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Top Stories Details Dates Costs Tutor Automata - making nonsense out of rubbish See course details, dates, costs, tutors & stories from students below COURSE DETAILS BOOK NOW Over this fun four day automata workshop, you will make entertaining mechanical contraptions out of carved wood, wire, old tins or found objects and mechanisms engineered in brass and steel. ​ Fi Henshall will introduce you to basic mechanisms, cams, cogs or cranks with which you can experiment and bring your imagination to life... to make your chimneysweep sweep, your dog to lift its leg, chicken to peck or teapot to clack its lid. ​ Having had a play with mechanisms, you will plan your characters and their activities, making them from bits & bobs brought by Fi, or the quirky old trinkets you bring with you. What nonsense will you make out of rubbish and what will they do at the turn of a handle? DATES BOOK NOW ​ ​ ​ 24-27 August 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ COSTS BOOK NOW 4 day course - £485 - Tuition fees plus £50 materials ​ Tea, coffee and simple lunch included in your course price We also offer accommodation & evening meals ​ Click here to see what we offer ​ This course is aimed at adults, aged 18yrs + and is suitable for beginners to those with experience YOUR TUTOR BOOK NOW Throughout history inventors, showmen, eccentrics and charlatans have built mechanical contraptions who’s primary purpose was to deceive or entertain. The relationship between the perceived magic and the real mechanical ingenuity that animates these devices is something that has always fascinated Fi Henshall. ​ Fi's figurative mechanical sculptures combine carved wood, old tins and found objects, with mechanisms engineered in brass and steel. Her work typically depicts strange scenes and eccentric characters which mechanically re-enact fragments of dream-like narratives. Drawing upon folk tales and myth, Fi's automata merge the everyday with humour and menacing elements of absurdity. ​ Fi has been making automata professionally since 2009, and her work is included in both national and international collections. She often accepts commissions and film set design work. Details Costs Dates Tutor Stories from our students All bright eyed for 4 days of automata fun! Wernog Wood is the happiest place on earth - Patsy Thanks for a great fun packed course. Gone home with my creations for a rest! - Dan Had such a wonderful time and Fi was a brilliant tutor Stories Upcoming Dates Sat, 24 Aug Automata - August 2024 / Wernog Wood SOLD OUT Details 24 Aug 2024, 09:00 – 27 Aug 2024, 17:00 +5 more Making nonsense out of rubbish - create entertaining mechanical contraptions Join the waiting list or express interest in future courses N.B. If you cannot see the Book Now section, scroll up to Upcoming Dates If a course is full, please join the waiting list as we will contact you in case of any cancellation ... it does happen! or If you would like to attend a course but can't make it on the available date, you can register interest in future dates. Join the waiting list Register interest in future dates

Top Stories Details Dates Costs Tutor Untitled An introduction to carving in Maltese limestone See course details, dates, costs, tutors & stories from students below COURSE DETAILS BOOK NOW On this two day freestyle stone carving course you will sculpt in Maltese limestone which is relatively easy to carve with lovely results. Working with 10 inch stone blocks, your tutor Andrew Worthington will guide you through the processes of taking your design ideas from sketch to a three dimensional piece, initially by marking out your stone, learning to create different textures and how to release your design from the stone using chisels & gouges. ​ We recommend you come with a variety of ideas as a starting point for your sculpture although these may develop and change over the two days. By the end of your course you will go home with your own sculpted piece . DATES BOOK NOW ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 16-17 March 2024 ​ or ​ 9-10 November 2024 ​ ​ ​ COSTS BOOK NOW £180 - Tuition fees (plus £30 course materials) Tea, coffee and simple lunch included in your course price We also offer accommodation & evening meals ​ Click here to see what we offer ​ This course is aimed at adults, aged 18yrs + and is suitable for beginners to those with experience YOUR TUTOR BOOK NOW Andrew Worthington has run stone carving workshops for over sixteen years in different settings and for various organisations. By introducing students to the use of traditional tools and techniques, Andrew has given many people a sense of achievement and satisfaction from producing their own artwork in stone. Andrew is an artist who concentrates on sculpting in stone. His own work is inspired by organic shapes and is influenced by the way the stone was originally formed. He engages in public and private commissions working on both traditional and contemporary projects. Amongst others, he has worked for, or been involved with the NHS, Canals and Rivers Trust, RHS, Wepre Park and Arley Hall. Details Dates Tutor Costs Stories Stories from our students ​​What a brilliant birthday treat! A weekend stone carving at Wernog Wood in Wales. Such a beautiful place, brilliant hosts and amazing tuition. My design expectations exceeded my actual skills but I’m really pleased with how it’s turned out. It’s totally different to what I was trying to create BUT I let the stone decide what it wanted to be in the end. - Lela ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ I didn’t know quite what to expect and this was way outside my comfort zone and it turned out to be a lovely creative experience. Andrew the tutor was excellent, and gave basic instruction and then more detailed advice as you needed it, building gradually on what you were trying to achieve, but not at all overdone, and with encouragement from start to finish, there was a lot of freedom involved in developing the artworks. From my rough sketches ‘let’s see how to find what is inside this block of limestone’ was in my mind the whole time, and as a group we produced surprisingly and radically different results. I have to say it was complete enjoyment from start to finish. - Andy The course with Andrew is hard work but he is very supportive and encouraging. I was a complete beginner and yet I took home a lovely sculpture which I am proud to own and display. My little hands took a beating, not being used to handling heavy hammer and chisels!! Although it was hard work it was also fun. - Lynne ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Upcoming Dates Sat, 09 Nov Stonecarving - November 2024 / Wernog Wood Book Now 09 Nov 2024, 09:00 – 10 Nov 2024, 17:00 An introduction to carving in Maltese limestone Join the waiting list or express interest in future courses N.B. If you cannot see the Book Now section, scroll up to Upcoming Dates If a course is full, please join the waiting list as we will contact you in case of any cancellation ... it does happen! or If you would like to attend a course but can't make it on the available date, you can register interest in future dates. Join the waiting list Register interest in future dates

Top Details Dates Costs Tutor Stories Untitled Untitled A collective learning experience to build a traditional mortice & tenon timber framed structure with an opportunity to build your own structure See course details, dates, costs, tutors & stories from students below COURSE DETAILS BOOK NOW Perhaps you have plans for a building project of your own, or would simply enjoy to try a new skill together with others. Taught by brothers Joe and Fred Farey, you will learn about the timber you will be using, the design process and the basic techniques of timber frame construction. See the section below to read about an exciting new opportunity to build your own structure on this course. Over five days, you will collectively build a simple frame from start to finish using mortice and tenon joints. In the process you will set out and mark up the frames, make oak pegs and drill the offset peg holes. You will be using shoulder planes, chisels, marking gauges and a chain morticer. ​ At the end of the course we will hopefully erect the finished frame which will be full of the character you give it. BUILD YOUR OWN STRUCTURE BOOK NOW As there is regular demand for students to build their own timber frame structure during this course, we now offer this option. If you are interested in going home with a structure for your own use, we are welcoming students to put forward designs that will be considered by our tutors to be chosen as the course project . ​ As only one structure can be made during these 5 days, the ‘winning’ design will be chosen based on building size, complexity of the structure, achievability within the time and merit of the design as a teaching opportunity. ​ We will consider single storey structures which are no bigger than 30m­­2. Our tutors run a sawmill and will supply and deliver timber to Wernog Wood, ready for your c ourse. The cost of timber and delivery of the final structure to your home will be additional to the costs mentioned below, depending on the design of your building. Design ideas will need to be submitted 2 months before the course start date to be considered. DATES BOOK NOW ​ ​ ​ 22-26 April 2024 (one last minute space now available) ​ or ​ 23-27 September 2024 COSTS BOOK NOW Tuition fees - £595 per person or Building and designing your own structure - £2,5 00 If you would like to your own structure to be considered, it will be £2,500 plus the cost of timber, unless it is a particularly small building when it may be less. This is good value all round as it includes the following: Course tuition fee for one student, design consultation with tutors and deliv ery of timber to Wernog Wood ​ Tea, coffee and simple lunch included in your course price We also offer accommodation & evening meals Click here to see what we offer ​ This course is aimed at adults, aged 18yrs + and is suitable for beginners to those with experience YOUR TUTOR BOOK NOW Brothers Fred & Joe Farey work with their father Adrian as part of the Elwy Working Woods, a co-operative near Abergele, north Wales. Their social enterprise was established to create jobs and to pass on woodland skills to the next generation of woodland workers. As well as teaching the traditional techniques of timber frame building, they run a small sawmill and other woodland management projects. You can watch a short video of their project here . Building with green timber makes it possible to enjoy the quietness of using hand tools but is also a low-cost building technique which can be applied to any scale project from a characterful garden shed, conservatory or a complete house. If you enjoy a read, they recommend Timber Frame Construction: All About Post-and-Beam Building by Jack A Sobon. Stories from our students Wernog Wood is a wonderful place and hosts absolutely amazing people. The course had perhaps the best teachers of my life and like-minded people without any experience and we managed to do a timber frame in a week. The course exceeded all my expectations and the teachers were absolutely awesome. real professionals and knew how to tell things so that everyone understood them. Lots of practical tips, good tools, working facilities and lots of humour. - Aki 'The course was booked as a surprise birthday present for me and wow what an amazing present, I couldn't have dreamt of anything better. From the second I arrived and met Claire & Rob their naturally warming nature puts you at ease and welcomes you to Wernog Wood. - Steve ​ 'Just what I needed: I’m an architectural technologist. It’s one thing to design but another thing to build especially when you don’t understand how the different materials behave. It’s given me insight necessary for designing.' - Kae ​ 'This was a fantastic course, with the right mix of theory and practice. We were cutting wood within the first hour of arriving, after the safety briefings and introduction. Joe and Fred were immensely skilled and experienced, and combined this with a clear straight forward way of explaining what to do.' - Paul ​ ​ ​ ​ 'The tutors where a rare mix being both knowledgeable and patient with a remarkable ability to communicate well, articulating some quite complex ideas and techniques with ease. Claire and Rob are very interesting, capable people who extended a warm welcome to all, offering hospitality that is unparalleled in both its quality and inclusivity. They are genial hosts and brilliant people to be around. Rob's pizza was superb and Claire’s lunches where something to look forward to.' - Rich 'I have been on a woodwork course in the past which included a lot of talking and discussion. I much preferred the practical nature of this course and it helped me understand concepts a lot better.' - Ben ​ Details Dates Costs Tutor Stories Upcoming Dates Mon, 22 Apr Timberframe building - April 2024 / Wernog Wood Book Now 22 Apr 2024, 09:00 – 26 Apr 2024, 17:00 +6 more Introduction to mortice and tenon timber frame building techniques Mon, 23 Sept Timberframe building - September 2024 / Wernog Wood Book Now 23 Sept 2024, 09:00 – 27 Sept 2024, 17:00 Introduction to mortice and tenon timber frame building techniques Join the waiting list or express interest in future courses N.B. If you cannot see the Book Now section, scroll up to Upcoming Dates If a course is full, please join the waiting list as we will contact you in case of any cancellation ... it does happen! or If you would like to attend a course but can't make it on the available date, you can register interest in future dates. Join the waiting list Register interest in future dates

Speaking to Ben recently he tells us that alongside his regular commitments teaching chairmaking and other green woodworking skills, he has been working on some fun commissions in recent weeks. His highlights include a pair of bar stools out of some fabulous black ash he helped harvest a few years back; black ash is a species usually found in North America, but somehow a specimen had found its way to a back garden in West London, and Ben was fortunate to be able to get his hands on some in payment for helping mill it up after it succumbed to disease. It's spectacular stuff and the pieces he's been working on recently are no exception! You can see his beautiful work on @benwilliswoodcraft Ben feels honoured to have been invited to work with the design firm Martin Hulbert Design to produce two pieces for the 'Wow House 2023' exhibition due to be held in Chelsea Harbour in June. This high-profile design expo features a purpose-built showhouse containing 17 full-size rooms, each created by a leading design practice. He'll be contributing two of his Welsh stick chairs for the room created by MHD, who he has been working with over the past couple of years. Ben is looking forward to coming back up to Wernog Wood for his annual summer visit, especially to seeing the results of the new additional course he will be teaching here this year. The first course Ben will teach is offers a choice of making live-edge benches or stools… and the second of his popular greenwood chairmaking week that we have been running since the early days of Wernog Wood. If you would like to venture into the completely additive world of greenwood working, check out https://www.wernogwood.co.uk/wood His live edge table, bench and stool making course is on 14-16th July and is perfect for complete beginners. His greenwood chair making course starts just a day later on 17th July and runs to 21st or 22nd July depending on whether you would like to make a side chair (with no arms) or an arm chair. You will need some previous experience to make an armchair but if you fancy full immersion, why not come and make a stool first!

David has managed to achieve that happy balance of bringing his previous experience and creative passions together into his daily work. He shares this through his stunning Instagram feed @thewhittlings During photography courses in Wernog Wood, we hear David encourage students to tell a story through a small selection of images - literally a well curated snapshot of their day. As we scroll through David’s Instagram photo grid, we see a year in nature described, season by season alongside the work that he is focusing on at that time. Last year David set himself the challenge of carving a unique spoon every week, often focusing on different purposes and cultures, each spoon broadening his skills as a whittler. He sets himself similar projects making platters and bowls. This year David is focusing on expanding his workshop into a bigger space, allowing growth into contemporary stool and bench design. Starting out his creative career in design and landscape photography, David’s work took him in the direction of culinary photography for high-end restaurants. As part of this role, he began making props from old wood sourced in Wales, which caught the eye of chefs, who then asked for more. David now makes his daily crust doing exactly that; making wooden platters, bowls and cutlery for some of the best restaurants around the country. Luckily for you, David is willing to share these skills in Wernog Wood, offering photography in nature as well as spoon carving courses. His next photography course is just a couple of weeks away on 18th May, focusing on water and woodlands followed by another on 13 October exploring the Clwydian hills with your camera. Click here for photography details Our first spoon carving course is a weekend of whittling a Welsh cawl spoon and a contemporary love spoon on 1-2 July, and the second is one day on 4th November. Click here for spoon carving details

This week we visited Tess in her Surrey based workshop, and found her part way through an enormous commission. This tropical table top is so big that she is making it in three parts to make it more manageable. Only when each panel is complete will she stitch the final glass pieces into the design to link each panel together. Tess is not only a mosaicist, but a jeweller and print maker, having begun her jewellery journey in Wernog Wood with @claireacworthjewellery. Building upon her previous printmaking experience, she also learnt a thing or two about lino relief printing with @bronteadamdesign, also in Wernog Wood. @tesswilliamsdesigns is busy preparing for a Surrey Open Studio event in June where she will be exhibiting her work. If you are in the area, we highly recommend that you go visit her see https://surreyopenstudios.org.uk/artist/tess-williams-designs/ … … and she does all of this in between her consultancy work in the humanitarian field, now mainly delivering personal safety and security training for those travelling to hostile environments. Tess recognises the very significant value of taking time out of a stressful work lifeto fully immerse herself into her craft… we fully agree and can’t think of a better way to reboot. Tess will be teaching mosaic here in Wernog Wood on 8-9 July, with a theme of house plaques similar to this one she made for Wernog Wood. The two day course is £240 inclusive of lunch and materials. See details here

Request a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to suit you. We will confirm whether this day suits your tutor Claire, and approve your booking. N.B. The check out process will ask you to 'PAY LATER'. You will be asked to pay once we have confirmed availability of your chosen date. Get in touch via the 'contact us' page if these days of the week do not suit you, or if you would like to do more than one consecutive day. Claire will get in touch to make a plan with you.

Request any Tuesday listed as available on the calendar. We will confirm whether this day suits your tutor Rob, and approve your booking. N.B. The check out process will ask you to 'PAY LATER'. You will be asked to pay once we have confirmed availability of your chosen date. If Tuesdays do not suit, get in touch via our 'contact us' page. Your tutor Rob will get in touch to make a plan with you.

These full day classes (9am-5pm) for people who have previously attended a full day 1:1 or group course with Claire Acworth in Wernog Wood. Would you like join a regular group of jewellers, with flexibility to come as and when you like, to work on your own project with tuition whenever you need it? You will pay for silver and stones as you use them. With a maximum of three other jewellers, welcome to join Claire on a Tuesday. Initially classes will be the first of the month with exception of May which will the second Tuesday, but may add more sessions depending on numbers of students who sign up. Unlike our 40 day cancellation policy for our other courses, you will be able to reschedule your chosen dates up to a week before your class. Please note that we will provide tea, coffee biscuits, but you will need to bring your own lunch. The following different payment packages are available: 4 sessions to be redeemed in 12 months - benefits include (£115 value): ~10% less than our formal course fee ~ free *bench space for one day (untutored use of the workshop) ~ free 'handmade by you in Wernog Wood' t-shirt 6 sessions to be redeemed in 12 months - benefits include (£185 value): ~ 10% less than our formal course fee ~ free *bench space for two days (untutored use of the workshop) ~ free 'handmade by you in Wernog Wood' - t-shirt or hoodie *N.B. Bench space is normally charged at £30 per day - welcome to request additional days These costs include VAT. Please contact us if you need a VAT receipt.