Teaching & Courses
This list is not exhaustive by any stretch of the imagination, it is up to you to decide which course provider suits your requirements and your choice will be based on many factors including course content, geography, cost etc. We know most of these course providers through meeting them at shows or indeed working alongside them at shows and exhibitions. Being an inquisitive lot we have visited many of their establishments. They wouldn't be on our list if we didn't think they were a decent bunch. |
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General Woodworking Skills
Top tip - if you want a taster course to cover a variety of woodworking skills then consider James Mursell's introductory Chairmaking Course (see below) - 5 days of intensive work including steam bending, turning, shaping, measuring, drilling and finishing. The course should result in a chair to be proud of. Alex Primmer our Shop Manager did this course a few years back and the chair still stands the daily test of 200lbs sitting on it! |
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David Charlesworth - Hartland, North Devon
Courses from beginner to advanced level in beautiful North Devon with acknowledged expert and author David Charlesworth. David has been running his courses longer than most.
www.davidcharlesworth.co.uk |
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John Lloyd - Sussex
Courses from beginner to advanced level in Sussex. Easy access for you Sussex & London folk.
John is vastly experienced and has been teaching short and long courses for several years. A very dry sense of humour which seems to match that of Classic Hand Tools staff member David Thornton who has now survived 3 of John's courses.
www.johnlloydfinefurniture.co.uk |
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Jonathon Markovitz - Oxfordshire
Centrally located in beautiful surroundings on the Oxfordshire-Berkshire borders, Jonathan teaches adult students (especially those seeking a career-change and a more creative, fulfilling lifestyle) to design and make fine furniture to the highest standards of craftsmanship. Short & long courses.
www.markovitz.com |
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The Chippendale School of Furniture - Scotland
"Anselm Fraser trained as furniture designer and restoration expert with the renowned Michael Hay-Will and is today highly regarded as one of the UK’s leading exponents of the art of furniture making and design. He is an inspirational teacher who marries the 18th century values of Thomas Chippendale with 21st century techniques."
The words are from the Chippendale School of Furniture's web site....all we can say is that this is a truly beautiful location and that having met the man briefly we are sure he delivers what it says on the tin!
www.chippendale.co.uk |
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Michael Huntley - Wiltshire
Michael runs an small old-fashioned teaching workshop, usually with only four benches, which concentrates on hand skills, patience, understanding and above all practice. There is no set academic curriculum. Each student learns at their own pace and the confidence that comes from successfully doing a task is its own reward. You can come for a half day, a whole day or any amount of time up to a full year course.
www.huntleyconsultancy.com |
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West Dean College - Chichester, Sussex
We can certainly vouch for the accommodation, the food and the terrific location. Joy and Mary from the Classic Hand Tools staff have also taken carving and woodblock printing courses here. They returned refreshed, re-invigorated and hungry for more - so they must be doing something right! They offer a wide range of courses - you should go there once in your lifetime.
www.westdean.org.uk
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David Savage - Devon
David Savage not only makes fine furniture but he offers courses sharing his knowledge in North Devon.
www.finefurnituremaker.com
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Williams & Cleal - near Taunton, Somerset
Based near Taunton in Somerset, Lovely peaceful location. short & long courses. Very friendly. Husband and wife team Jane Cleal & Justin Williams head a small dedicated team.
www.williamsandcleal.co.uk |
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Tom Kealy - Buckland St Mary, Chard, Somerset
Tom's classes are designed to be flexible, so that they can be tailored to meet student’s individual requirements, whether an enthusiastic beginner or a more experienced woodworker.
www.tomkealy.com |
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The International Boat Building Training College - Lowestoft
The IBTC has a world wide reputation for their 1 year boat building courses. They also run a 12 week woodworking skills course.
www.ibtc.co.uk |
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The Building Crafts College - Stratford, London
Very well equipped (recently expanded - 2010) workshops running one & two year courses plus selected short courses related to furniture making. Ex Furniture & Cabinetmaking Editor Colin Eaden-Eden is the senior tutor.
www.thebcc.ac.uk
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Peter Sefton Furniture School
Peter offers a wide range of long and short woodworking and furniture making courses to small groups from their workshops in Worcestershire.
www.peterseftonfurnitureschool.com |
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The Centre for Fine Craftmanship - Maine, USA
This is Peter Korn's place. What a great place to learn! Very well resourced and in a beautiful part of the country. Cheapest way would be to buy a tent when you are over there and camp in their grounds for a few weeks - it happens. Otherwise they organise bed and breakfast for you.
www.woodschool.org |
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College of the Redwoods - Fort Bragg, California
The fine woodworking programme at the College of the Redwoods is smaller than it's east coast competitor in Maine. Very welcoming.
www.crfinefurniture.com
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Woodturning Course Providers
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Woodturning Cruise - Norway
Every 2 years a small cruise ship carries you round the Norwegian fjords with various stop offs. You learn as you cruise. Very well established with some top notch teachers.
Details of the August 2011 Woodturning Cruise in Norway can be found here.
www.woodturningcruise.com
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Mark Hancock - Worcestershire
Many of you will have met Mark at the various events we attend. Mark also demonstrates and teaches woodturning. Based in Worcestershire. Very organised in a laid back manner. Lots of early hands on work.
www.markhancock.co.uk
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Bill Care - Suffolk
One to one tuition in his Suffolk workshop. Bill is the official woodturning professional associated with The National Trust. Cheery and chatty.
www.billcare.co.uk |
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The Association of Woodturners of Great Britain
The AWGB is an international non-profit making organisation dedicated to the advancement and promotion of woodturning. A good place to source information about courses in your area.
www.woodturners.co.uk |
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Les Thorne - Hampshire
Gregarious, enthusiastic and very experienced, never a dull moment! based in Hampshire.
www.noturningback.co.uk |
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Chris Pye - Herefordshire
Chris Pye is dedicated to the teaching, the learning and the love of woodcarving. Subscribe to Chris's web newsletter and download his e-books and accelerate that learning curve. Based in the west of England and offers 1 to 1 tuition.
www.chrispye-woodcarving.com
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Chris Pye Woodcarving Workshops
Join Chris online with his woodcarving workshops, library of affordable, woodcarving workshops available whenever you like and as often as you like.
www.woodcarvingworkshops.tv |
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The Austrian Woodcarving School - Tirol, Austria
Mike Hancock. Classic Hand Tools boss visited this beautiful school in 2010. Great food, great facilities, fantastic location.
www.schnitzschule.com
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Mary Anstee-Parry - Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Mary is Teacher, letter-cutter, woodcarver and sculptor. Based near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.
www.anstee-parry.com
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Michael Painter - West Midlands
Michael Painter has been teaching wood and stone carving for over 15 years and holds wood carving courses at his studio in Canwell, West Midlands,
www.mikepainter.co.uk/teaching.htm |
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Glyn Mould - Peterborough
Glyn Mould is the resident woodcarver and teacher at the Sacrewell Farm Centre, Thorhaugh, near Peterborough. He has been applying his considerable skill and flair to the craft for over 25 years and teaching it as subject since 1984.
www.sacrewell.org.uk/woodcarving/index.htm |
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Dick Onions - Hertfordshire
Wood and stone carver Dick Onions is Senior Carving Tutor at the City and Guilds of London Art School. He also teaches privately. Based in Hertfordshire.
www.tringvisualarts.co.uk/as_dick.o.html |
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Tom Clark - Martock - Somerset
Based in Martock, Somerset, south west England. Very flexible, lovely chap. Cheap bed n breakfast accommodation also available.
www.tomclarkstonecarver.co.uk/ |
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Lucy Churchill - Cambridge
Lucy Churchill runs a few courses a year. Classic Hand Tools boss Mike Hancock attended one in 2009 and rated it excellent.
www.lucychurchill.com |
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Dick Onions - Hertfordshire
Wood and stone carver Dick Onions is Senior Carving Tutor at the City and Guilds of London Art School. He also teaches privately. Based in Hertfordshire.
www.tringvisualarts.co.uk/as_dick.o.html |
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The Austrian Woodcarving School - Tirol, Austria
New open air stone workshop - wonderful!
www.schnitzschule.com
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The Building Crafts College - Stratford, London
Very well resourced stonemasonry workshop in East London next to Stratford main line station.
www.thebcc.ac.uk
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Tom Thackray
Take a holiday in New England, USA and learn how to make a Windsor Chair at Mike Dunbar's world renowned institute.
www.thewindsorinstitute.com |
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Andrew Crawford
Andrew Crawford - box maker based in Shropshire. Runs box making courses, or more accurately one-to-one tuition days. See website for further details.
www.fine-boxes.com |
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Timber Hewing, Framing, Green Woodworking, Chainsawing, Axe Work, Pole Lathe Work etc
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Handcrafted Timber - Steve Woodley - Essex
Steve Woodley is a highly qualified man in the field of forestry training. Chainsaws, axes, timber hewing, health & safety in the forest - he's your man! He also teaches medieval hewing techniques and demonstrates at various shows throughout the land. Based in Essex.
www.handcraftedtimber.co.uk |
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Hewnwood - Wales
Hewnwood Courses - Traditional oak timber frame courses in wales set in a 12 acre broadleaf woodland. Courses run by Alan Ritchie in Brecon, Powys, Wales.
www.hewnwood.com |
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Traditional Oak Carpentry
Traditional Oak Carpentry
Suffolk based company run by Rick Lewis that specialises in oak framing. |
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Bob Neill
Pyrography courses....Bob runs one day courses from his workshop in South Derbyshire and other craft centres around the country such as Farncome Estate in the Cotswolds...he also does Hands on Workshops for groups with 16 machines plus blanks....Anyone interested...call 01332 792036 |
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