Learn to Turn Wood
in Hampshire
Small classes. Expert guidance. Your hands on the lathe.
Helping You Achieve that
Feeling
Discover Your Craft: Turn Timber into Beautiful Objects
At The Woodturning School, you take a piece of sawn timber
and turn it into something you made with your own hands.
We teach beginners and experienced turners alike by guiding you through lathe techniques, tool control, finishing, and the quiet satisfaction of watching a shape emerge from beneath the tool.
Our Hampshire workshop is relaxed, well-equipped, and small enough that you'll get proper attention. You'll leave with pieces you've made yourself and the confidence to keep turning.
Choose from group classes, one-to-one tuition, or online learning that are all led by Martin Saban-Smith and Les Thorne, professional turners who genuinely love sharing the craft.
Are You Ready to Get The ‘I Made This Feeling’?
At The Woodturning School, we guide you at your own pace with hands-on tuition tailored to where you are in your turning journey.
What We Offer
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Expert Tutors
Martin and Les guide you through group and individual classes with patience and a bit of humour along the way.
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A Range of Classes
From your first bowl to advanced techniques — we'll meet you where you are.
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Everything Provided
Tools, timber, PPE, consumables. Just bring yourself (and comfortable shoes).
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Lunch Included
On most full-day classes, lunch is on us at the garden centre coffee shop.
Our workshop features a full camera set-up to give students an incredible view of the woodturning techniques they are learning.
Woodturning is an incredibly satisfying and rewarding craft. Whether you’re just dipping your toes in or diving into the craft, our Hampshire-based workshop offers courses and lessons perfect for all levels of turners.
Our beginner courses are designed for people starting out, or those with a little experience who'd benefit from a friendly nudge towards turning safely and confidently.
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![Two men working on a pottery bowl, one in the foreground and one in the background, in a pottery workshop. The man in the foreground is using a tool to paint or decorate a round pottery piece, while the man in the background is focused on his work at a separate station.]()
Bowl Turning Experience
This one-day woodturning course for beginners isn’t just something wonderful to do; it’s an incredibly fulfilling experience!
By the end of the course, you’ll proudly take home what could be your very first lathe-made bowl to cherish for years to come! Let the joy of woodturning ignite your creativity! -
![Two men wearing protective helmets and glasses working together on a woodturning project, with one man instructing the other, in a woodworking shop.]()
Two Day Beginners Woodturning
Our two-day woodturning course offers beginners an incredible opportunity to dive into the enriching craft of woodturning.
Starting your journey in this craft in a professional setting gives you access to the best tools, techniques, and expert guidance, greatly boosting your ability to develop your skills safely and efficiently. -
![Woodturning Experience Day]()
Woodturning Experience Day
Our Woodturning Experience Day offers an unmatched, hands-on adventure that’s both thrilling and engaging.
Guided by professional turner Martin Saban-Smith, you’ll get to grips with woodturning and start creating shavings in no time. By the end of the day, you’ll proudly take home three masterpieces crafted by your own hands. -
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Pen Turning Experience
This short Sunday morning course is suitable even if you have no experience at all; you will turn a stunning rollerball pen designed in the UK.
Join Martin as he demonstrates and guides you through the craft of turning gorgeous wooden pens on a Sunday morning, and you’ll be home in time for lunch!
Once you've got some turning under your belt, advancing your skills becomes part of the enjoyment.
Our intermediate courses focus on specific projects — each one introducing new techniques while building on what you already know. It's how most turners grow: one project, one challenge, one quiet victory at a time.
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![A man woodworking with a chisel and a lathe, shaping a piece of wood. Close-up of hands carving wood shavings from a cylindrical wooden piece.]()
Les Thorne Skew and Spindle Gouge
This class is designed to teach students the fundamental techniques and best practices for effectively using the skew chisel in their woodturning. The skew chisel, a versatile and sometimes challenging tool, is essential for achieving smooth, precise cuts and creating fine details on turned wood projects.
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![Black and red gradient ceramic bowl with gold Chinese characters on the front.]()
Japanese Style Rice Bowl
Join Martin on a Sunday as he guides you through the turning and decorating of a Japanese-inspired rice bowl. The piece is roughly 4x2.5”
Using principles of exquisite form, you will learn about elegant lines, proportions and turning thin-walled end-grain pieces. -
![Two men in a woodworking shop, one wearing a black helmet with face shield and the other with a tan cap, working on a lathe. The man with the cap is shaping a piece of wood. The shop has various woodworking tools and materials in the background.]()
Bowl Turning Improvers
On this advanced woodturning course for seasoned bowl turners, seize the opportunity to master the art of bowl turning under the expert mentorship of Martin Saban-Smith.
Throughout the course, Martin will delve into a comprehensive range of topics designed to perfect your bowl-turning skills. -
![Logo of The Woodturning School with purple background and white text]()
Colwin Way Two Day Class
More details to follow soon.
This is a really special one"“ -
![A collection of wooden containers and lids on a workbench, with woodworking tools hanging in the background.]()
Learn to Turn Boxes
Woodturning boxes on a lathe is an absolute joy for those with a bit of turning experience. On these Sunday classes, you will learn the process of making attractive pieces from 3” timber.
Martin will guide you through proper tool selection for turning boxes, ensuring that all the necessary parts are turned. Back-hollowing and Male jam-chucking techniques.
Sunday Studio Class: Two Students Only -
![Three wooden clocks with round faces and gold-colored rims, designed like teardrop shapes, placed on a flat surface.]()
Droplet Clock
For intermediate turners, focus on spindle turning techniques to create a stunning Droplet Clock.
The droplet shaped piece boasts a 2″ clock face with a gold bezel set on a beautifully mount. The thoughtfully designed piece is crafted from a single piece of wood on this course hosted by Martin Saban-Smith.
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![Logo for The Woodturning School with large letters 'WS' and the school's name below.]()
Emma Cook Weekend
Emma returns to the school to present two one-day classes in 2026. More details to be published soon.
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![Logo for The WoodTurning School with large 'WS' initials and the school name below in white text on a dark background.]()
Introduction to Hollowing
A brand new class available from March 2026 introduces experienced turners to hollow and some of the best tools to use.
The Sunday Studio Sessions aren't classes — they're studio time.
These sessions are for turners who already know their way around a lathe. People who can safely mount work, turn a simple bowl, and work independently — but who want time, space, and the occasional nudge from someone who's been turning a bit longer.
Martin (or Les) will be nearby to offer advice, troubleshoot a tricky cut, or suggest a different approach when you're stuck. But mostly, you'll be turning.
A small group. A calm workshop. Purposeful practice with good company.
Who The Sessions are For
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![A person in protective gear is polishing a wooden spherical object on a woodworking lathe in a workshop.]()
Safety
Turners who can work safely and independently
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![A person using a lathe machine to carve a wooden disc, with sawdust and wood shavings around.]()
Experience
People who've completed a beginner or intermediate course (with us or elsewhere) and want regular practice
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![A craftsman wearing a protective face shield and grey work jacket with British flag patches is shaping a large purple glass piece on a lathe in a woodworking workshop.]()
Skill Building
Makers building skill and confidence through repetition
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![Two men working with woodworking tools in a workshop, one using a handheld power tool and the other operating a lathe.]()
Creative Time
Anyone who values quiet, focused creative time
Other Learning Opportunities
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One to One Woodturning Tuition
Book Martin or Les for a one to one woodturning lesson tailored to your specific requirements.
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e-Learning Woodturning Lessons
We have prepared a growing range of online e-learning opportunities with full video content and written instructions
