Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops reviews

Martin Bourne reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"Returning for a third time, I found the weekend as inspiring and challenging as on my previous courses. Lucy provides encouragement and guidance, as well as thought provoking conversation and home baked cake (baked by a neighbour). I find the whole experience very therapeutic, especially as it is so different from the 'day job'. I am already thinking about what I might do on my 4th visit!"

Simon Aldridge reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"My much anticipated and twice COVID cancelled course finally happened. I had a wonderful 3 days in the sun carving my masterpiece under the ever watchful and always helpful eye of Lucy. It is immediately obvious how talented she is from the first few demonstrations she gives - brilliant knowledge and skills. She was aware I had done a little carving before so adapted her teaching to pinpoint exactly what I needed to know and conveyed the information in a really precise and hands-on fashion leaving no doubt what I was learning and why. Lucy is a great teacher, I felt no pressure and the days went very quickly carving, chatting and eating cake with Lucy and the other wonderful student Nick!! Lucy had worked very hard adhering to the recommended COVID precautions and we felt very safe. I have come away a much more knowledgeable and confident carver and hope to make a return visit to learn more in the near future. I would thoroughly recommend this course to everyone plus there is the added bonus of great food provided for us and the City of York to explore out of hours."

LUKE ABBOTT reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"From Luke Abbott and Sandy Frost Can't keep away from the Churchill stone carving weekends-we are addicted! This time we both made commissions for people guided by our mentor and master stone mason/carver. The results are fantastic now we can add the final touches at home on our own. Lucy is an outstanding artist/craftsperson as well as a deeply intuitive teacher meaning we never tire of her teachings and skills gifts. I wish I had known this as a younger adult as I would have had a completely different career.........."

Steve Page reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"I really enjoyed three delightful days of stone-carving with Lucy and one other student, in May 2021. From the start I felt welcomed and at ease, with all Covid related matters dealt with in a straightforward and sensitive way. I have some previous experience of stone carving and I really appreciated how Lucy acknowledged that and at the same time didn't make any assumptions about what I knew or could do. I liked going through basic steps of carving and the different tools and taking our time to choose stone suitable for the projects we both wanted to work on. Once started, Lucy was consistently on hand to guide, instruct, demonstrate and encourage. She was also generous in sharing stories from her experience as a stonemason and showing us some of her recent sculptures, placing them in their context. Alongside the time spent in the workshop I enjoyed the conversations, coffee, food and overall very relaxed atmosphere. The course has deepen my understanding of some of the technical aspects of carving and left me with thoughts and questions about the process of sculpting which I look forward to exploring further. I will undoubtedly be back!"

Bridie Durcan reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"Completed this 3 day stone carving course in May 2021. Lucy proved an excellent teacher, very patient with a complete novice like me, but also able to guide and assist the more experienced second student with their project. I came away with a great enthusiasm to build on the skills I acquired, using the techniques demonstrated by Lucy, which I then got to try out under excellent supervision, a light touch so you felt encouraged but supported. Would not hesitate to take this course again, once I have had a chance to practice my new skills, Lucy still has a wealth to knowledge to impart."

savva christofides reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"Omg . I'm a Lucy Churchill stonecarving addict . I would do these courses every month if I could ? I've recently returned from my second course which was of course PHENOMENAL ? Despite the covid restrictions Lucy kept it compliant but fun . As she was only able to have 2 people on the course there was plenty of room both indoors and outside to work comfortably whilst maintaining social distancing. Small numbers meant a superb one to one support was available st all times and I was overjoyed with my finished piece. Lucy is a brilliant host and feeds you well , even catering for my vegan needs without any concerns . If you want to learn how to carve stone, this is THE COURSE to go to ...,go on .. do it ..,you wont regret it ?"

Sandy Frost reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"We keep coming back to Lucy's courses, it's becoming an annual treat and development of our stone carving skills. This year we were under social distancing restrictions and lucky enough to be able to be working and eating outside in Lucy's gorgeous garden, under a gazebo at times when rain threatened, but it worked brilliantly well using masks when we needed to get our heads together a bit! We were still able to enjoy the social times of eating together outside, which makes the weekends so special. Lucy's passion and enthusiasm as an artist shines through and I find her and her work truly inspirational. She can combine this with really engaging with wherever her students are, however experienced and working alongside them. Thank you again for a great weekend. We will be back next year of course!"

Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops responded:

"Carving & lunches can take place INDOORS as well! I'm limiting student numbers to just 2 per class (or 3 if from the same social bubble) so there's more than enough space in my workshop and around my dining table for comfortable social distancing (and there's PPE on hand so inside group spaces are safely covered). Lucky students - this means more personal tuition than ever! It's always a pleasure to spend time with you, whatever the circumstances Sandy xxx More anon! :>)"

Peter Bryan reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"This stone carving workshop with Lucy was absolutely superb, and far exceeded my expectations in so many ways. Lucy is a very talented and creative stone carver and artist, and was the perfect, mentor, teacher and host. This was the first workshop since the covid 19 lockdown. Lucy had all the social distancing measures and angles covered, from excellent pre course, and safety information, to gloves, masks and handwashing lotions. I was totally new to carving, and Lucy was very clear with her demonstrations, explanations and guidance. I was given help and direction with all my queries while carving, always with a great deal of patience and a smile. Lucy is a natural teacher. The setting was beautiful, the food and refreshments perfect. I came away feeling confident in my newly learned skills and I can't recommend this course enough. On top of all the above, Lucy was great fun, funny and lovely company. She made our whole experience feel special."

Diane Allerston reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"I highly recommend Lucy's sculpture/ stone carving workshops. Lucy is a talented, extremely skilled, knowledgeable and experiences stone carver and teacher. I had no experience working with stone and by day 3 I felt very confident using my tools and the techniques that Lucy taught me. I felt welcomed and relaxed. We had such a fun time and laughed a lot. I will definitely be booking again in the future. I have food allergies and Lucy went to great measures to provide me with wonderful and tasty meals, cakes and even drinks for the entire 3 days. PPE was provided, social distancing was taken into consideration, everything was very professional and extra safe due to covid. These workshops are suitable for absolute beginners and even very experienced stone carvers. I managed to finish my sculpture during the 3 day workshop. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. The House and garden in York is such a beautiful place to work from too. Lucy has lots of inspiring sculptures around the garden and house and lots of Art books too for inspiration. She really does bring out the best in people end encourages creativity."

Cris Lund reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"Very informative and as there was only Jason and Nick with me you have your own private tutor on tap helping you all the way.It was a privilege to be taught by someone so skilled who could adapt/translate to a beginners group. We all got on so well and it was very relaxed and I will miss them all. Lucy also provided us with bistro type lunches and lots of cake & drinks and of course her warm hospitality. Would definitely recommend it and I would love to see Nick & Jason again at another carving lesson. Thank you Lucy"

Jason French reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"I had the most fantastic 3 days which I enjoyed immensely, Lucy made us all feel welcome from the moment we arrived. The course was very informative and Lucy guided us through the carving process with her extensive knowledge, experience and talent, with great food to top it off."

Rachel reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"Had an amazing three days, Lucy is an excellent teacher, host, artist. So glad I had a go (it is very addictive tho, once you have done one stone carving you will want to do more) I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking about it."

Julia reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"Had a fabulous experience on Lucy’s workshop with my husband and a lovely friend. We each somehow managed to transform a block of stone into something we were really proud of and it was lovely spending time together, immersed in developing a new skill. Lucy was an inspirational teacher with incredible experience - guiding us through each stage in the process - and we were spoilt with delicious food and drink throughout each day. I found it incredibly therapeutic and the whole experience very creative and energising."

Alan Robertson reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"This was my second stone carving course with Lucy. I wanted to attempt a more complex carving than the one I completed two years ago. Lucy patiently guided me through new techniques, explaining and demonstrating how to achieve the results I wanted. I would strongly recommend her courses and I might well be back for further advice."

savva christofides reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"This weekend I went on a 3 day course with Lucy Churchill, a stone carver in York . It’s all down to the quality of the instruction.. Lucy is the best!! A superb sculptor, a superb host, and a total joy to know. This course is fun from the start to the finish and as a total beginner I was amazed at what I could produce. Lucy deserves more than 5 stars and a higher rating than excellent. 10 gold stars and outstanding would be nearer to the mark . I would highly recommend this course to anyone .. just do it .. you won’t ever regret it ?. Simply the best!!!!"

Stephen Cain reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"I am more than happy to add to Lucy's burgeoning list of five star reviews. Together with two dear friends, I learnt the basic skills of stone carving and managed to turn a nondescript lump of limestone into a passable and very recognisable (well I think so) moon-gazing hare. The three day course was well structured and well paced. Apart from being a delightful person, Lucy was a patient, talented and knowledgeable teacher. We all had such a good time and I can wholeheartedly recommend Lucy's stone carving workshop to all budding Rodins and Henry Moores ."

Keith Lofthouse reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"A fabulous three day course with expert tuition and wonderful hospitality. Lucy's teaching is perfect - providing guidance whilst allowing each student's own ideas to develop and flow plus she is an excellent host providing regular tea and cake and delicious lunches combined with interesting conversation! I had no prior knowledge or experience of stone carving, but with Lucy's guidance I was able to produce a carving of which I am very proud! I would recommend this course without hesitation."

Luke Abbott reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"I attended Lucy’s stone carving course at the end of September of this year-and found as usual the course highly relevant and progressive. As I begin to understand how stone masonry and carving works, Lucy’s skills in coaching seem to know no bounds as she coaches from the inside of the processes demonstrating her immense know how and experiences which of course are infectious. The comradery over the weekend with other members of the workshop was absolutely uplifting too as were the wonderful array of meals we enjoyed over the 3 days together. I have now attended 4 of the weekends with Lucy in an effort to gain deeper skills in the art of working in stone as well as the craft of the mason. Lucy is just a brilliant teacher and coach who knows for each of us the next steps in increasing our skill set. Ever patient and forgiving too! I will continue to attend in the future as I know I will be able to increase my skills under her master’s eye. It is also highly relevant for us on the workshop that examples in the studio made by Lucy are true works of art and incredibly inspiring. I cannot recommend her course highly enough to anyone who has an interest and passion for working out how to make stone blocks breath life and meaning."

Martin Bourne reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"This was my second stone carving course with Lucy in York and, as before, I was both challenged and inspired. Right from the start, as you select your piece of stone through to completing the finishing touches on your creation, Lucy is there to give advice and tailored tuition. It is a totally immersive experience, leavened by good company and excellent lunches. As the class size is small, normally no more than three students, it quickly becomes a collaborative effort. An experience not to be missed."

Adam Brown reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"An amazingly inspirational course. From day one Lucy is an amazing teacher and great host, the other students are equally as amazing to be with. Lucy's knowledge as both a stone carver and an artist, allows her to help you carve your imagination and bring it to life."

Nicholas Palmer reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"I have just finished my third carving course with Lucy (first time in York). I had just as great a time as my previous visits. Lucy is a marvellous teacher and person altogether. She is very encouraging and urged me to try something new, and because she did I got to use tools more effectively and came away with new skills. Her home is in a perfect area close to the centre of York so dinner is easy to find and Hotels very nearby. You’ll kick yourself if you don’t sign up."

Alison Davies reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"I have just come back from a very stimulating course in Stone Carving with Lucy Churchill in York.I really enjoyed myself and came away feeling good about my work. Lucy is a great teacher with a lot of experience. She has very good tools all set out for each individual and she shows you exactly how each is used and what effect they have. I feel I have come away with skills that I can continue at home. She works with your ideas getting the best from each person as well as guiding you towards suitable subjects. The small classes were very good and Lucy was there at all times to help and advise. I shall certainly go again. Worth the long trip from Cambridge. Yes and the food was delicious! Alison Davies"

Sarah Roberts reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"I would highly recommend this course to anyone at any level with an interest in stone, or in expanding their sense of 3D making. I am a visual artist with no experience of stone work and was daunted at the prospect of it despite its seductive properties. Lucy breaks things down so easily and guides you through each stage of the process in an interesting and involved way whilst allowing you to have a real go and sense of autonomy with your own project. There were two beginners and 1 client who had been to 1 other session on our course who was very proficient, and she tailored things to each of us so effectively. Lucy welcomed us into her studio, treated us like royalty with her amazing spreads and cakes [and she got vegan stuff especially for me - ❤️] and we had a great time toiling productively, gaining skills and having such interesting conversations around the workshops. Beyond this, the whole experience is geared toward equipping you to carry on after the 3 days. Lucy carefully worked with us to help us ascertain which tools worked for us, to ensure we had mastered some basics and confidence, so when you leave the mystery around where to start, what to buy and how to set up your own toolkit is gone. I think her advice will probably save potential stone carvers a fortune in itself. I would definitely recommend this, its rare to meet makers who can be so openly generous with their knowledge, contacts and time. Book now!"

Nancy Bainbridge reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"I took time off work, booked an expensive apartment, planned a staycation around a 3 day course. Was cancelled less than a week notice, I lost my full £400 on my accommodation. No refund from Lucy towards it. Very very disappointed and out of pocket £400."

Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops responded:

"It was with great regret that due to acute personal circumstances it was necessary to cancel the course with 7 days notice. A full refund of your course payment has already been issued to you. With regard to the separate issue of your personal accommodation costs - this should be taken up with the Letting Agent or apartment owner. Alternatively contact your Insurance Provider to claim for the cancellation - I will be more than happy to provide you with a medical statement stating why I was forced to cancel the course. My offer of a 50% reduction on a future course stands as before. Once again, my sincerest regrets, Lucy"

Susan reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"I came back across the Atlantic for my third course in May. The stone carving course continues to be an amazing experience, with a tremendous amount of learning balanced with wonderful food and camaraderie. Lucy is a gifted and patient teacher who brings out the best in all her students. She is there when needed, but encouraged independence and creativity. It is an incredibly fun way to spend three days!"