Venetian Plastering Training for Chichester

This guide to Venetian plastering training in Chichester is for people who want to learn the craft without leaving their trade behind. The courses are taught at the Zavoré Academy in Birmingham, which means a trip from West Sussex, but it is a trip that adds a new skill to your trade.

If you are a painter and decorator, a plasterer, a builder who handles refurbishments, an interior designer or a homeowner with a taste for fine finishes, the courses are open to you. The first one starts from nothing, so a career change is just as welcome as a trade upgrade.

What the Chichester market looks like for decorative plaster

Chichester is a small cathedral city with a lot of historic fabric for its size, and that history is the main reason decorative plaster fits so well here.

The city centre follows a Roman street plan, with four main streets meeting at the Market Cross, and many of the buildings along them are Georgian townhouses. The Pallants area is known for its Georgian houses. Flint is a traditional building material across Sussex, and a flint and brick house tends to have thick, solid walls that need to breathe. Lime based plaster and Marmorino work with that kind of wall in a way that sealed modern coatings do not.

Around the city are villages, farmhouses and larger country properties, plus the harbour and coastal communities. Owners of period homes in places like these often care about authenticity, and are willing to pay for a finish done properly. There are also pubs, hotels, restaurants and shops in the city where a polished plaster counter front or a metallic feature wall can set a venue apart.

For a decorator working in the area, Venetian plaster is a way to stand out in a market where many customers already value traditional craft. It lets you move from repainting to creating a finish that is the focal point of a room.

The three courses side by side

The Beginner Course, the Advanced Course and 1 to 1 Training each suit a different stage. Teaching runs from 10am to 5pm.

• Beginner Course, over 3 days, at £750 per person. For anyone, with no experience needed.
• Advanced Course, over 4 days, at £1,200 per person. For people who have done the Beginner Course and for those from site.
• 1 to 1 Training, over 3 days, at £1,500. For any level, with the days shaped around your wishes.

With six students at most, the Beginner Course gives each person time with the tutor. Expect to learn what Venetian plaster is, how a wall is built up layer by layer, and how to achieve a range of textures before you finish with Marmorino, polished plaster and metallics. The Advanced Course goes further with artificial rock, stencil work and colour blending. If you want to explore a new design or technique, the 1 to 1 Training is built for that.

There is more detail in our guide to the Beginner Course day by day. For dates, or to register interest, visit the training page.

How to plan the journey and the stay

You can travel to Birmingham by train or by car. Because the city is central in England, it is reachable from a wide range of places. A three or four day course also needs a place to stay.

Zavoré holds a partner rate at a hotel near the Academy, available if you mention Zavoré when booking. Airport or station pickup can be arranged with your booking, at a price that depends on where you arrive. Lunch and refreshments are included.

Putting the skill to work around Chichester

When the course ends you take your finished panels home, so a portfolio is ready from day one. You receive a Zavoré certificate and trade pricing on Zavoré materials, and you join the private course group, whose helpline lasts for life. Advanced students are helped to find, price and win a first paid decorative job.

To see what the finished work looks like, visit Venetian plastering in Chichester. Materials can be ordered from the shop with tracked UK delivery. If you are thinking about turning this into a full income stream, our piece on starting a decorative plastering career is a good next read.

Questions about Venetian plastering training for Chichester

Can I learn Venetian plastering in Chichester?

Not in Chichester itself. The Zavoré Academy in Birmingham teaches the courses, and students from West Sussex travel there for the three or four days.

Is Venetian plaster a good choice for a Georgian townhouse?

It can be. Lime based plasters and Marmorino are breathable and suit solid older walls. Polished plaster is a better match for smooth, flat surfaces. The Beginner Course covers how each material behaves.

How big are the groups?

Courses are limited to six students, which keeps the tuition personal.

What do I need to bring?

All materials and tools are provided, including plasters, primers, waxes, trowels and panels. Lunch and refreshments are also included.

What happens after I finish the course?

You keep your finished panels, receive a Zavoré certificate, get trade pricing on Zavoré materials and join a private group with a helpline for life.

To book a place, call 07592 929191 or email sales@zavore.co.uk. A half price payment holds a bench and the rest is paid on the day, or you can book online in full. See the training page for dates.