Devon Wood Crafts reviews

31 Mar 18'

Joe Pitt reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"I was given a days introductory course by my wife as a retirement gift - probably in the hope it would get me out of her way! I had always loved wood as a material but prior to the course had no experience of turning and only collected wood to add to my log store. But I have become an enthusiast thanks to Colin. His style is very much “let’s crack on and make something” so it is from the start a hands on no nonsense practical approach. He was a very effective tutor and had no end of patience with, at times, my rather stupid questions. I took away not just a very presentable bowl but an understanding of the basics which has only encouraged me to pursue things further. Highly recommended."

14 Feb 18'

Alastair Bremner reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"I contacted Colin on the personal recommendation of an instrument maker so I knew already that he is an expert. As well as being an expert craftsman he is an endlessly patient, gifted and humorous teacher, and gave this novice invaluable help with the things like the correct positioning and movement of the body when making specific cuts, how to sharpen tools quickly and efficiently,as well as tailored advice regarding lathes and equipment.I would thoroughly recommend him.Many thanks Colin!"

23 Oct 17'

Nick White reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"I have been thinking about taking up woodturning for a while as more time becomes available as I move into retirement, but wanted to have an introductory course before committing to any serious expenditure on equipment. The day spent with Colin was just what I wanted and has definitely whetted my appetite to progress further into this interesting aspect of working with wood. My wife was suitably impressed with the bowl and eggcup that I produced, so that will help when I come back from the forthcoming Harrogate Show with several purchases to get things underway! It is always helpful to have a decent set of notes to bring away from a course and Colin provides just that. Thanks again Colin for an excellent and informative day that I can thoroughly recommend to anyone wishing to take up turning or perhaps just wanting some practical tuition from an expert."

3 Sep 17'

Paul Rogers reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"I spent the most wonderful day with Colin. I booked myself a one on one tutorial for the day as an introduction to woodturning. With no experience at all of lathes or turning wood of any description I relied on Colin to teach me from scratch. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and having turned my first bowl and egg cup to a standard I thought well out of my capabilities.... I can thoroughly endorse Colin's teaching ability and the structure of his day course. He was a superb guiding hand throughout the day but let you learn and progress at your own speed. Lunch was superb and I am looking forward to booking a secondary day course soon. Thanks again Colin - your skills were first class and seeing your work gives me something to aim for now....."

26 Aug 17'

Victoria Briggs reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"I had an excellent day with Colin learning the basics of wood turning. Being a D&T teacher I wanted to get our school lathe back up and running and Colin gave lots of helpful advice about how I could apply things in a school situation. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and not only got lots of information relating to D&T but came away feeling very proud of my finished products. 5"

28 Jul 17'

Chris Jackson reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"I spent 2 fantastic days with Colin, learning the basics of wood turning. Aside from him being a thoroughly nice bloke, Colin is extremely thorough when explaining techniques. Nothing is too much trouble and if a question arises which is at a tangent to the project you are working on, he often 'chucked up' a rough piece of wood in a spare lathe to demonstrate his point. Colin is a great instructor. He is extremely patient and he explains everything clearly, but mostly, he ensures that you get plenty of time on the lathe to master the techniques he passes on. I now need to put into practice what I have learned, but I will definitely be back for more training in the near future."

15 Jul 17'

Keith Needham reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"I attended 3 day course with my partner. The course was personalised completely for our requirements - we got exactly what we wanted from the course Colin is undoubtedly a subject matter expert and an excellent tutor and maker of tea! We had a great few days with Colin, learning lots and spending time with a person who clearly loves this creative artform. Go spend some time in beautiful Devon learning and creating beautiful items. Keith."

15 Jul 17'

Sarah Hendrickx reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"I have just spent 3 days learning with Colin and have found it a genuinely enjoyable experience. From having no knowledge of woodturning at all, I am now desperate to get my own lathe and start creating! Colin is not only very experienced and knowledgeable about his subject, but also a good teacher. He was patient, interested and constantly on hand to guide with plenty of positive words about every mishap (or 'design opportunity' as he calls them). I would thoroughly recommend working with Colin."

16 May 17'

Patrick Kivlin reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"I have just spent an educational and very enjoyable day with Colin learning the basics of woodturning. He is an excellent tutor and has a relaxed yet informative style. After a short demonstration of each technique from Colin, I was "let loose" and allowed to work on the lathe which means that I went home at the end of the day with some pieces of work of which I am excessively proud. I think that he may have introduced me to a new hobby!"

12 May 17'

Andy Thorne reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"I had a really good and very helpful day with Colin. His relaxed style and patient manner made learning the basics relaxing but informative. I felt like safety was there throughout but without being rammed down your throat and he was happy to let you try things for a moment before correcting you or tweaking your technique. I had only turned a few items before by just sticking something on the lathe and hoping for the best so Colin was great for a proper intro to turning and basic techniques as well as sharpening tools and what to use when. I'll have to go back to improve my spindle work i reckon!"

12 Apr 17'

peter furnivall reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"2 days with Colin was twice as good as 1 day ! Anyone who enjoys the feel and smell of wood will love learning the basics and not so basics of lathe work from this friendly enthusiast . Colin is happy to taylor the time to whatever the student wants (or needs) to cover, but with safety and careful explanation of techniques as the starting point. Very worthwhile and very much recommended."

9 Apr 17'

Martin Marks reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"Great day. Would not hesitate to recommend course. Far exceeded my expectation. Excellent and patient teacher. Day was given as Birthday gift. Had not turned before but now feel confident to use lathe and sharpen tools."

24 Feb 17'

Rachel Vestey reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"I've just read through most of the reviews left by others and they all concur that Colin is a really good patient teacher. And that the day went far too quickly. I visited last week with my partner for a day of novice bowl making and spindle turning. We came away with two lovely bowls and a huge amount of confidence. Colin is obviously a very experienced teacher. He is so gentle and never makes you feel you are making a horlicks of it, even when it looks like you are. His wife, Skye, is lovely too and she prepared us a delicious lunch. It was a fabulous day and we are so proud of our handiwork. Thanks Colin."

21 Feb 17'

Sean Floyd reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"My wife surprised me with a wonderful birthday present. I had a great day with Colin. Being a novice turner, the one on one tuition was brilliant. It gave me a lot more confidence and put me right on numerous methods. The real bonus was using a bowl gouge with the Ellsworth grind, I immediately put it on mine next day and so far its transforming my turning. I feel I have more control. The day went so quickly I was disappointed when it came to an end. Lunch was great too. Well worth the investment.. Thanks once again Colin."

21 Feb 17'

Rick Davidson reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"What a great day. I have a little experience in wood turning producing my own bowls and pens. Colin structured the day around my needs and ability and with the comprehensive course notes supplied I hope to retain most of the techniques. I learnt so much! Colin is a great teacher with loads of experience to be able to give practical demonstrations and techniques. He has various tools and examples of items to help clarify the most muddled of students. The advice received has saved me hundreds of pounds on buying unnecessary items so well worth the cost of the course which is very reasonable anyway. It is clear Colin enjoys teaching, he is patient and very helpful, the hours just flew by. I would not be able to recommend Colin enough whether you have never experience wood turning before and want to try something new or you want to consolidate and build on your experience. I will definitely be going back, there is so much more to learn!"

1 Feb 17'

Dave Austin reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"Since my days in the school workshop (a while ago now) I have always had a desire to try my hand at turning wood so I was given a one day introductory course. Colin is not only a master of his craft but also an brilliant teacher. The day gave me all the basic techniques and tool handling skills to safely get started turning along with tool sharpening and wood finishing. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and would highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in turning. I came away inspired and with a rather nice oak bowl! Colin's courses are one-on-one and he tailors them to your needs so I shall definitely be returning to hone my skills with his excellent tuition."

25 Jan 17'

Kathy reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"Colin has a wealth of experience and knowledge for woodturning, but importantly is an excellent and patient teacher. Everything was covered in a logical and friendly way combined with enthusiasm and a genuine love for what he does. I was provided with a vast amount of notes prior to the course, and he was flexible and willing to tailor the day to specific needs, making sure I got what I wanted out of the day. Incredible value for money considering all the equipment, materials, constant supply of coffee and skill of the teacher. On top of all this, Colin is a really nice guy and a pleasure to spend the day with! Next time I'm in Devon I'll definitely be back."

8 Nov 16'

Adrian Smith reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"I really enjoyed my one day course with Colin. We covered a lot of ground in the time available, this included bowl turning, spindle turning techniques and sharpening. Colin's approach is very relaxed, he is patient, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I would highly recommend the course."

4 Oct 16'

richard foreman reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"This course is ideal for the aspirant wood turner and you could not have a more knowledgeable or inspiring teacher than Colin. As an absolute beginner I appreciated the open and friendly style of Colin's instruction and I came away with some nice pieces of wood but, more importantly, the necessary information to start turning on my own. The whole day was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I would recommend this course without hesitation."

3 Oct 16'

John Tootell reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"While on holiday in north Devon I spent a very enjoyable and informative day with Colin. His knowledge and teaching techniques are second to none. I now wish I had done a 3 day course with him, so will have to spend more time with him next time I'm in Devon. Thanks for a great day Colin."

30 Sep 16'

Richard Willis reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"I received a 1 day course Colin as a present for my 65th birthday. Having carried out some woodturning following a course some 20+ years ago and then not using the lathe for the last 6 or 7 years my techniques and confidence had been lost. Colin has restored my confidence and updated my techniques. He is an excellent Instructor who is able to discuss options with you and customise the course content to allow the student to gain maximum benefit from the course. I have no hesitation in recommending a course with Colin and look forward to being able to book another course to develop new skills with Colin's excellent tuition. Thank you Colin and the notes provide handy reminders."

29 Sep 16'

Chris Munachen reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"As a beginner to wood turning and had never worked on a lathe before with Colin's relaxed, clear and conscious instruction I was soon developing a feel and skill set to use the tools. With his enthusiasm I am now looking to join the world of the wood turner. A big thank you to Collin for a brilliant day that went all to quickly."

14 Aug 16'

Ken Walsby reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"I spent a very enjoyable day with Colin Simpson and achieved far more than I thought was possible. He was very supportive and greatly helped me to produce a large candlestick; which happily my wife was delighted with. I cannot thank Colin enough for his friendly direction and can thoroughly recommend his course to other prospective woodturners out there. I shall certainly continue this hobby on my retirement next year."

11 Aug 16'

Rick Wheaton reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"Just had a full day one-to-one turning course with Colin. His expertise and experience are second to none and he is a superb communicator. I was put at my ease, made to feel relaxed and at home (literally - a very pleasant lunch in Colin's kitchen was included!) and most importantly I was taught dozens of new skills in turning and sharpening. Excellent! Most enjoyable! Highly recommended!"

1 Aug 16'

Peter Chrystie reviewed: Woodturning in Devon with Colin Simpson

"The other reviews are spot on. Colin is a very good teacher with endless patience. I thoroughly enjoyed my day with him and came away with the best bowl I have turned to date, a box with a lid that fits, my tools properly sharpened and a host of new skills to practice. Many thanks Colin!"