Sculpture Series: Carving Plaster

Saturday 20 June 2026

13:30–16:00

Learning Studios, Sheep Field Barn

Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire

Included in an annual ticket

Part of Sculpture Series: Moore’s Sculptural Processes and Techniques

A colour photo showing a middle aged man working on the surface of a large plaster sculpture with a piece of sandpaper

Navigate this page

About this event

These Sculpture Sessions will allow you to not only watch an artist working on a material as Moore himself would have, but to also get a sense for either the wood, stone or plaster firsthand, by having a go yourself!

Join us for new and exciting live sculpture demonstrations this season!

In this series, we will explore many of Moore’s sculptural processes and materials such as carving into plaster, wood and stone as well as bronze pouring and patination.

Carving demonstrations will be lead on-site by our Senior Sculptor Conservator. Coles Casting return to Perry Green this season to demonstrate metal working processes.

At the end of each of these demos, there will be time to ask questions and learn more about the sculpting processes, to gain a deeper understanding of the colossal operation Moore undertook making thousands of sculptures during his career.

They may even be a chance for you to have a go at working into materials yourself, or holding outcomes to the more intricate processes.

Tickets

Entry is included in an annual ticket. This event is drop-in, so there’s no need to book. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

If you already have an annual ticket, just come along on the day and bring your annual ticket with you.
If you don’t have an annual ticket, you can buy one online or from the ticket desk when you arrive.

An annual ticket lets you return to Studios & Gardens as often as you like, during open season, for 12 calendar months.

Book tickets

Safety & accessibility

These sessions will take place in the Sheep Field Barn Learning Studios, at the same time as other drop-in activities. The Studios may become noisy during the event.

These sessions will require long periods standing to watch our Senior Sculpture Conservator working on the materials. Some seating will also be available but will likely restrict tabletop view.

A mobile hearing loop is available.

You’ll be kept at a safe distance from any equipment during the demonstration. All children watching must be under adult supervision.

PPE will be provided to those visitors who wish to have a go at carving after these demos with James. Many of the tools are sharp and heavy and so no one under the age of 18 is permitted to carve with sculptor’s tools. Children are welcome to experiment on softer alternative materials and kid-safe tools.

Get in touch

Still have some questions about what to expect at this session?

Get in touch with a friendly member of our learning and engagement team by filling out the form below.

X/Twitter

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Event(Required)

Your message(Required)

What’s on

Find out more about what you can see and do this season at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire.

See what’s on

The Art and Life of Henry Moore

A black and white photo showing an older man in shirt and tie working with a mallet and chisel to carve a sculpture from a large piece of wood.

The Art and Life of Henry Moore

This exhibition in the newly-opened Sheep Field Barn Gallery presents over eighty sculptures made between 1922 and 1986, alongside photographs and archival materials from the Henry Moore Foundation Collections.

Henry Moore: Shelter Drawings

A drawing of four adults and a small child huddled together under blankets. The figures are primarily drawn in white and yellow chalk, with some orange and red highlights, and are surrounded by darkness.

Henry Moore: Shelter Drawings

Our special display for 2026 focuses on Moore’s Shelter Drawings. Created during the Second World War, they are among the most powerful and widely recognised works of Moore’s career.