WELCOME to
Gray's
Stone Carving Studio

Designing and providing
quality stone-work and tuition. 

Stone carving courses, bespoke memorials & inscriptions, near Salisbury, Wiltshire

We provide excellent stonework of all kinds, specialising in the design and production of memorials and inscriptions, and in the teaching of stone-carving.


We have the skills to create and install distinctive stonework and sculpture, suitable for both internal and external spaces. All commissions are hand carved, the only restriction on what can be made is dictated by the material and the imagination.

Based in Salisbury, Wiltshire, for over 20 years, our studio is located in Bowerchalke in the Chalke Valley. It is a light and spacious place in which to work on bespoke commissions and to teach.

Bespoke memorials and inscriptions in stone


We work with bereaved families and institutions to make a fitting memorial for their loved ones, creating a design representing and celebrating their life. Uniquely people can be involved in both the design and the carving of the memorial itself. Memorials range from small plaques to headstones and sculptural pieces.  

Stone Carving courses and tuition


We offer term time and weekend classes for all abilities. Complete beginners will be guided through the whole process. For those with some experience, the emphasis will be on improving technique. We have students of every age and ability from Wiltshire and Hampshire attending our weekly courses, making classes exciting and diverse.

Stone Carving classes and tuition


To receive information about our stone carving courses please fill in your email address to subscribe to our mailing list.

What people Think


A brilliant introduction to stone carving, mixing a little tuition with lots of practical time to carve your chosen piece. The time flew by, only interrupted by Tam's delicious lunch, and tea with her perfect cake! Highly recommended!

Tony Clarke
Course Testimonial

A brilliant introduction to stone carving, mixing a little tuition with lots of practical time to carve your chosen piece. The time flew by, only interrupted by Tam’s delicious lunch, and tea with her perfect cake! Highly recommended!


Tony Clarke
Course Testimonial

Fantastic courses, really inspired me to look into practicing stone carving on a more serious ...

Fantastic courses, really inspired me to look into practicing stone carving on a more serious level. Will be going back!


Hugo
Course Testimonial

Amazing day. Good teacher. Looking forward to doing it again.

Amazing day. Good teacher. Looking forward to doing it again.


Phill Taylor
Course Testimonial

When my parents died Henry made and erected a headstone. He was incredibly patient and empathetic ...

When my parents died Henry made and erected a headstone. He was incredibly patient and empathetic at this difficult time.  It’s perfect – I couldn’t imagine anything better.


Annie Rutherford
Memorial Testimonial

There was a really happy atmosphere in the studio! – friendly and relaxed, but also very ...

There was a really happy atmosphere in the studio! – friendly and relaxed, but also very productive and focussed. The students were all engrossed in their craft, in an immensely supportive teaching environment.

Reflecting on this teaching observation, it strikes me that there are two crucial elements which make Henry’s studio teaching such a success: firstly his long experience and complete mastery of his craft, and secondly the personal qualities which make him such a superb teacher. There was never any feeling of ‘I’m the expert, listen to me’ – quite the reverse: he was dealing with students as equals, and as friends with whom he wanted to share something special.

 

VISIT TO HENRY GRAY’S STONE CARVING STUDIO

On Monday 10th November 2014 I spent a fascinating morning at Henry Gray’s Stone Carving Studio, as part of my course on teaching calligraphy. A requirement of this course is the observation of an experienced teacher, and I chose to visit a teacher of a craft different to my own, but related to it.

The studio is ideally set up for teaching, with individual ‘work stations’ in place for up to eight students, and a comprehensive range of tools is available. Henry’s starting point for teaching is his feeling that almost every human being needs to have more confidence. His teaching style is therefore one of giving gentle (though very expert) guidance and encouragement, while also leaving students to work things out for themselves when appropriate.

It was fascinating to watch Henry’s interaction with the students. He was able to take in quickly what each was aiming at, and was very sensitive in the ways in which he gave guidance. Sometimes he would demonstrate how to use a tool more effectively, both in terms of the angle of the chisel to the stone, but also from the point of view of muscles used and the stance needed for greatest economy of effort. I noticed him gently stimulating students to think about what they wanted to achieve, and what techniques and tools they might use to achieve it, often referring to an impressive piece of his own work in progress, to discuss a particular technique he had used and how well it had worked. I felt that he was constantly watching for ways in which he could help – but help was given in the gentlest, most encouraging way, and always unobtrusively and self-effacingly, treating the students completely as equals. I couldn’t imagine a more encouraging or approachable teacher.

Not surprisingly, there was a really happy atmosphere in the studio! – friendly and relaxed, but also very productive and focussed. The students were all engrossed in their craft, in an immensely supportive teaching environment.

Reflecting on this teaching observation, it strikes me that there are two crucial elements which make Henry’s studio teaching such a success: firstly his long experience and complete mastery of his craft, and secondly the personal qualities which make him such a superb teacher. There was never any feeling of ‘I’m the expert, listen to me’ – quite the reverse: he was dealing with students as equals, and as friends with whom he wanted to share something special. I shall always remember his example in my own teaching, and hope that I can live up to it.


Heather McCombie
Student Teacher Testimonial