There's something unique about turning. Unlike most crafts, the work is happening while you shape it. The blank spins, the tool cuts, and you're seeing the form emerge in real time.

One of the highlights of the week was a demonstration for my Woodturning 360 Club. Les presented a really excellent session, turning a nicely proportioned box with a finial-style lid while explaining a range of hollowing techniques.

Some of what I’m about to say may be a little controversial, but it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time, and it feels like the right moment to be honest about it.

January carries a particular energy. The decorations come down, the diary opens fresh, and there's space for something new. It's the month when more people decide to learn a new skill than any other.

In this episode of Turner’s Journey, I’m deep into end-of-year prep and getting everything ready for 2026. Teaching has finished for 2025, so I’m using this quieter period to restructure the lessons, rebuild the website from the ground up, and add extra value to the student experience.

One of the questions I get asked most often is: "Which class should I take?" It's a fair question. Looking at a list of courses, it's not always obvious where to start or where to go next. So I thought I'd lay out how our classes connect and build on each other, and help you find the path that makes sense for you.

There's a moment in every turner's journey when theory meets timber: When all those YouTube videos you've watched suddenly feel very far away, and the gouge in your hand feels impossibly alien.

We've just finished the trial run of our new Introduction to Hollowing class, and I'm pleased to say it went brilliantly. Everyone left with a finished practice piece and a larger hollow form to complete at home, plus a much better understanding of how to shape what you can't see.

In this episode of Turner’s Journey, Martin heads up to the Harrogate show with Les. Instead of going as a full-on trader with a van and a ton of stock, he travels light

I'm genuinely thrilled to share some news: The Woodturning School has been awarded official accreditation as a Provider of Training Excellence by the Professional Development Consortium.

There's a particular kind of satisfaction that comes from making something with your hands. Not scrolling, not clicking, not watching someone else do it on a screen.

Our new Bite-Size Workshop is a library of focused woodturning video lessons, hints and tips. No padding, no ads, no waffle, no hour-long rambles. Just the thing you need to know, properly explained, then you're done.

Just a quick video to round off the year by saying a big THANK YOU to you for watching this new series of Turner's Journey.

In this video, I take you through the basics of the day and what to expect during your lesson here at The Woodturning School.

We're currently working towards the Provider of Training Excellence accreditation from the Professional Development Consortium (which is connected to the CPD Standards Office). It's an independent assessment of how we run our courses, and we think it matters.

Not everyone can get to Hampshire. I know that. Some of you are too far away, some have commitments that make a full day impossible, and some just want to work through things at your own pace, pausing and rewinding when you need to. That's exactly what these video courses are for.

In this week’s Turner’s Journey, Martin takes a breath after a few busy weeks of travel and filming. Back in the workshop, the focus shifts to teaching, making, and a bit of reflection on how far things have come since the start of the series.

Small groups + focused tuition = faster progress. That's the premise behind how we teach at The Woodturning School. But it's not just a feeling — there's genuine research behind why this approach works, particularly for adult learners acquiring practical skills.

I've been teaching the Two Day Beginners class for years now, and somewhere along the way I started noticing something. Students were rushing. We were trying to cover too much ground in too little time, and rushing is the enemy of learning.

In this week’s Turner’s Journey, Martin leaves the workshop behind for a day in London — trading shavings and sanding dust for city noise, art, and inspiration.