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2 Day Wood Carving Course

14-15 June and 26-27 July: learn the fundamental skills of chip-carving or shallow relief carving as you create your own piece in this weekend course.

  • Booking essential

With expert advice, this full weekend course will first give you the opportunity to run through the basics of tool sharpening and care. For those with carving experience there will be time to talk to our expert tutor to develop existing skills

Beginners will then design and carve a chip carved panel. Chip carving is a traditional technique used to create decorative surfaces, drawing intricate designs with limitless possibilities. Intermediate carvers will carve a naturalistic leaf in low relief.

This course is suitable for either beginners or those with some experience of carving who are looking to enhance their existing skills.

Your tutor is Tom Ball, an award-winning master carver working in wood and stone from his workshop at the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre. Since 2008, Tom has been working freelance in restoration, and in 2020 Tom returned to City and Guilds of London Arts School to work as a tutor for the carving department. Tom's carving and conservation work can be found in renowned locations around the country including many of Oxfords and London’s most celebrated colleges, chapels and churches.

Our class sizes are small, so you'll have a chance to engage with the tutor while you work.

All materials and tools required for the course will be provided. This course takes place over two days, on Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 June and again on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 July, 9am-5pm daily. There will be a short break for lunch each day and tea/coffee is provided.

Times

Prices

Event ticket prices

Ticket typeTicket category
Adult £325.00
Concession Under 25s£245.00

The basics

Booking details

Call 0344 249 1895

Suitability

Not suitable for children.

Meeting point

The Orton Studio at the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre in Coleshill village. Follow signs for the Coleshill Estate Office for the car park.

What to bring and wear

All tools and materials included. Wear practical clothes and shoes suitable for crafting. Please bring your own refreshments (or the means to purchase these from the on-site café).

Accessibility

Toilets on site, including accessible toilet. Level access into the teaching space. Some uneven surfaces such as cobbles due to the historic nature of the building. Please contact us if you would like to have an informal chat about access before you book.

Other

Mess room available for course participants to use during breaks. Drinking water and facilities for making tea and coffee available. Refreshments/lunches available to purchase from on-site café. Accommodation not included.

Contact info

Buscot & Coleshill Estate

Upcoming events

Event

Introduction to Blacksmithing 

18 July and 4 October: enjoy a full day course getting to grips with the basics of blacksmithing.

Event summary

on
8 Mar to 4 Oct 2025
at
09:30 to 17:00
+ 4 other dates or times
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Open Days 

13 April, 11 May, 8 June, 13 July, 10 August, 12 October: visit our exhibition and take a look behind the scenes on one of our Coleshill Village Open Days.

Event summary

on
13 Apr to 12 Oct 2025
at
14:00 to 17:00
+ 5 other dates or times
Event

Guided Tours: Secrets of Coleshill 

17 April to 11 October, 1pm and 2.30pm Thursdays and Saturdays: find out more about some of the lesser-known chapters of the estate’s history and look behind the scenes of the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre.

Event summary

on
17 Apr to 11 Oct 2025
at
13:00 to 14:30
+ 103 other dates or times
Event

Traditional Lime Plastering for Professionals 

10 May: a fast-paced, practical lime plastering course designed for plasterers, plastering tutors, building contractors and craftspeople seeking to learn about working with traditional lime plaster.

Event summary

on
10 May 2025
at
09:00 to 16:30