How Is a Letter Born in Stone?
Letter carving in stone is a rare craft that is still practised entirely by hand, using analogue methods. It combines type design and typography with architectural considerations and an in-depth understanding of the material.
Letters carved in stone continue to shape public spaces—from facades and commemorative plaques to architectural details—and embody the enduring relationship between form, memory and place.
Why Is This Event Important?
While the professional international workshop Typocamp 2026: Stone Carving Lettering takes place in Bozhentsi, the open event in Gabrovo will offer an inside view of the process—from the initial idea and drawing to hand carving, tools, and the interplay of light and shadow on the stone.
You will learn how a design moves from paper into stone and why tradition continues to matter in this precise process today.
Photograph: John Neilson’s personal archive
John Neilson is an established master stone carver and letter designer with extensive experience in architectural lettering, memorials and public art commissions. His courses and publications are among the few that bridge traditional technique and contemporary design.
Photograph: Antonia Glaskova
Boril Karaivanov is the organiser of Typocamp and the person behind Typo.bg. For years, it has provided a meeting place where professionals and students from Bulgaria and abroad come together for training and exchange in the field of type and lettering.
About Typocamp 2026
Typocamp is a professional international format organised by Typo.bg. This year’s edition includes participants from Argentina, Italy and Turkey.
The workshop’s duration and secluded setting provide an excellent environment for intensive practical work, discussion and creative exchange. The organisers have been developing these programmes in the Old School of Bozhentsi Museum for years and have established a strong reputation within European typographic circles and internationally.
What Is the Context and Significance for Gabrovo?
The event was initiated by Capturing Creativity and is organised jointly with Typo.bg, in partnership with Gabrovo Municipality, the Interactive Museum of Industry and the Museum of the Bozhentsi Architectural and Historical Reserve.
The conversation will be moderated by Rosina Pencheva, founder of Capturing Creativity and Homo Faber Ambassador for Bulgaria.
Through this and its other initiatives, Capturing Creativity actively contributes to Gabrovo’s mission as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of Crafts and Folk Art, connecting tradition, craft, contemporary art and design.
The event forms part of the platform’s ongoing work to bring international creative formats to the region and supports Gabrovo’s candidacy for European Capital of Culture.
Who Might Be Interested?
The event is intended for designers, architects, sculptors, craftspeople, curators and anyone interested in material culture and the ways in which lettering shapes the public environment.
Practical Information
When: Thursday, 23 July, at 7:00 pm
Where: Courtyard of the Interactive Museum of Industry, Gabrovo
Admission: Free
Where: Courtyard of the Interactive Museum of Industry, Gabrovo
Admission: Free
Participants:
• John Neilson — jneilson.co.uk
• Boril Karaivanov — typo.bg
• Rosina Pencheva — capturing-creativity.com
• John Neilson — jneilson.co.uk
• Boril Karaivanov — typo.bg
• Rosina Pencheva — capturing-creativity.com
