Emily Naper’s School offers three-day courses in Gilding. The gilding syllabus, covers cleaning, repair and preparation (including moulding), gesso preparation and application, authentic water-gilding, oil-gilding, alloy leaf, antiquing.

Emily is a gilder and restorer specialising in gilded furniture, mirrors and picture frames She is the daughter of Sir Francis Dashwood of West Wycombe Park, the National Trust flagship, and granddaughter of Lady Dunsany, and so has been at home with fine furniture and paintings from an early age. She has studied in London and Paris, and has worked for the National and Municipal Galleries, the City Hall and the Mansion House. Her studio offers a professional gilding service for the restoration of mirrors, picture frames and furniture.

Emily, born in 1958, has taught her skills since 1987. Her Studio designs and makes a range of small furniture and accessories, decorated in gold leaf and specialist painted finishes. Emily also undertakes interior design commissions.

Courses, which are intensive and demanding, although conducted in an informal atmosphere, combine lectures and demonstrations with closely supervised practical work.