OP Woodcraft reviews

21 Mar 20'

Tony Baker reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - 2 Day Beginners/Intermediate Workshop

"Having travelled from north London to attend this course it was always going to be a gamble that it would live up to the previous reviews and be worth the cost. It was, I learned what I needed to carry on my hobby of furniture restoration and very useful tips on what supplies were needed and how to apply them. Oliver is very good at teaching in a relax informal way and I would highly recommend this course to anyone that wants to learn some of the ways of French polishing."

10 Mar 20'

Chris Horwood reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - Beginners Course - 1 Day

"My husband and I attended a one day course in French polishing with Ollie in early March. We had a wonderful day and found Ollie very knowledgable and a highly skilled trainer in the subject. He was happy to spend his time explaining and demonstrating the process, also helping with my project where needed. I had never done anything like this before and learnt so much, taking back home a table that before had looked very sad and had seen better days to something I was really proud of. I would definitely recommend this course however I would suggest a 2 day to fully appreciate the process. My husband like myself enjoyed the course and is planning to use the skills learnt to bring back to life other furnishings in our home. Thank you Ollie for a wonderful day."

5 Mar 20'

stephen patten reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - Beginners Course - 1 Day

"A quite exceptional day actually started some weeks earlier with receipt of comprehensive course notes and overview of materials which provided an invaluable background for my day with Ollie and which will serve as my bible and guide in the future. I entered Ollie's workshop with a jaded but precious piece of family furniture and bags of enthusiasm. I left at the end of the day with a beautifully finished piece, with a depth of colour, lustre and professional finish which would grace any home and of which i am extremely proud. Listening to, working alongside and watching Ollie was a privilege, and it reflects positively on him that i returned home ready and confident to undertake more ambitious projects. Ollie taught me a lot in a very short space of time, not just the basic techniques and process (which were invaluable) but the thirst to discover more, to experiment and to push forward. Sure i will make mistakes and, probably, have some bad ideas but with the knowledge i got from Ollie i know i will be able to fix the cock-ups. If you are thinking of attending this course, do it. If you are not thinking of attending, still do it! You will learn something of huge value from a great teacher."

4 Mar 20'

Peter Charles Medawar reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - Beginners Course - 1 Day

"At the time of writing, Oliver's course had received 45 reviews - of which 44 were five-star and one (from a well satisfied student) four star. I've never seen any teacher/course rated that highly but, having done a one-day course, in March 2020, i can easily see why. These ratings are completely deserved: Ollie is a master craftsman and also a brilliant teacher: he's painstaking, patient, approachable, and generous with his time. And his course is well worked out and comes with very useful course notes: I'm so glad I went and I came away with more understanding than I could reasonably have hoped for. Very many thanks."

3 Mar 20'

Samantha Severn reviewed: Contemporary Furniture Refinishing & Upcycling with Woodcare - 2 Day Workshop

"Ollie was an excellent teacher, I came away feeling confident I can upcycle furniture to a professional standard.. highly recommended!"

28 Feb 20'

Mark Scadden reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - Beginners Course - 1 Day

"An excellent course, Olivers' approach and instruction techniques put you straight at ease. I will return but would recommend two days if you have a larger item to French polish."

19 Feb 20'

Wyn reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - Beginners Course - 1 Day

"An excellent course. It exceeded my expectation. Great friendly teacher. I think if I were to go again I would do the 2 day course as it can be a long day getting through everything in 1 day."

19 Feb 20'

Hilary Vernon reviewed: Contemporary Furniture Refinishing & Upcycling with Woodcare - 1 Day Beginners

"Painted Furniture & Upcycling with Woodcare - 1 Day Beginners I attended this course with Ollie after having never done anything like this before. You are taught, then left to carry on, then guided again and helped all through the day in a really kind way so that you are actually learning skills that you can easily take away with you. The day was friendly, fun, very interesting and achievable and I came away with my own piece of furniture that I had painted myself, that ended up exactly how I had hoped it would look. My only add in would be I think Ollie should sell the products that you use so I could have come away with most of the things I need to paint my other bedside cupboard. Hilary"

18 Feb 20'

Katy Gasser reviewed: Contemporary Furniture Refinishing & Upcycling with Woodcare - 1 Day Beginners

"I attended a 1 day course with Ollie which was originally a French polishing course but because of the nature of the furniture I brought to work on it evolved as we went with me finishing it with a wax oil. I loved every minute of the day. I had spent ages watching YouTube clips & Googling how to refinish furniture but found the different advice overwhelming so booked the course hoping it would give me the confidence to properly get started. It really has. I learnt not only how to strip, sand & finish but what to use too which I know will save me time & money. Ollie personalised his advice to help us individually but I also felt that I learnt from other people’s experiences on the day too. Amazing! Thank you! I’ve ordered what I need & can’t wait to carry on with other pieces."

9 Dec 19'

John Byles reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - Beginners Course - 1 Day

"I found the course extremely informative and hands-on. Oliver is extremely knowledgeable and was able to explain in detail the numerous processes. He was readily available and regularly ensured that I was doing everything correctly. I would have no hesitation in recommending this course. I was able to restore a piece of furniture which has significant sentimental value, that prior to going on the course I would have had no idea. You Tube videos are great for some things but this is a must attend course for anyone wishing to have expert tuition."

4 Dec 19'

Bev Fitchett reviewed: Contemporary Furniture Refinishing & Upcycling with Woodcare - 2 Day Workshop

"I spent two days with Ollie, learning how to restore two pieces of (very tired) furniture, both of which are now enjoying a new lease of life. The work space is amazing, and surprisingly warm for this time of year! The atmosphere is relaxed as Ollie allows you to work at your own pace, whilst ensuring each piece of furniture is completed within the timescale. I decided to enrol on this course as I was interested to learn how to paint my own furniture to a reasonable standard. Well, I couldn't have been more pleased, as the items I completed on the course surpassed my expectations and the knowledge I have gained will definitely be put to good use. Practice makes perfect and today I bought my next piece that is need of some TLC; bring out the paint brushes! Thanks Ollie."

4 Dec 19'

Sally Stanford reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - Beginners Course - 1 Day

"Such a great course, 2 days spent with Ollie and I am now obsessed with wood and furniture. It was a joy to be taught by such a great tutor, he is patient and has so much knowledge that he's quite happy to share and he is really good company. I have completed a project since finsihing the course and am about to start another and really loving it, all thanks to the skills passed on. Many thanks Ollie."

25 Nov 19'

Sam reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - Beginners Course - 1 Day

"We had a fantastic day with Oliver at this course and were thrilled with the outcome of our work. The course is well-paced and leaves you with plenty of confidence to have a go yourself at home afterwards. It's clear that Oliver loves his work, and really enjoys teaching"

14 Nov 19'

Fiona French reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - Beginners Course - 1 Day

"Excellent course and excellent teaching"

4 Nov 19'

Barbara Przybylek reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - Beginners Course - 1 Day

"Fantastic experience! Oliver is a great teacher with a professional and kind approach. You benefit from having your pice of furniture restored and the whole process of polishing is extremely satisfying. I recommend not only as the way to learn a new skill but also to have an unforgettable day of fun. The joy of restoring the beauty of wood furniture you will never forget."

2 Nov 19'

Mike Hawkes reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - 2 Day Beginners/Intermediate Workshop

"An excellent 2 day course, with an experienced and very effective teacher. I took a Pembroke table that was in need of a lot of TLC. Although it became a bit of a rush towards the end, we got through the entire process and I now have a wonderfully restored table. Oliver is an excellent teacher, who clearly has a wealth of knowledge and experience - and has the ability to teach it well. I’m confident now to work on my own on other pieces."

2 Nov 19'

Rosalind Thurlow reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - 2 Day Beginners/Intermediate Workshop

"I have just completed a second course with Ollie and looking forward to a third! His experience is generously shared with his students to help keep alive ‘French polishing’. He is a patient and attentive tutor and the two small pieces I took for attention, now look unbelievably beautiful thanks to his instruction and guidance. The extensive notes sent out following the course are invaluable. If you have any interest at all in woodwork, restoration and learning a new skill then don’t hesitate to sign up with Ollie you won’t regret it. Ollie, thank you very much and hope to see you again soon ?"

2 Nov 19'

June Helps reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - Beginners Course - 1 Day

"What a joy to have a day’s tuition with Ollie! He is such a good tutor, very knowledgeable and patient and made all the processes straightforward and easy to understand, my lovely sheet music box was transformed back to its original state in a few hours. I thoroughly recommend French polishing for beginners at Ardington School of Craft, such an enjoyable and productive day. Many thanks June"

29 Oct 19'

Nick Hiltunen reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - 2 Day Beginners/Intermediate Workshop

"5 star recommendation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ollie is a great tutor, he is extremely knowledgeable & patient. I enrolled on one of Ollie's French polishing courses. Extremely glad I did as I have now come away with the skills and confidence to strip and refinish wooden furniture to a high standard. Highly recommended, thanks Ollie ?"

9 Oct 19'

Ann reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - 2 Day Beginners/Intermediate Workshop

"Great course, surroundings, workshop and workspace. I had signed up for the painted furniture course but the chair I had bought needed more prep time mainly due to the many layers of paint and varnish applied over the years! Ollie was really great and instead took me through the process and techniques of French polishing working with me to apply these to my other piece of furniture. Ollie is very patient, extremely knowledgeable and a great guy. Well worth the stopover in the pretty Gloucester surroundings and the journey from Essex."

1 Oct 19'

Mrs Laura Ellwood reviewed: Contemporary Furniture Refinishing & Upcycling with Woodcare - 1 Day Beginners

"I spent 2 days with Ollie renovating an old ugly chair. By the end of the course it was transformed into a modern, usable and attractive piece of furniture. The detailed step by step instruction is invaluable. I will be booking a longer course next year as there is so many techniques to learn. Thank you Ollie!"

30 Sep 19'

Fiona reviewed: Contemporary Furniture Refinishing & Upcycling with Woodcare - 2 Day Workshop

"Ollie is a brilliant tutor - he is an expert in his field and went out of his way to ensure I learnt everything I had set out to. There was a mixture of people there learning for their hobby and people learning professionally. The venue is in a beautiful part of the world so there was a real sense of escapism. I will definitely be back for more courses. I highly recommend Ollie. A lovely guy and a brilliant teacher!"

27 Sep 19'

French Polishing 1 day Beginner reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - Beginners Course - 1 Day

"Great practical course run by Ollie. There were 3 of us which allowed Ollie to spend plenty of time with each as we worked on our own pieces. The progress made on my item (a dressing table) in a single day was fantastic and the result was far better than I had expected. Ollie is a great teacher knowing when to leave us to get on with it and when to step in as necessary. The location and facilities of the workshop were great too. Since the course I have completed other parts of the dressing table following the same process that Ollie taught us and am delighted with the results. Ollie provided material lists and course notes which were easy to follow back at home."

17 Sep 19'

Jonny reviewed: 5 Day Professional Furniture Refinishing Workshop - Traditional & Contemporary

"I had a fantastic week in September 2019 learning how to strip, prep, paint, wax, oil, stain and French polish two pieces I brought with me. I hadn’t done anything like this for about 12 years and these processes were new to me so I had lots to learn. Ollie is really nice and friendly and took me through all the steps I needed to do, and was always on hand to answer questions, share his knowledge and offer support where needed. Ollie knows a great deal about how to get the best finish and also shares which are the best products to use. It was so worthwhile doing the course and I know I could drop Ollie a message if I ever had questions in the future though his course notes are brill and I made sure to make notes and take pictures as I went along. It was totally the best thing I did for myself all year and I’ve told quite a ew people at work about it :) The workshop is really calm and light and in a lovely location. I really couldn’t recommend it enough."

17 Sep 19'

Hilary Farndon reviewed: French Polishing & Woodcare - Beginners Course - 1 Day

"I booked onto this course a complete novice and not really knowing what to expect. It was an amazing day and I learnt so much from Ollie who explained everything really clearly. I took along an old oak coffee table which had definitely seen better days and the result was brilliant! I wouldn't have believed I could achieve such a great finish in such a short time. We only had time to complete the table top, with the legs and base only getting to the staining stage, so I have a challenge now to complete the piece at home, but feel totally inspired and well equipped to do so. Ollie also provides a comprehensive shopping list of what you need to carry on with at home, along with detailed notes of all the stages involved which is very useful! I would definitely recommend this course for beginners as an introduction to French polishing and furniture restoration."