12 Sep 23'
"I have an interest in Automata and my family gifted me a voucher from CraftCourses. I decided to choose Penlan Crafts in Bristol.
I spoke over email to Stef on several occasions and each interaction was very useful and warm. I was guided by his expertise in choosing an automata to build which would suit my ability.
I met Stef on route to his workshop and received a fantastic warm welcome which put me totally at ease.
Once in the workshop, which was very cozy and well equipped, he assessed my skill levels and after a briefing on my chosen automata he put me to work.
I was constantly under his eye but not made to feel uncomfortable. Once he could see I was coping with the tasks he set me he would leave me to complete them.
During my time in the workshop we talked about anything and everything as if we had known each other for years. As the day progressed I could see that Stef wanted me to leave the workshop with a well-crafted automata which was certainly the case.
Stef is a very knowledgeable craftsman with an eye for detail and a gift of passing his knowledge to his students in a way which is easy to grasp.
For an Italian he makes a nice cuppa.
If you are thinking about choosing an automata course, Stef’s your man. You won’t be disappointed."
Penlan Crafts responded:
" Dear Allan, thank you! I agree, we really had a great time during the course, you are a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic student, so no surprise your automata was completed at very high standards... and I warned you about the cuppa, you risked it having your tea prepared by an Italian! Thank you again and all the very best"