Colouring Anodised Aluminium Course | 1 – 2 Nov 2025

About the course

Explore the creative and impactful application of colour to anodised aluminium and add an extra dimension to your jewellery.

Anodised aluminium is a wonderful material and offers endless possibilities for the application of colour through dyeing, printing and masking techniques. This fun, experimental workshop that will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to continue using these processes in your own work.

Anodising is an electro-chemical process that physically alters the surface of the metal to produce a tough oxide layer. Prior to sealing this layer is transparent and porous, and therefore can absorb a variety of dyes and inks. This colour can be fixed to create a hard wearing durable colourful surface. The lightweight nature of aluminium combined with a durable surface, once it's been anodised, make it an ideal material for a variety of applications including jewellery.

On this course we will use pre-anodised aluminium sheet so students will maximise the time they can spend experimenting with print and colour.

The course wil cover:

◦ Immersion dyeing, including colour mixing and dip dyeing techniques

◦ Use of resists to create masks for abstract and photographic patterns

◦ Various printing processes including mono printing, making and using stamps and low tech “lino” techniques.

◦ Sealing the metal to fix the colour.

◦ How to cut, finish, polish and form the metal to a professional standard

By the end of this two-day workshop, you will have a least one finished piece of jewellery and selection of test pieces which will aid future experimentation or can be turned into wearable pieces.

Who is it for

Perfect for jewellers who want to add colour into their work and learn about the unique qualities of working with coloured anodised aluminium compared to working with other metals.  Also suitable for complete beginners or those with no prior jewellery experience as basic finishing skills will be taught ensuring that everyone leaves with wearable pieces finished to a professional standard.

What should I bring?

All tools and materials will be provided together with comprehensive notes and information about sourcing materials in the future.

About the tutor

Laura Cave is a designer/maker who has worked with anodised aluminium in jewellery and installations for over 25 years. She specialised in the technique at the Royal College of Art, where she gained her MA, during which time she also worked for Jane Adam, whose innovative work in anodised aluminium has been widely influential. Laura has taught practical workshops in colouring and anodising aluminium extensively throughout the UK on degree and masters level university courses, as well as in community and adult education settings. Her work and expert knowledge in screen-printing onto anodised aluminium is showcased in Lindsay Mann’s definitive book on the subject, Design and Make Coloured Aluminium Jewellery. Laura is also the founder and CEO of Just Trade, a fair trade jewellery company that works collaboratively with artisans in Asia and South America.

Meet the tutors here.

Images courtesy of Laura Cave