Graham Turner Woodturning reviews

19 Jul 17'

Alun Fowler reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"Received a 1-day beginners course for myself and a friends as a birthday present for my wife having had no previous experience of wood turning. However, we have been on craft courses (pottery and glass blowing) previously. We had a magnificent day - Graham is a superb and knowledgeable teacher; he was able to judge our ability, set achievable but challenging targets and had a patient approach to keeping us on track. A simple but delicious home cooked lunch was provided and both Graham and his wife were terrific company during our meal. Their attitude was relaxed and informal; they made us feel very welcome and gave us a genuine break from the rigours of a normal weekend. We left proudly clutching the candlesticks and bowls we had made during the day which everyone is highly impressed with! However, Graham also left us with a better understanding of the craft, a deeper knowledge of how to work with wood and some samples of wood to fuel our first forays into whittling. I have no hesitation in recommending Graham to anyone how wishes to learn more about this absorbing and rewarding activity."

13 Jul 17'

William McElroy reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"Graham is really knowledgeable and experienced and this shows in his teaching..... A very good day and leant a great deal,so much in fact I am looking to buy a lathe for myself as I enjoyed it that much. Thank you Graham...."

13 Jun 17'

Tony reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"I had a very helpful and enjoyable day with Graham. He made me very welcome and feel at ease. I am a novice turner and wanted to develop my skills. Graham was very sympathetic to my needs, suggesting and demonstrating techniques that really helped me overcome difficulties I was having. He has an excellent teaching style , informative, knowledgeable, supportive yet giving you room to practice and learn by doing it yourself. Coffee, tea and biscuits on tap and a tasty lunch sitting in his lovely garden. I would certainly recommend a course with Graham"

27 May 17'

Terry Nash reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"I was given a days woodturning tuition as a present & it proved to be one of the best presents I have ever been given. As soon as I went through the door I was made very welcome by Graham & his wife plus the two dogs! After a cup of tea & a general talk about the basics of woodturning it was into the workshop & after being shown the around the lathes, tools etc it was hands on & with Graham's expert tuition plus a lot of patience I managed to turn a bowl & ring stand. Am now bitten by the bug thanks to Graham's skill & enthusiasm & now intend to take it further. I have no hesitation in recommending a woodturning course with Graham."

26 May 17'

Dave Talbot reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"This was my first attempt at wood turning and I cannot recommend the day highly enough. Graham was very quick to put the two of us (both novices) at our ease, and was both patient and encouraging throughout the day. He clearly knows his stuff and is a great teacher. I came away with 2 things to show for the day and a definite interest in pursuing the craft further. Thank you Graham - a fantastic day!"

24 May 17'

Denis Rudall reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"Just returned from a Memorial Day with Graham I am a complete novice and was given this day's tuition as a present from my daughter I'm now in my seventies and wasn't sure what to expect.Right from the start graham put us at ease with his patience and knowledge of woodturning explaining types of wood and tools by the end of the day l came away with a bowl and ring stand i would thoroughly recommend anyone taking this full on course 5 stars not enough"

18 May 17'

Tina Brackstone reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day, 1 person)

"We had such a fantastic time. I expected to come home with something small but we made a lovely bowl each which has now taken pride of place in the sitting room for all to see :) Graham is such a good teacher and a pleasure to meet. I highly recommend attending his sessions and hope to return again someday, think I may have to drop a few hints that this was such a great Christmas present. Thank you so much Graham keep up the good work :)"

9 May 17'

Bob Halliday reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"I had a really great day with Graham doing a "refresher" after 30 years of absence from woodturning. There were just 2 of us on the course so we had very personal attention. Graham's teaching style is very relaxed so he put me at my ease quickly which meant that I was learning in a very enjoyable way. I came away with a nice cedar bowl and as a bonus he sharpened my (30 year old) chisels for me. Highly recommended. Bob Halliday"

26 Apr 17'

Chris and Jack Walker reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"Both Jack and I had an excellent morning with Graham Turner on 19/4/17 and we are more than happy to recommend the course. I think I can speak for Jack when I say that both of us doubted that we could produce a bowl of the standard Graham showed us at the start but with his excellent tuition we were both proved very wrong and the results sit proudly on display on our coffee table. Graham has an easy teaching style with great attention to detail which gives you the confidence to produce great results. We enjoyed it so much that we are now looking to book a further session in October. Thank you Graham."

26 Apr 17'

Cal Craven Francis reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"Last Saturday was spent at Graham's workshop and both Rob, my husband, and I had the most wonderful day. We not only made two delightful wooden bowls, but enjoyed the learning process immensely, using a lathe and various wood working tools. Graham is a very good and understanding teacher. We were treated to a delightful lunch in the garden, and enjoyed conversation with Graham and his wife Chris. Altogether a fantastic experience. I would thoroughly recommend a day there and hope to go again before too long."

19 Mar 17'

Frank Renouf reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"I suspected that two days in Graham's company was going to be enjoyable the moment he greeted me with a warm handshake and the friendliest welcome. Chris and Graham are delightful hosts and really made me feel at home. We took tea and coffee breaks together, sitting in their beautiful and interesting garden which is so wildlife friendly. Graham's teaching style is relaxed and informal. He is supportive and his encouragement made my introduction to woodturning a great pleasure, so much so that I am now looking forward to my next visit, when I hope to benefit from his mentoring as I progress from beginner. I was particularly impressed by the effort Graham takes to ensure that his students experience success from the outset. Similarly he takes a lot of trouble to ensure that safety is never compromised and I am confident that while I have a lot to learn the foundation that Graham has given me is solid. I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend him to any beginner who would find a visit to his gallery inspirational."

12 Mar 17'

James Airey reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"A very enjoyable and informative 2 days spent in the company of Graham who certainly exceeded all my expectations in terms of providing an excellent learning forum for those thinking of woodturning. Graham proved to be a very capable,helpful,patient and knowledgable tutor who made the course a truly memorable experience.I would certainly recommend Graham to anyone starting out or wishing to develop their woodturning skills mainly due to his welcoming,informal, sociable manner that created a relaxed learning environment. Graham also went the extra mile by providing me with some invaluable advice about an old wood lathe that I had recently inherited from my father.He explained the set up procedure and where to source spare parts required to get the machine working. My thanks also go to his wife Chris who provided a lovely lunch on each of the two days and keeping me supplied with regular cups of coffee and biscuits."

27 Feb 17'

Bob Wilson reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"Fantastic day, I`m a complete novice , but Graham was very good went over the H& S then on to using the lathe, showed how to make a bowl, then made one my self. Ready for another lesson now to progress further still. Lots of tea and coffee and a lovely lunch what more could you want"

23 Feb 17'

Richard Pegram reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"A very relaxed and enjoyable way to learn, with very good tuition. I had a great morning, and hope to be back soon to continue learning!"

22 Feb 17'

Richard Cady reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"It was a tremendous day for a complete beginner. Graham gave me plenty of attention and also left me to work at things at my own pace. A well planned set of activities gave me a good experience of method and tools - all done in a pleasant and supportive atmosphere. Explanations given and questions answered, Graham provided a day's activity that was challenging without being too serious. A solid, professional introduction to woodturning. I'd recommend it."

22 Feb 17'

Alex Dooley reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"A brilliant day exploring the different techniques involved in woodturning. Graham was very friendly and an excellent tutor giving plenty of advice to make sure you were using the equipment correctly. I would recommend the course for anyone looking to get into woodturning or having a refresher session."

8 Feb 17'

Reg and Jackie Manser reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"We had a thoroughly enjoyable day with Graham, who is an excellent teacher with lots of patience. Despite our inexperience and initial apprehension we produced two bowls we were very proud of. I think we may now be hooked on wood turning, and hope to return for a second course. Graham's own work is also very impressive and provides some great designs to aspire to. We bought three of the items and just need to find some space in our house for more. Thank you for a great experience! Reg & Jackie Manser"

27 Jan 17'

Chris Bowden reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"Graham's calm methodical approach, together with years of experience and a good amount of enthusiasm made this one day course an absolute delight. His well-equipped workshop, choice of wood and various "design opportunities" helped me create a bowl I was very proud of. I was made to feel very welcome, and a hearty lunch beside the Rayburn made for a fantastic day all round. Thank you for a wonderful birthday treat!"

28 Nov 16'

David Williams-Jones reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"The results of a half day of tuition were beyond expectation. Graham's simple, calming approach - and the trust that he showed in his raw novices as they tackled their first piece - not only meant that we had the opportunity to learn, hands on quickly but also to actually produce something that had the capacity to surprise the whole family. He instilled confidence throughout. A first rate experience, a great introduction to wood turning and well worth a long drive (twice in my case!) to get there."

6 Nov 16'

Neal Scott reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"Best birthday present ever. A day with Graham left me with a wealth of knowledge and confidence on the lathe. From health and safety through sharpening, stance, tool angles, machine speeds to different wood types and uses and turning and polishing. A very full yet well paced and comfortable day. Will definitely be back for further courses and advice."

1 Oct 16'

Mitch and Nathan Blair reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

""Look what we made" That was how we greeted my wife after we returned from a most fabulous workshop with Graham. He was immensely patient and very thorough and my son and I learned a great deal about wood and how to handle this amazing substance. We produced two very lovely bowls one in tulip wood and one in maple worthy of show in our houses. Graham and his wife were wonderful hosts and we enjoyed a lovely sausage lunch which was a bonus and unexpected . Thanks so much. I shall be returning to make a pen!"

26 Sep 16'

Ed Marshall reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"I recently completed a one day wood turning tuition session with Graham and had a most enjoyable, interesting and informative day. Graham has an extremely well equipped workshop and, although I have never attempted wood turning before, I was soon on a lathe turning a small spindle and finished the day having turned and finished a fairly respectable 200mm diameter tulip wood bowl. All my own work (well nearly!! Graham’s experienced guiding hand was necessary on occasion). Coffees, lunch and afternoon tea were provided as was safety equipment and the wood blanks to work with. I have no problem whatever recommending tuition with Graham, to anyone thinking of taking up wood turning or just finding out about what is involved, for his calm friendly manner, teaching ability and extensive knowledge of wood and wood turning."

22 Sep 16'

Norman brown reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"Really enjoyable day. Working at my own pace and with relevant safety instructions, Graham enabled me to produce a quality item to a standard I had no idea I could achieve. Great experience. Do not think about it, do it. Relaxing and superb value for money. I am very proud of my tulip wood bowl. More importantly the wife thinks its good as well. chuffed pupil."

18 Sep 16'

Sacha reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"Yet another great lesson with Graham! His knowledge of the subject is very impressive and his tuition is incredibly thorough. I am feeling inspired for my wood turning education and look forward to more lessons with Graham."

11 Sep 16'

Graham Baxter reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"In the past I have never had any confidence with woodwork, therefore I was concerned when, as a birthday present, my daughter had arranged for me to attend a one day course on wood turning at the home of Graham Turner in Sway. On arrival I was given a warm welcome by Graham and introduced to his wife. He then, in a friendly manner, set about the task of teaching me the skills of wood turning. Throughout he was most patient and gave me the confidence to produce by the end of the day a trinket bowl and a candlestick which was beyond my wildest dreams. I was thrilled to bits as is my wife who could not believe what I brought home. Three cheers for Graham!!"