From Mar 28 to Mar 29 2026
WESTCOAST CALLIGRAPHY SOCIETY PRESENTS: Introduction to Gestural Lettering
An IN-PERSON 2 day workshop with Richard Draffin
Saturday, March 28th & Sunday, March 29th, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (please arrive by 9:30 a.m. to set up)
Location: At South Surrey Recreation and Art Centre in the Turnbull Gallery
South Surrey Athletic Park, Address: 14601 20 Ave, Surrey, BC V4A 9P5
WESTCOAST CALLIGRAPHY SOCIETY PRESENTS: Introduction to Gestural Lettering
An IN-PERSON 2 day workshop with Richard Draffin
Saturday, March 28th & Sunday, March 29th, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (please arrive by 9:30 a.m. to set up)
Location: At South Surrey Recreation and Art Centre in the Turnbull Gallery
South Surrey Athletic Park, Address: 14601 20 Ave, Surrey, BC V4A 9P5
REGISTRATION OPENS February 1st, 2026 for Westcoast Calligraphy Society members, and will be open to non-members on March 1st.
For MEMBERS:
1. Click the Register button
2. Select I am a member
3. Log in to the member portal with your email and password
4. Proceed with registration.
Class size is a maximum of 18 registrants.
An Introduction to Gestural Lettering – This con-temporary calligraphy uses gestural strokes to make more calligraphic than traditional letters. This work-shop will focus on the variations in letterforms, rhythm, and script that result from incorporating speed and movement into the writing process, using a variety of tools.
Fees: Canadian / American WCS Members registration is via the website live on February 1st, 2026. You have the option to pay by e transfer or credit card (all done through the Yapla platform). The workshop fee includes the processing fees.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Violet Smythe at seminars@westcoastcalligraphy.com.
About the Calligrapher/Artist…
Since 2009, Richard Draffin has been the calligrapher who updates and maintains Canada’s Books of Remembrance for Veterans Affairs Canada. Calligraphy requires a great deal of care and technique. Using traditional methods of lettering, every brush stroke and every letter is done by hand and his meticulous work ensures that the books are preserved for years to come.
Richard has studied under many notable calligraphers. From Thomas Ingmire, he learnt to break from traditional with the introduction of Roman Cursive scripts. From Denis Brown, he gained specific skills on the stroke and where the stroke fits into a piece. From Yves Leterme, he learned how to move into gestural movements from known scripts (or a more common script) and from Brody Neuenschwander, he started to appreciate the whole broadsheet as one, which in some ways took him back to his studies with Thomas Ingmire.
Here is a link to a video that can be viewed on Facebook where Richard speaks to the work that he does on Canada’s Books of Remembrance: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BnGvt5jWB/
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