Stone Carving Night Classes — Papanui High School


Shaugn David Briggs guiding a student through an advanced Oamaru stone carving at Papanui High School night class, Christchurch

Twenty-five years ago I started teaching stone carving one evening a week at Papanui High School. I'm still there. The classes are still full. And people are still walking out at the end of term with something they made from a solid block of Oamaru stone — and a look on their face that never gets old.

These are proper classes, not taster sessions. Over seven weeks you learn to read stone, work with tools correctly, and develop a piece that's genuinely yours. The pace is relaxed, the studio is sociable, and no experience is required to begin.

Stone Carving for Beginners

Yin yang candle holder carved in Oamaru stone — example piece from a beginners night class with Shaugn David Briggs, Christchurch

An introduction to sculpting in Oamaru stone. You'll learn the fundamentals — how to use the tools safely, how to approach design, and how to coax a form out of raw stone. By the end of the course you'll have a finished sculpture and a set of skills you can build on.

Tuesdays — Term 2 starts 28th April 2026
7 weeks · 2 hours per week · $188

Enrol at Papanui High School →

Stone Carving Advanced

Oamaru stone relief carving of a woman's face — example piece from an advanced night class with Shaugn David Briggs, Christchurch

For those who've completed a beginners course or have solid prior experience. You'll work on a single ambitious piece across the full term — something larger, more detailed, and entirely driven by your own ideas. This is where the craft deepens.

Thursdays — Term 2 starts 30th April 2026
7 weeks · 2 hours per week · $188

Enrol at Papanui High School →

For current course dates and to secure your place, visit the Papanui High School stone carving course page.

 

What are you looking for?