Class Schedule
We currently offer weekend classes for Wood Carving, Stained Glass and Jewellery Making, weekday classes in Restoration and Upholstry and evening classes in Wood Carving (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and Wood Working (Mondays and Wednesdays).
All of those classes cost £275, with a £100 deposit and the remaining of the tuition due on the first day of class. Payments can be made in cash, cheques or debit cards. Tools are supplied for all courses, materials will be charged separately for Upholstery, Wood Working, Jewellery Making and Furniture Restoration. We also host clubs in Wood Carving and Chair Seat Caning/Rushing.
We are planning on classes in French Upholstery, Traditional Finishes, Colouring Techniques, Using Machines in Wood Carving, and Seat Caning and Rushing. Please write and we will keep you informed of the future classes. Also, watch this space!!!!
Autumn School of Wood carving – with Misseden School of Creative Arts
October 10 and 31
Summary
Imagine a whole week of wood carving! No packing and unpacking schlepping your work back and forth, being able to concentrate on your creation, being able to speak with others who share your love of this craft FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK. The course aims to introduce complete beginners to the basic skills of carving, chisel sharpening and wood behaviour. In further sessions you may follow a structured course of set projects or develop your own ideas. At every stage you will add to your skills and knowledge of all aspects of carving and develop design skills. Experienced carvers will be helped to develop their own projects and skills. PLEASE NOTE: This course is being held at Wooburn Craft School – see below..
Description
Complete beginners will learn about the various carving tools including different types of chisels and mallets, different ways of holding your work, health and safety. Students will learn how to select the right tool for the situation, how to ‘read’ the grain and how to make smooth cuts regardless of the grain. To this end, the beginner student will execute a couple of exercises which will show how to copy with cuts at different angles to the grain and do simple chip carving with gouges and straight chisels. In subsequent days or weekends, you may then progress through carving a natural leaf in high relief, a Celtic knot work, copies of traditional foliage in various styles and timbers, sculpture in the round or high relief, including human, figure or animal figures or abstract work and lettering. At all stages of the course Ernest shall offer guidance on design and advanced carving techniques.
Please note: this course is to be held in the workshop of Wooburn Craft School in Wooburn Green, HP10 0PJ, near High Wycombe. Morning and afternoon refreshments are included in the course price but lunch is not. Students may be able to purchase lunch locally or can bring their own with them.
There is on street parking close by and a few spaces outside the workshop where tools and equipment can be loaded/unloaded.
Residential option is not available for this course but there are many local options in and around High Wycombe from large chain hotels to smaller guest houses, or even at Missenden Abbey which is about 20 minutes away by car.
Please bring with you
Beginners:
- basic drawing materials (e.g. paper, pencils, sharpeners)
- a ruler,
- a pair of compasses,
- and any woodcarving tools you may already own.
Other learners should consult the tutor before the course about the materials relevant to their stages. IMPORTANT: Wood for more advanced students should be arranged before the class starts, Students will be charged, at cost, for the wood.
EVERYONE Please wear stout shoes and old clothes!
The following items can be purchased from your tutor
Tools may be hired from the tutor for £3.
Where there is difficulty in obtaining wood the tutor may be able to supply it at cost.
Level
Suitable for all levels
Course Location
Wooburn Craft School
Wooburn Green HP10 0PJ
Tutor
Ernest Riall
Ernest has studied with the leading woodcarvers in England and in France at l’Ecole Boulle. His passion is primarily focused on carving that is in the support of restoration of furniture but he is equally inspired by carving in support of artistic endeavours.
While most of his work has been with pre-18th century pieces, he has worked in a number of different styles from Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Baroque and Neo Classical, as well as modern pieces.
Ernest is active in the furniture and wood section of ICON (the Institute of Conservation). He has taught Wood Carving at both Bucks New University in High Wycombe and at Lyon’s Restoration guiding students to produce a variety of creative objects from a simple leaf, to a totem pole to abstract objects in plywood to horses and the list goes on. He is currently the Director of the Wooburn Craft School as well as teaching wood carving there.
Class Dates
October: 10, 31
Class Times: All classes start at 9:30 and end at 17:00
See Missenden School of Creative Arts’ Website for prices and to register:
https://www.missendenschoolofcreativearts.co.uk/summerschool_2025.php
Book Now - From £0.00Furniture Restoration Friday – Autumn 2026
Usually every OTHER Friday from 9:30 to 16:30 (except during school holidays) - 25 September to 27 November
In this course, Ernest will help students of all levels from complete novices to experienced restorers. All types of projects are possible (We do suggest you send a picture of the object if this is your first class with the school). All materials can be provided by the school (although a charge may apply). Ernest will carefully walk the student through every step of the entire process of restoring their selected project. Imagine the great feeling one gets from developing the hand skills needed to turn a warn piece of furniture into a thing of beauty.
With over 15 years experience running a very successful restoration business, Ernest is active with ICON (International Conservation) and he has a PhD centered around 18th Century English and French Furniture. This means that Ernest has proven himself to meet their very high standards in the restoration of antiques.
Price: £295 (Deposit: £100)
Class Dates (every other Friday except during school holidays):
September: 25
October: 9, 23
November: 13, 27
Class Times: All classes start at 9:30 and end at 16:30
Book Now - From £100.00Furniture Restoration Saturday with Ernest Riall – Autumn 2026
On Saturdays from 9:30 to 16:30 (except during school holidays) - 26 September to 19 December
In this course, Ernest will help students of all levels from complete novices to experienced restorers. All types of projects are possible (We do suggest you send a picture of the object if this is your first class with the school). All materials can be provided by the school (although a charge may apply). Ernest will carefully walk the student through every step of the entire process of restoring their selected project. Imagine the great feeling one gets from developing the hand skills needed to turn a warn piece of furniture into a thing of beauty.
With over 15 years experience running a very successful restoration business, Ernest is active with ICON (International Conservation) and he has a PhD centered around 18th Century English and French Furniture. This means that Ernest has proven himself to meet their very high standards in the restoration of antiques.
Price: £295 (Deposit: £100)
Class Dates (every other Saturday except during school holidays):
September: 26
October: 24
November: 14, 28
December: 19
Class Times: All classes start at 9:30 and end at 16:30
Book Now - From £100.00Stained Glass Sunday Autumn 2026
Starting on Sunday 27-9 at 9:30 and ending 29-11 at 4:30
The idea of making pictures with coloured glass, balanced with shapes and rhythm has fascinated generations. This course will introduce students to this amazing craft. Students learn the handling of tools and materials. Developing confidence from straight lines to curves on coloured glass. Projects will introduce the students to the basic techniques such as to score (cut) glass safely, copperfoil and traditional leadwork. This is a hands on practical course, with aspects of design and soldering. As with the Applique technique the students will be able to develop their own design once they have mastered the basics. No previous experience in either art or stained glass is needed for this introduction – just a sense of play and adventure!
Advanced students are also welcome. Lilly will guide and facilitate the creative direction that they want to pursue.
Class dates (Sundays):
Sept: 27
Oct: 18
Nov: 8, 15, 29
Class Times: All classes start at 9:30 and end at 16:30
Price: £295 (Deposit: £100)
Students are also expected to pay a material cost of approximately £25
Wood Carving Saturday – Autumn 2026
Usually every other Saturday from 9:30 to 16:30 - 3 October to 12 December
Beginner students will learn the craft of Wood Carving using traditional tools through a couple of challenging exercises, talks and demonstrations. Those new to Wood Carving will learn all the basics and will develop the basic skills to successfully carve objects in wood. They will develop an understanding of wood, how to use the basic tools, then how to conceptualise a final Wood Carving goal and how to reach that goal. More advanced students will continue to improve their skills by carving more advanced pieces with careful guidance from the tutor.
Class Dates (every OTHER Saturday except during school holidays):
October: 3, 17
November: 21
December: 5, 12
Class Times: All classes start at 9:30 and end at 16:30
Price: £295 (Deposit: £100)
Please note: no refunds will be given if cancelled 2 weeks or less before the class are scheduled to start.
Book Now - From £100.00Wood Carving Tuesday Evening Autumn 2026
Starts on Tuesday 29-9 at 6:00 and ends on 8-12 at 9:00
Beginner students will learn the craft of Wood Carving using traditional tools through a couple of challenging exercises, talks and demonstrations. Those new to Wood Carving will learn all the basics and will develop the basic skills to successfully carve objects in wood. They will develop an understanding of wood, how to use the basic tools, then how to conceptualise a final Wood Carving goal and how to reach that goal. More advanced students will continue to improve their skills by carving more advanced pieces.
Please note: no refunds will be given if cancelled 2 weeks or less before the class are scheduled to start.
Class Dates (every Tuesday):
Sept: 29
Oct: 6, 13, 20
Nov: 3, 10, 17, 24,
Dec 1, 2
Class Times: All classes start at 18:300 and end at 21:00
Price: £295 (Deposit: £100)
Book Now - From £100.00Wood Working for Young People – Autumn 2026
Every Thursdays from 16:00 to 18:00 (except during school holidays) 1 October to 10 December
This starts with an overview of common furniture woods and their properties as well as the basic hand tools and how to sharpen them. Students will be introduced to basic woodworking techniques while making a beautiful wooden tray using pine. They will learn how to make some basic woodwork joints as well as using screws to join certain parts of the project. Finally, they will try out some finishing techniques before choosing one for their project. The tray will have new horseshoes as handles. The idea is that you will afterwards be able to make another tray when you can use a different type of wood and make some changes in the design. We offer several different craft learning experiences for those aged 10 and above. While we focus on teaching traditional hand skills, we do so in a way to be enjoyable to the young students.
We have a series of wood crafting sections such as wood working (making things), pyrography (burning pictures in wood) and wood carving. With our new tutor we hope to bring in other materials such as plastics. In the beginning class each student Most importantly, we try to work with each individual student so all of them toi express themselves while learning a new skill.
Each child is allowed to work at their own pace to maximize their learning. This means that each student gets very individual guidance. As everyone knows creativity and the process of making things is very important to a child’s development. That is why we think our classes are so important. In the past the wood working class has made boxes, decorated with pyrography, a chess set and board.
Class Dates:
October: 1, 8, 15, 22
November: 5, 12, 19, 26
December: 3, 10
Class Times: All classes start at 16:00 and end at 18:00
Price: £250 (Deposit: £100)
Book Now - From £100.00