The Guild holds workshops at the monthly meetings, presented by experienced members of the Guild, or local, interstate calligraphers. From time to time we are able to secure an international calligrapher. These are special workshops and require the completion of a workshop booking form (WBF).
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS FOR 2026.
| DATE | TOPIC | PRESENTER |
| 25th July | ‘Prompts’ | Janelle Macgregor |
| 22nd August | ‘Gothicised’ Italic | Debbie Longfield |
| 26th September | Spirals | Martin Dickie |
| 24th October | Royal Show Show and Tell | The Guild Membership |
| 28th November | Christmas Celebrations and end of year wind-up | The Guild Membership |
On Saturday 23rd May Sandra Wedding held the following workshop:
French Roundhand – Unlock the Elegance of the French Ronde.
Step into a world where the precision of the Enlightenment meets the flair of American artistry.
Before the flourish of Spencerian or the rigour of Copperplate took hold, there was the Ronde—a script that defined French bureaucracy and legal elegance for centuries.
Sandra’s workshop traced the journey of this unique, upright hand from the streets of Paris to the desks of master American penmen.
What You’ll Discover:
French Roundhand is known as an elegant yet an easy, systematic, and legible hand.
The French Foundation: Explore the classic Ronde—the “round” hand, with its distinctive vertical script that uses connecting ligatures. We will look at historical examples of this delightful script that gained popularity in the late 16th century.
The American Adaptation: Explore how 19th-century American penmen took this rigid European standard and infused it with the “American System” of movement. Witness how the script transitioned from a heavy, formal hand into a more fluid, decorative style used for headings and diplomas.
Left: Sandra Wedding kindly wrote name tags for members attending the French Roundhand workshop.
On Saturday 26th April, Colleen Keelty presented a workshop to The Guild inspired by John Stevens, titled “Pointed Pen Capitals and Minuscules” that was held in 2025.
Any of you who know of John’s work will know that this style is a great hand to have in “Your Hand”! Colleen said she is still working hard to be consistent with her form, a lifetime of work ahead.
For inspiration and to see his style, check out his website https://www.johnstevensdesign.com
