Venetian Plastering Training for Edinburgh

There are no Venetian plastering training courses in Edinburgh itself, so the Zavoré Academy in Birmingham is where Edinburgh students go to learn. The courses last three or four days, and they are open to decorators, plasterers, designers, career changers and homeowners.

If you work on Edinburgh flats, townhouses or hotel interiors, or want to start, this page explains how the craft fits the city before it covers the courses themselves.

Edinburgh buildings and decorative plaster

Edinburgh is built on its history. The Old Town and the Georgian New Town together form a World Heritage Site, and the city is full of tall stone tenements, elegant townhouses and flats with high ceilings and decorative cornices. Scotland has a long tradition of lime plaster in older buildings, so breathable lime finishes feel at home here.

Tenement flats are a particular feature of the city, from Old Town closes to Victorian streets in districts such as Marchmont, Bruntsfield and Stockbridge. These flats often have fine period detail but solid stone walls, and owners who renovate them look for finishes that suit the age of the building. Marmorino and other lime based plasters are a natural choice. Many properties are listed, so work needs to respect the building.

The waterfront at Leith has seen newer apartments and hospitality, where smooth flat walls suit polished plaster. The city is also a major destination for visitors, with hotels, restaurants and bars that care about atmosphere, especially around the August festivals.

That mix gives an Edinburgh decorator a range of clients, from owners of Georgian flats to hotel managers to developers of new homes. Offering a decorative plaster service gives you something to say beyond painting and papering.

Which Venetian plastering course to take

The courses meet from 10am to 5pm. Every class is capped at six students, so you are never lost in a crowd.

• Beginner Course. 3 days. £750 per person. Needs no previous experience.
• Advanced Course. 4 days. £1,200 per person. For people who have done the Beginner Course or who work on site.
• 1 to 1 Training. 3 days. £1,500. A programme for one student, covering whatever you want to learn.

Begin with the Beginner Course to learn the materials and build up a wall in layers. Then use the Advanced Course to learn textured Marmorino, stencil work and high gloss polishing. A designer who wants to understand a specific finish can arrange 1 to 1 Training.

Browse dates on the training page, where you can also register interest. Our article on finding a Venetian plastering course near you may help.

Getting from Edinburgh to Birmingham

You can travel to Birmingham by train or by car. It is central in England, which is why it suits students from Scotland as well as everywhere else in the UK.

A course of three or four days means staying overnight, so organise your accommodation first. Zavoré has a partner rate at a hotel near the Academy, available when you quote Zavoré. Pickup from an airport or station can be arranged with your booking, with the price depending on where you arrive.

Bring only what you need for the trip, because the Academy supplies the plasters, primers, waxes, trowels and panels.

Using the skill back in Edinburgh

You return with finished panels for a portfolio, a Zavoré certificate and trade pricing on Zavoré materials. The private course group and its helpline for life give you somewhere to ask questions once you are working on real walls.

An Edinburgh decorator might add Venetian plaster to a restoration service for tenement and townhouse owners, or approach hotels and developers with a premium finish. Advanced students get help to find, price and win a first paid decorative job.

For work installed by professionals, see Venetian plastering in Edinburgh. Materials can be ordered from the shop, with tracked UK delivery.

Questions about Venetian plastering training for Edinburgh

Is there Venetian plastering training in Edinburgh?

No. The courses are taught at the Zavoré Academy in Birmingham, and Edinburgh students travel there for three or four days.

Are lime plasters taught on the course?

Marmorino, a lime based finish, is covered on the Beginner Course. The Advanced Course also explains how acrylic polish plastering differs from lime.

Can a designer from Edinburgh take the course?

Yes. Designers are welcome on any course, and the Beginner Course gives a clear understanding of how a Venetian plaster wall is built up.

How do I book from Scotland?

Ring 07592 929191 or email sales@zavore.co.uk. You can hold a bench with half the price, or book online and pay in full.

To take the next step, call 07592 929191, write to sales@zavore.co.uk or visit the training page for dates.