Courses

Develop the ability to visualise and communicate furniture designs through quick, expressive sketches and rich, lifelike renderings in this unique two-day masterclass with master craftsman, furniture maker, artist, and designer Ian Parker.

2-day Course | Wednesday 22nd – Thursday 23rd October, 2025 | 9:30 – 16:30 | Price £325 | 9 places

Unlike traditional art classes that focus on drawing from observation, this intensive course teaches you how to sketch imagined furniture directly from your mind’s eye—an invaluable skill for both amateur makers and professional designers. 

Day One: Sketching from Imagination 

Ian introduces simple yet effective pencil and ink techniques to help you produce scale-accurate sketches of furniture ideas. Beginning with basic forms, you’ll gradually build confidence in depicting more complex designs quickly and clearly. 

Day Two: Rendering & Surface Finishes
 
Students learn to bring their designs to life using watercolour, focusing on the realistic portrayal of wood grains, colours, and textures. With the help of Ian’s curated wood sample collection, you’ll explore how to convincingly illustrate material choices and surface finishes. 

No prior drawing experience is necessary—this course is designed for anyone who wants to sharpen their ability to visualise and present furniture ideas with clarity and confidence. All materials are included in the course fee. 

3-day Course | Tuesday 21st – Thursday 23rd October, 2025 | 9:00 – 17:00 | Price £525 | 12 places

This immersive three-day course with Rachael South guides you through the specialist craftsmanship required to create a traditionally stuffed and stitched footstool. Starting from the bare frame, you will: 

1. Prepare and finish wooden legs and frame 
2. Hand-stuff and stitch the upholstered pad 
3. Select and apply your own fabric design 

All tools, frames, and materials are supplied. Whether you’re new to upholstery or refining your skills, this foundational project offers hands-on learning in a supportive, studio-based setting—rooted in heritage craft and adaptable for today’s design contexts. 

Rachael South is a celebrated upholsterer and the Subject Lead for Upholstery at ELFI (East London Furniture Institute). With over 25 years in the furniture and textile industry, she has navigated through bespoke production, design, restoration, and education. Rachael studied Textiles Design (earning a First Class Honours degree) and holds qualifications in traditional upholstery. Her roots in the craft trace back to her father, Terry South, and grandfather, Michael South—a third-generation chair caning lineage she continues with passion and skill. Based in her Dalston workshop, Rachael combines traditional chair caning, seat weaving, and contemporary design approaches—working with both antique and modern furniture and teaching across AMUSF Upholstery courses.  

Day 1 

• Morning: Introduction to materials, tools, and frame finishing techniques 
• Afternoon: Wood finishing on footstool legs—sanding, staining, and protective coating 

Day 2 

• Morning: Filling and hand stuffing—building up the shape with stuffing techniques 
• Afternoon: Hand stitching and securing the stuffing to create a clean, durable finish 

Day 3 

• Morning: Fabric selection and application—choosing and attaching upholstery fabric 
• Afternoon: Final detailing and review—trims, tacks, and finishing touches 

By the end of the course, you’ll have crafted your very own upholstered footstool using traditional methods under the expert guidance of a master upholsterer. 

Author of the fabulous 2024 book “Japanese Joinery”, Dorian Bracht will be guiding you through the making of glueless patchwork joinery stool. There are up to 12 places available on this 3 day course.

3-day Course | Tuesday 21st – Thursday 23rd October, 2025 | 9:00 – 17:00 | Price £775 | 12 places

Join Dorian for this hands-on, three-day introduction to Japanese joinery and furniture design. This accessible course is ideal for beginners and those looking to deepen their understanding of hand-tool techniques, layout precision, and traditional joinery principles. Over the three days, participants will build a simple yet elegant stool inspired by Japanese craftsmanship, while learning essential skills that can be applied to future woodworking projects. Working with high-quality materials (all included in the course fee), students will explore both the technical and aesthetic aspects of Japanese woodworking.

Dorian Bracht is a highly respected woodworker, author, and teacher known for his deep knowledge of traditional Japanese woodworking. His passion for the craft led him to study the timeless techniques of Japanese joinery—skills he now shares with students and craftspeople around the world. Dorian is the author of Japanese Joinery, a comprehensive guide to the design, tools, and construction methods that define this elegant and precise woodworking tradition. With a reputation for clarity, patience, and exceptional craftsmanship, Dorian’s workshops offer a rare opportunity to learn the fundamentals of joinery from a true master of the discipline.

The buildup of the course would be:

Day 1: 

– Introduction // Working the wood (basic techniques used for this specific stool) // All tools used during the build and how to treat them

– Layout basics and practice

– Order of operation and general joinery practice

Day 2 

– Scale drawing

– Organising and layout

– Working on the stool

Day 3

– Working on the stool

– Finishing and final assembly 

– extra joinery exercises for anyone who is faster or interested

Learn the art of hand-carved lettering with master craftsman Georgy Mkrtichian. This hands-on course introduces participants to the essential tools, techniques, and design principles of letter carving in wood. 

3-day Course | Tuesday 21st – Thursday 23rd October, 2025 | 9:00 – 17:00 | Price £525 | 12 places

Over three days, students will: 

• Learn how to sharpen and maintain carving tools 

• Explore letterform design and layout techniques 

• Practice traditional V-cut letter carving under expert guidance 

• Apply their new skills to create a finished carved panel to take home 

Suitable for beginners or those wishing to refine existing skills, this course emphasises precision, craftsmanship, and the quiet discipline of hand carving. All tools and materials are provided and included in the course fee. 

Georgy Mkrtichian is a highly respected master wood carver and member of the Art Workers’ Guild. With decades of experience creating bespoke carvings for some of the UK’s most prestigious heritage sites—including the National Gallery, Leighton House, and Buckingham Palace—Georgy brings exceptional craftsmanship and deep knowledge to his teaching. Alongside his own commissioned work, he is passionate about passing on traditional carving techniques to a new generation of makers. 

Join acclaimed American craftsman Frank Strazza for an immersive exploration of the timeless art of marquetry, using traditional hand techniques and fine shop-sawn veneers. 

4-day Course | Monday 20th – Thursday 23rd October, 2025 | 9:00 – 17:00 | Price £875 | 12 places

Over the course of this hands-on workshop, participants will begin by mastering straight-line cutting to create classical paterae motifs, learning time-honoured techniques such as sand shading and kerf-filling with mastic to bring depth and dimension to their designs. The course then moves into the delicate craft of double-bevel lettering, using contrasting woods to create precise, elegant letterforms. Students will progress to creating intricate pictorial inlays using multiple species of wood, gaining confidence in cutting, assembly, and composition. The class will also introduce stringing and inlay work, broadening each student’s decorative repertoire. 

Throughout the course, Frank will share insights from his study of Italian Renaissance marquetry, offering historical context and artistic inspiration drawn from centuries of fine craftsmanship. Whether you are new to marquetry or looking to refine your skills, this course offers a rare opportunity to learn traditional techniques from a true master. All materials are included in the course fee. 

Watch Frank Strazza’s video about the course