Evening Woodcarving Workshop

A two-hour evening introduction to woodcarving.


Clunie Fretton
Clunie Fretton
(Fretton Handley)
5.0 (3)
2k

2 hours Class size 1 to 5 guests     £55
Give woodcarving a go in this two hour evening introduction to the craft. This woodcarving class will give you a relaxed, fun taster of what it's like to carve, and how satisfying it is using sharp chisels to make clean, crisp cuts into timber. It will whet your appetite for learning this heritage craft and let you dip your toe into the world of woodcarving. With no more than six students to a class, you’ll receive a high level of attention and guidance.
During this evening class, you will be introduced to the tools, how to use them safely and effectively, the properties of timber including understanding grain direction, and will finish with a practical project making an incised geometric or flower design, which you can take home to display or work on further in your own time.
The class takes place in Central London in a working carving studio with ongoing projects and commissions, giving you the opportunity to see the working practise of a professional carver.
What will I achieve? By the end of the course you will have covered:
  • Identifying suitable timber species for future carving projects
  • The correct way to safely use chisels and mallet
  • How to secure your work
  • How to lay out your design on timber
  • How to create an incised geometric or flower design
Please note: if cancelling a place booked on this course, please give fourteen days notice in order to ensure you receive a full refund. If rescheduling, please allow seven days notice so that your place can be offered to other students. Late cancellations and refunds will be at the teacher's discretion.

Please note: Public dates for this class require at least 2 guests to run. In the unlikely event that we don't reach this number, we'll cancel the class; in this case we'll inform you and allow you to get a refund or reschedule, so please watch your email/SMS one day prior to the class.
Knowledge required
No prior carving experience is necessary. Complete beginners will be guided through the basic techniques, while more advanced students will be given guidance on how to refine their skills further.
More experienced students wishing to focus on particular aspects of their practice will be accomodated, but if the area you wish to focus on is particularly specialist then you are encouraged to book a one-to-one master class, as we are unlikely to have time within the beginner-friendly class format to go into greater depth. If you are an advanced student wishing to be set a more complex project, please email well in advance of booking to discuss what might be possible within the time frame and class format.
Please note that the nature of woodcarving means that you will be working in a standing position during the course hours, which some people may find physically demanding. One stool is available on request - please make this request before booking, as it may already have been allocated to another student.
What you'll get
  • Your completed carving project
  • Wood suitable for your carving project
  • The use of carving tools
  • Focused personal tuition
  • A document detailing what was learned on the course, as well as details of tool and timber suppliers
  • The option to be notified of special discounted prices on upcoming courses, available only to previous students
What to bring
  • Sturdy, covered shoes are essential for your safety, and you are strongly encouraged to wear leather boots or a safety work boot for maximum protection. Students who wear open-toed shoes or sandals will not be allowed to take the course. Safety boots are available inexpensively from multiple suppliers online.
  • Any additional carving tools you may wish to use on the day (please ensure any tools you bring are clearly marked with your name).
  • Appropriate clothing for a workshop environment, which you don’t mind getting dusty, dirty, or covered in wood chips. If you would like the additional protection, please bring an apron.
  • A notebook and pencil.
Suitable for

Suitable for adults, and kids (minimum 14 years old).

An adult must accompany any attending kids, and must pay for a separate ticket.

Location

Cockpit Studios, Cockpit Yard, London, WC1N 2NP, England

Cockpit Studios is in easy walking distance from Holborn, Russell Square and Chancery Lane underground stations.

Evening Woodcarving Workshop location
Your teacher
Clunie Fretton
Clunie Fretton
(Fretton Handley)

5.0 (3)
2k
female Women-owned

Clunie Fretton is an award-winning classically trained sculptor, master carver & gilder. Her work is included in the collections of: St. George's Chapel Windsor, the Victoria & Albert Museum, The Houses of Parliament, the London Livery Companies, and churches and cathedrals around the UK. Clunie featured as the master woodcarver on the Sky Arts television series Bill Bailey's 'Master Crafters'.
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