Courses and events | The Artful Bodger

Green Wood Working Courses

Welsh Stick Chairmaking

During this 7 day course, you will make a traditional welsh stick chair, and learn the skills to make more.

On the course you will start with fresh logs, then learn how to use the traditional hand tools used by chairmakers, such as adze, shave horse, drawknife, travisher, brace and bit etc.

Together we will steam bend arm bows, back bows, and comb backs, to be used in your chair.

7 days is enough time for beginners to make a nice chair, I encourage everyone to make a unique chair and to add their own style.

People can choose to make dining chairs, high chairs, or arm chairs. I can help guide you on what is achievable. All these chairs have legs, and stretchers, so we can start making these while discussing design.

If you have something specific you'd like to make, please send me a message.

The course is held in the gardens of the housing co-op where I live in Leintwardine.

All materials included in the price, and tea, coffee, biscuits and a basic vegetarian lunch will be provided.

Added extras

I will also talk people through how I make batches of chairs in my workshop, with basic machine tools.

On some courses, there will also be a optional evening tour of David Colwells workshop. David makes exquisite contemporary steam bent chairs.

https://davidcolwell.com/index.php/workshop-2/

Course Dates 2024

May 6th to the 12th (only 2 places left)

June 29th to the 5th July

To Book

Please email Email me at TheArtfulBodger@Hotmail.co.uk for full booking details.

Cost is £500, all included.

course run 9am to 5pm first 6 days.

9am until 3pm on the last day.

My Experience

I've been running courses for nearly twenty years.

I first learned pole lathe turning at Telford's Green Wood Trust, going on to teach pole lathe turning courses from there.

In 2007 I moved to The Sustainability Centre to do a Woodland Crafts apprenticeship. I ran and helped to run courses while there. While doing my apprenticeship I went on a chairmaking course with Paul Hayden at Westonbirt Arboretum, I went on to help run his courses for about ten years. During this time I also ran my own courses at Abbey Home Farm, National Trust Tyntesfield estate, and the Small Woods Association.

In 2018 I moved to Leintwardine, Herefordshire, taking up the role of Senior Crafts Tutor for The Cart Shed Charity. Since 2022 I have been self employed making and sell chairs. As of 2024 I will be running courses from the grounds at Earthworm Housing Co-op where I live and work from.