Fully Equipped Professional
Woodturning School
in Hampshire
Helping You Achieve that
Feeling
Step into the wonderful world of woodturning and experience the joy of learning in a welcoming, relaxed setting with professional guidance.
Join seasoned professional Martin Saban-Smith, who brings passion, skill, and years of experience to every class, making your time with us fun and inspiring.
Spend a fantastic day at our workshop, building new skills, creating beautiful handcrafted items, and walking away with that unbeatable “I made this!” feeling.
Are You Ready to Get The ‘I Made This Feeling’?
At The Woodturning School, we’re ready to guide you on an exciting journey of craftsmanship. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced woodturner, our professional instructors provide hands-on training tailored to your skill level.
What We Offer
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Expert Tutors
Professionally guided group and individual classes.
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Variety
Choose from a range of classes designed to cater from beginners through to advanced turners.
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All-Inclusive
We provide everything you need for a successful day of learning.
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Lunch
Lunch at the on-site coffee shop is include on most of our day-long classes.
Our workshop features a full camera set-up to give students an incredible view of the woodturning techniques they are learning.
The group classes below have been designed to provide a fun, interesting, and safe introduction to different aspects of woodturning and the craft in general for complete novices and those trying out turning for the first time.
One of these classes make ideal gifts for Christmas, Birthdays, Special Occasions, or ‘just because’!
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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! -
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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!
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.
Discover our beginners group courses below, specifically designed to empower beginners or those with a bit of experience who need a friendly nudge towards turning safely and confidently.
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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. -
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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! -
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Airbrushed Platter
You can unleash your creativity in this exciting woodturning course at the workshop by crafting a stunning wide-rim platter measuring about 12″ (300mm).
Martin will be there to guide and inspire you, demonstrating top-notch techniques for turning and finishing the platter to a perfect standard for airbrushing. -
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Beginners Plus+ Day
Our new ‘Beginners Plus‘ woodturning course is the perfect opportunity to elevate the skills you’ve developed and take them to the next level by incorporating new techniques.
Create a beautifully decorated ogee bowl to refresh your bowl-turning abilities, and master your precision and hollowing skills with an elegant goblet or chalice. Additionally, you’ll discover some advanced finishing techniques like lacquering a piece and mixing types of finish for stunning results. -
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Decorated Platter
This hands-on class is designed for intermediate woodturners, though beginners with some lathe experience are welcome.
You’ll start by turning the outside of a gorgeous blank and learn essential techniques for turning it into a smooth and balanced platter. Once the basic shape is achieved, we'll dive into decorative techniques to elevate your piece, including texturing, colouring, and/or embellishment with colours and finishes.
With some woodturning experience, advancing your skills and exploring new ones is an exciting journey for every turner.
To help you elevate your craft to the next level, we offer a variety of intermediate courses tailored to specific projects.
Each course introduces new techniques and enhances existing skills, ensuring your continuous growth and enjoyment in the art of woodturning..
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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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Airbrushed Platter
You can unleash your creativity in this exciting woodturning course at the workshop by crafting a stunning wide-rim platter measuring about 12″ (300mm).
Martin will be there to guide and inspire you, demonstrating top-notch techniques for turning and finishing the platter to a perfect standard for airbrushing. -
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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.Sunday Studio Class: Two Students Only
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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.
Sunday Studio Class: Two Students Only -
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Pedestal Bowl
On this woodturning course, Martin will guide you through the entire process, from selecting the perfect wood to mastering advanced techniques, empowering you to create stunning masterpieces right at home.
Sunday Studio Class: Two Students Only
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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 -
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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.
Here is a collection of woodturning courses running 10am till 4pm on Sundays hosting a maximum of just TWO intermediate to advanced students.
These classes are generally quite technical, and maintaining a minimum number of spaces available ensures Martin can provide the best one-to-one attention where needed.
This has proved to be very beneficial to the students!
Lunch is not included on Sunday Studio Classes
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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, turning all the parts required for your box. Back-hollowing and Male jam-chucking techniques. -
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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.Description goes here -
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Pedestal Bowl
On this woodturning course, Martin will guide you through the entire process, from selecting the perfect wood to mastering advanced techniques, empowering you to create stunning masterpieces right at home.
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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.
Sunday Studio Class: Bring a Packed Lunch
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