Skip to main content

Henry Moore Studios & Gardens reopens on 1 April with two brand new exhibitions. Buy an annual ticket.

See & Do

Live material demonstration

Sculpture Series: Carving Stone

13:30–16:00

Learning Studios, Sheep Field Barn

Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire

Included in an annual ticket

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.

More in this series

Sculpture Series: Carving Plaster
A colour photo showing a middle aged man working on the surface of a large plaster sculpture with a piece of sandpaper

Live material demonstration

Sculpture Series: Carving Plaster

13:30–16:00

Learning Studios, Sheep Field Barn
Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire
Sculpture Series: Carving Wood
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.

Live material demonstration

Sculpture Series: Carving Wood

13:30–16:00

Learning Studios, Sheep Field Barn
Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire
Sculpture Series: Green Sand Casting & Aluminium Pour
A man in a hard hat, visor and heat-resistant clothing standing next to machinery for casting bronze. Flames are pouring out of the machine in a controlled manner.

Live material demonstration

Sculpture Series: Green Sand Casting & Aluminium Pour

15:00–16:30

Learning Studios, Sheep Field Barn
Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire
Sculpture Series: Wax Modelling & Spruing
Henry Moore, now in his eighties, is working on a plaster maquette. There are various bowls and tools spread out in front of him, and other working models of sculptures behind him.

Live material demonstration

Sculpture Series: Wax Modelling & Spruing

15:00–16:30

Learning Studios, Sheep Field Barn
Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire
Sculpture Series: Bronze Pour
Two people holding a long metal rod with a container at the centre, pouring molten metal into a cast.

Live material demonstration

Sculpture Series: Bronze Pour

13:00–16:30

Learning Studios, Sheep Field Barn
Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire
Sculpture Series: Bronze Finishing & Patination
A colour photo of a older man leaning on a five-bar gate. Behind him is a large sculpture made of bronze.

Live material demonstration

Sculpture Series: Bronze Finishing & Patination

15:00–16:30

Learning Studios, Sheep Field Barn
Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire
Sculpture Series: Carving Stone

Live material demonstration

Sculpture Series: Carving Stone

13:30–16:00

Learning Studios, Sheep Field Barn
Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire

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.

Buy an annual ticket

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.

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

Upcoming events

What’s on
Great Easter Flint Hunt
An older woman and toddler playing peek a boo around the base of a bronze sculpture which is standing in a sheep field

Drop-in workshop

Great Easter Flint Hunt

12:00–16:00

Learning Studios, Sheep Field Barn
Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire
Carve your own Plaster Egg Form

Drop-in workshop

Carve your own Plaster Egg Form

12:00–16:00

Learning Studios, Sheep Field Barn
Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire
Growing Moore: Sculpting from Seed
A group of people of mixed ages and genders gathered around a table. On the table is a large tub of soil and several stacks of small plant pots which are being used to plant seeds.

Drop-in workshop

Growing Moore: Sculpting from Seed

12:00–16:00

Learning Studios, Sheep Field Barn
Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire
Soft Sculpt
A group of adults and children building sculptural shapes using soft foam blocks and a range of recycled materials. They are all working in a small orchard next to a greenhouse.

Drop-in activity

Soft Sculpt

12:00–16:00

Learning Studios, Sheep Field Barn
Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire

Getting here

We’re located just 27 miles north of London in the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside.

Our 2026 visitor season runs from 1 April to 25 October. We’re open Wednesday to Sunday, 11:00–17:00.