Latest reviews

Ingrid Lackajis reviewed: Two day stone carving course at Chillington Hall

"I wanted to come back to stone carving after many decades and was delighted to find the opportunity, even more delighted that Miranda was such a great teacher. She explains tools and techniques as you go along, an understanding of your stone, and encourages you to see it aesthetically. My Thursday morning group is a wonderful, friendly group, and it is inspiring to see their achievements under Miranda’s guidance. Highly recommended."

Deborah reviewed: Introduction to Natural Dyeing, Mere, Wiltshire

"What a wonderful well prepared put together course. I could see how much thought and prep had gone into giving us as much info and practical to introduce us to the joy of natural dyeing. The day went so quickly, lunch was delicious and I’m totally in love with my samples. Thank you."

Elka responded:

"Thank you for the lovely review Debs, i'm delighted that you enjoyed the workshop and the venue. Very best wishes, Claudia"

Sue Gordon reviewed: Watercolour painting afternoon workshop - birds, animals & nature - with artist Laura Andrew

"I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon painting with Laura and two lovely ladies who I hadn't met before. Laura was very welcoming and it was lovely to see her art in the studio. Her enthusiasm and encouragement was inspiring and the atmosphere was relaxed even though we covered a lot of basic techniques in an afternoon. Thankyou Laura."

Edna reviewed: Make a silver ring or bangle

"I have been working on Silver earrings and felt a bit flat and lacking in inspiration on how to elevate them from being ordinary and functional. I was worrying needlessly though. Lucy encouraged me to work on prototypes for the stamens and before long I was buzzing with enthusiasm and inspiration. This could only come from someone who is a master of their craft."

Marcia Cameron reviewed: Two day stone carving course at Chillington Hall

"I love this saturday morning stone carving course, it's a great way to escape after a busy week. I had no experience at all of stone carving before I started here, but with Mirandas expert tuiton I started off with simple achievable 2 dimensional designs and have progressed to more complex 3 dimensional pieces. All tools and materials are provided. Friendly bunch of like minded people."

Marcia Cameron reviewed: Green Man clay sculpture course

"Great course at the Amerton Art Studio. Parking on site is free and there's a cafe and shop or take your own lunch. In the art studio tea and coffee and biscuits are provided. Miranda the tutor gives great instruction and really gets the best out of you. Lovely friendly group. Tools and everything you need is provided, maybe just take an apron if you think you need one."

Marcia Cameron reviewed: Introduction to portrait sculpture

"Fantastic instruction! On a day course I sculpted a portrait head, I'm amazed at what I achieved in a day. Friendly group and good to spend time with like minded people of mixed abilities. Tea, coffee, biscuits and cake provided. Cafe shop facilities on site or take your own packed lunch. I can thoroughly recommend this course."

Melanie Roan reviewed: Watercolour on canvas

"Liz is a great tutor, creating a lovely warm, relaxed atmosphere conducive to making us creative. She’s well prepared and clear in all her instructions and has the perfect balance of encouragement and constructive critique."

Liz Chaderton Artist responded:

"Thank you so much for taking the time to review the weekend. I’m glad you enjoyed it and hope to see you in 2020!"

Alice reviewed: Mosaic/chat/create! with award winning mosaicist Emma Abel

"Thank you for such a wonderful day - I thoroughly enjoyed being a bit creative. I thought the workshop was fab - you have a lovely teaching style and it’s made me inquisitive to learn more - I will be back!! Your tuition was clear and methodical throughout and I understood what I was aiming to do at each stage. What I enjoyed most was the time out to do something creative, learning something new, your informative teaching style, your ideas and huge range of tesserae."

abelmosaics responded:

"Thanks so much Alice for this feedback, I really enjoyed taking you through the mosaic process and seeing the Bee come to life!"

Diane reviewed: A complete introduction to felt-making

"My friends and I enjoyed a very interesting day on a fe!ting course at Hilary's house, in its beautiful setting. She was very knowledgeable and encouraging and inspired us to make a good selection of felted objects, using different techniques. A goody bag was also included so that we could embellish our artefacts at home. We were delighted with our achievements.. which far exceeded our expectations. We would thoroughly recommend this course! Thank you, Hilary."

Sally Price reviewed: maltese limestone carving at mount pleasant gardens

"A fantastic two days in September spent in beautiful surroundings doing something I thought would be very challenging. It was challenging but in the best possible way. Andrew was a very supportive teacher, I never felt I wasn’t doing well and he steered me to create something lovely. It was physically tiring but not as tough as I expected, mentally it was actually sort of comforting. I definitely want another go at creating from stone. Left tired but happy and cannot recommend it highly enough."

Peter reviewed: Introduction to life drawing

"First class tuition. Miranda knows her stuff! What I like about her teaching is she helps the student to see where they are going wrong for themselves. She allows the student to correct their own mistakes rather than doing it for them. Very important in the learning process. I feel my progression each week. Excellent course, excellent tuition, in a cosy venue, with tea and biscuits. What more could any student want!"

Candi Roach reviewed: Saturday Silver Clay Jewellery Workshop at Ransom's Pavilion, Hitchin 9.30am - 12.30pm

"I thoroughly enjoyed this 3hr class. Tuuli is a great teacher and showed us step by step every process so that it was easy to follow. There was such a large variety of gorgeous stamps, prints, letters and natural moulds/textures to choose from, the difficulty was trying to decide which ones to use! I came away with a lovely pendant which I was able to personalise with letter stamps along with some earrings and another small pendant. I’m so pleased with what I made and it looks really professional. I can’t wait to try making more items at home and I’m sure I’ll be back for another workshop with Tuuli soon. Would highly recommend this course to others."

Tuuli Parker responded:

"That is so great to hear Candi! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such lovely feedback. It is greatly appreciated. Hope to see you again soon!"

Natalie Jones reviewed: Evening Glass fusing workshop with Paula Andrews

"Such a fun and relaxed evening, crafting and having a good chat with other like minded people. Would definitely recommend this for a couple of hours mindfulness."

Kevin reviewed: Screen printing on glass

"This course is fantastic! Jim is a really great and patient teacher and made a huge effort to get the best out of all of us, regardless of our printmaking experience. I took the weekend course after not having printed in any medium since school and still came home with some lovely prints. Jim is very open in giving advice and sharing his personal tips and trips for getting the most out of screenprinting on glass. The classes are intimate and you get a lot of chance for input from Jim on the course. Definitely would recommend to new and experienced printmakers alike."

Kylie reviewed: Block print gift wrap workshop

"A fun small group workshop. Little bit more time needed to print and let the ink dry a bit before taking home, but that's always the case."

Rachel Reynolds responded:

"Thanks for your feedback Kylie. It’s the first time running a block printing workshop for this particular product, and I will note the extra time needed for future workshops. Great to have you on the course and to see your printing skills in action."

Heidi Armbrecht reviewed: Alien spoon carving

"This is an excellent course. Allan is a very good teacher very experienced and patient and with a passion for his craft. I learned a lot, and at the end of the day had a beautiful cherry wood spoon. The food was excellent. Thank you"

Kitty Thompson reviewed: Line and wash

"Liz is an inspiring tutor who makes learning painless with her supportive and informed approach. Lovely venue and a small group allowing for plenty of individual attention."

Liz Chaderton Artist responded:

"Thank you Kitty! So pleased you enjoyed it and I appreciate you taking the time to leave the review. How's your hare? Hope he survived the journey home and gets finished soon."

Joaquin Trigueros reviewed: One-to-one mount cutting for your next exhibition

"As a completely clueless newbie I felt Lynne gently guided me from zero to hero in a few hours. I feel confident now to go ahead and purchase what I need and get to work mounting all the photos I have been printing over the last few weeks. This course is precisely what I needed. I hope to take another course with Lynne in the future, now that my eyes are open to further mount cutting possibilities."

Nancy Humphries reviewed: Mosaic/chat/create! with award winning mosaicist Emma Abel

"Instruction was very clear and methodical. I liked the way it was staggered so you didn't learn everything up front then forget - rather you were shown what was appropriate when you were ready to move on. The introduction gave you a good goal to work towards... materials, tools and layout of workstation was very good. The studio was light, bright and full of mosaics... just very inspirational. We clearly all enjoyed very much what we were doing so that spirit of joint venture was really nice and having a cup of tea made for me - plus cake - great!! I've attended twice now and completed 2 mosaics. I will definitely attend again to make more ..."

abelmosaics responded:

"So glad you enjoyed your two workshops Nancy, many thanks for the helpful comments."

Mark hewes an Sharon reviewed: Beginner’s Soapmaking Workshop in Salisbury

"We loved the course. The venue was excellent and the course was tempered well for beginners soap making. Catherine was really knowledgeable about the products and process she uses. We’re looking forward to using our soaps this week and doing another course with Catherine next year. Sharon and Mark"

Chantal reviewed: Make your own leather dog collar and lead

"Couldn't have asked for a better workshop, can't recommend it enough! Christina was so lovely and informative. Will definitely be returning for another soon!"

Jenny reviewed: Upholstery for Beginners Workshop - in Warrington, Cheshire

"What a great day! Everything explained so even a novice such as myself could follow how to make the lovely footstool! It was such a beautiful setting to have a workshop with plenty of tea and coffee on tap and even treats! My 2 year old loves 'her' new seat! ? x"

The Boho Shed responded:

"So pleased your little girl approves of her new seat Jenny :-). I agree, Grappenhall Walled Garden is so beautiful. Many thanks for your kind comments."

Susan Samuel reviewed: Learn how to make a stained glass panel

"I attended a two day course to make a stained glass window for my hall. Brian was very knowledgeable and a great teacher. I am so pleased with my results I am looking forward to going back to do more with him. I thoroughly recommend this studio."

Jane Rickwood reviewed: Beginners’ Stained Glass, One Day Course, Llandeilo, Wales - archive

"Thoroughly enjoyed this day long course and the introduction to making a stained glass panel. There were only two other friendly ladies on the day and we each created panels that were so different, and our own designs. Simon took time to explain and demonstrate the creative process in detail in a relaxed environment. I now have an even greater appreciation of the work and hours involved to make these special pieces as Simon does - he is a Master in his field. Would certainly recommend this course - you'll be delighted with your creation."