Venetian Plastering Training in the UK, A Complete Guide

Venetian plastering training teaches you how to mix, apply, burnish and protect Venetian plaster, the polished lime based finish used on walls in homes, restaurants and hotels. At Zavoré it runs as a 3 day Beginner Course, a 4 day Advanced Course or a 3 day 1 to 1, all taught in Birmingham at the Zavoré Academy, with students joining from across the UK and abroad.

This guide answers the questions people ask before they book. What the training is, who it suits, what a good course covers, how long it takes, what it costs, how to choose and how to turn the skill into paid work.

What is Venetian plastering training?

It is hands on teaching in a decorative plaster finish that is built up in thin layers and then polished until it has depth and a soft sheen. You learn by working on real panels with real materials, not by watching.

A good course explains why the plaster behaves the way it does, then lets you practise until your hand knows it. If you want the background first, read our guide to what Venetian plaster is.

Who is Venetian plastering training for?

It suits anyone who wants a skilled, premium finish to offer or to enjoy. You do not need any experience for the Beginner Course.

• Decorators who want to add a high value service to their painting work.
• Plasterers who want to move into decorative finishes.
• Career changers looking for a hands on craft.
• Interior designers who want to understand exactly what they are specifying.
• Homeowners who want to finish their own walls properly.

Teams can train together too. Our guide on training for decorators, plasterers and teams explains how.

What should a good course cover?

A good course covers the theory, the preparation, the application and the protection of the finish, not just one pretty technique. At the Zavoré Academy the Beginner Course covers all of the following.

• The theory, including what Venetian plaster is, how the materials behave and how a wall is built up layer by layer.
• Surface preparation and base coats.
• A wide range of textures.
• The systems, meaning how many coats each product needs and how to protect the finish.
• The finishes Marmorino, polished plaster and metallics, from bucket to burnish.

The Advanced Course goes further with deeper theory, artificial rock, textured Marmorino, stencil work, acrylic polish plastering, vein work, sanding techniques, polishing to a high gloss, tinting, coloured waxes and sealers, and blending colours and waxes. The 1 to 1 is shaped entirely around what you want to learn.

How long does it take and what does it cost?

The courses take 3 or 4 days, from 10am to 5pm each day, and cost £750 or £1,200 or £1,500 per person depending on the course.

You can hold a bench with half the price, which is £375 or £600 or £750 depending on the course, and pay the rest on the day. Or book online and pay in full. For a full breakdown see what a Venetian plaster course costs and how long the training takes.

How do you choose the right course?

Choose by where you are now, not where you hope to be. If you have never trowelled plaster, start with the Beginner Course. If you have done it or work on site, the Advanced Course is the next step.

Choose the 1 to 1 if you want a specific finish such as artificial rock or liquid metal, if you have a particular project, or if you simply learn better with a tutor to yourself. Our guides to choosing a Venetian plastering course and group course or 1 to 1 go into this in more detail.

Also check these things with any provider.

• Is the teaching hands on, with materials and tools included?
• Is the group small enough to get real attention?
• Do the tutors install these walls for clients themselves?
• Is there any support after the course?

What do you take home?

You leave with finished panels, a certificate, trade pricing and a place in a community that can help you. Every seat includes the following.

• Expert tuition from working applicators who install these walls for clients.
• All materials and tools, including authentic Italian plasters, primers, waxes, trowels and panels.
• Lunch and refreshments.
• Your finished panels to take home for a portfolio.
• A Zavoré certificate.
• Trade pricing on Zavoré materials after the course.
• A private course group with a helpline for life.

How do you start earning from the skill?

Most people start by adding Venetian plaster to work they already do, then build up from a portfolio. Your course panels are the start of that portfolio.

Advanced students also get help to find, price and win a first paid decorative job. Our guides on starting a decorative plastering career and pricing Venetian plaster jobs are good next reads. And if you would rather have a wall done than learn to do it, Zavoré also offers installation across the UK with its own applicators.

Where can you train, and what about travel?

Every course is taught in Birmingham at the Zavoré Academy, which is central in England. People travel by train or by car, and a 3 or 4 day course means planning where to stay.

Zavoré holds a partner rate at a hotel near the Academy, and airport or station pickup can be arranged with your booking. To see what travelling from your own area looks like, browse our city guides in the training near you section, for example London, Manchester and Glasgow.

Questions about Venetian plastering training in the UK

Where can I do Venetian plastering training in the UK?

The Zavoré Academy in Birmingham runs Venetian plaster courses, and students travel there from across the UK and abroad. Dates are shown on the training page.

Do I need experience to start?

No. The Beginner Course is built for people who have never used Venetian plaster, and everything you need is provided.

How many people are on each course?

Up to six students per group, so every student gets real time with the tutor. The 1 to 1 is just you.

Can I pay a deposit to hold a place?

Yes. A bench can be booked with half the price, which is £375 or £600 or £750 depending on the course, and the rest is paid on the day. You can also book online and pay in full.

What support do I get after the course?

You join a private course group with a helpline for life, and you get trade pricing on Zavoré materials. Advanced students also get help to find, price and win a first paid decorative job.

To book, call 07592 929191 or email sales@zavore.co.uk, or see dates and choose your course on the training page.