Quills and Calligraphy Masterclass

One-day course for beginners.
Saturday 22 February 2025, 10.00 – 17.00.
Harry M Weinrebe Learning Centre at the British Library.

Writing with a quill on vellum (calfskin) is a heritage craft that has been practiced by scribes for centuries. Join world-renowned professional calligrapher and illuminator, Patricia Lovett MBE, for a day of learning how to write Bâtarde from mediaeval books. This is the writing style used in the manuscripts of Christine de Pisan seen in our current exhibition, Medieval Women: In Their Own Words. You’ll cut a quill from a feather of a swan’s wing, and use it to write a name in this style with the quill on a piece of vellum you have prepared yourself.

Tutor
Patricia Lovett MBE is a world-renowned scribe and illuminator who received a National Honour for calligraphy and heritage crafts. She creates artworks on vellum, using gold, colour and quills. She has written extensively on calligraphy and illumination, including The Art and History of Calligraphy, and The Art of the Scribe (spring 2025) published by the British Library. Patricia co-curated the Calligraphy Today (2012–13) exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum, and teaches at a range of institutions including Harvard University and the University of London.

Previous skills, knowledge or experience 
None required. 

Equipment and Materials 
All tools, materials and equipment will be provided. 

Facilities and refreshments 
Tea and coffee will be provided at the start of the session. Please email adultlearning@bl.uk to discuss your dietary requirements. 

Accessibility 
Please email adultlearning@bl.uk to discuss your accessibility requirements.