farmland and nature. It’s the perfect place to slow down, connect with your materials, and focus on the creative process.