Swanwick Studio reviews

Lisa reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"Rachel is lovely and so inspirational. She teaches without teaching. We had a lovely day and came home with beautiful creations. I will recommend this course to everyone."

Jules Riley reviewed: Stained glass garden panel workshop - Hampshire

"Wonderful relaxing day learning a new craft with Rachel. The glass colour choices and combinations added to creating a lovely garden panel to take home! I am looking forward to booking on the next course."

John Bennett reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"I had a wonderful Sunday at this course, we all enjoyed making sun catchers. Very relaxing, satisfying and creative day."

Swanwick Studio responded:

"Thanks for your lovely feedback John You are an absolute star :-)"

Denise Lowth reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"An absolutely brilliant day. Excellent concise and friendly tuition with Rachel Russell. A very warm welcome and a small group of students. Very pleased with my first stained glass result. Lots of inspiration for work with an abundance of materials to choose, with plenty of encouragement. Highly recommended."

Swanwick Studio responded:

"Thank you Denise You're very kind & very welcome. Absolutely stunning tree you made :-)"

Lucy Sanders reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"A brilliant course. Rachel is a fantastic teacher; friendly, enthusiastic and able to get the perfect balance between offering support and help where needed whilst allowing you to make the project your own. I had a brilliant day and can't wait to give it another go!!"

Swanwick Studio responded:

"Thank you Lucy, I think we all really enjoyed our day :-)"

Mandy McClenan reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"I attended Rachel’s 1 day course with my Sister last Saturday and cannot recommend this course highly enough. As someone who suffers with social anxiety I was beyond nervous at the prospect of learning something new and spending a whole day with people I didn’t know. One of the many reasons I chose Rachel’s course was that she keeps her group sessions to 4 people. The small group meant that Rachel was able to give us all the opportunity of 1-2-1 support during the course when we needed it. Rachel is a friendly and warm person who puts you at ease within the first few moments of meeting her. A practicing artist with many years of experience she is very open to sharing her tips, ideas and expertise, whilst supporting you to explore your inner artist. There is no pressure to be a master at the craft and you learn at your own pace in a friendly and relaxed environment. Rachels passion for the craft of stained glass pours from her every pore and her studio is awash with a huge choice of glass that you are given the opportunity to work with and examples of her own work. You are given the opportunity to use your own designed template or opt for one of Rachel’s tried and tested templates; I opted for the latter, but my Sister chose to design her own – there is truly no pressure either way. A truly amazing day and the start of a new and addictive craft of stained glass for me! ? Thank you so much Rachel for a wonderful and inspiring day. :)"

Swanwick Studio responded:

"Thank you so much Mandy, so many kind words ?. I think we all had a great & enjoyable day. ?"

Helen reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"Fabulous day out. Skilled tutor with bags of enthusiasm and a great, supportive nature. Would thoroughly recommend attending one of Rachel’s workshops."

Swanwick Studio responded:

"Thank you Helen. I hope your panel is now in pride of place ? you did a great job with beautiful colours & have given a lovely & thoughtful review. Thank you"

barbara dixon reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"I would recommend this course to everyone. Great day and I be taking this craft up as a new hobby. Thank you very much. ?"

Swanwick Studio responded:

"Thank you so much, that's a lovely review & I'm glad we all had a really great day :-)"

Jane parsons reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"Spent the most wonderful day learning the art of copper foil work. Rachel was the best teacher you could hope for pushed us all into making some great work,will be going again thank you very much."

Swanwick Studio responded:

"Thanks Jane for your fabulous comments, really kind words :-) You all did a great job on Saturday & I really enjoyed the day :-) Very well done. R"

Shirley Begg reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"With a group of friends we booked a stain glass workshop at Swanwick Studio, the few days leading up to the workshop it snowed and I was concerned the workshop would be cancelled,but I was pleased to say it went ahead, what a fun day I had, we all had a great fun all day making our creations, Rachel on hand all the time showing us the next step, giving us encouragement and of course one of the most important things for me was the endless supply of tea and biscuits !!! I would thoroughly recommend it and will be going back. Thanks for a great day Rachel Shirley Begg"

Swanwick Studio responded:

"What a lovely review thank you Shirley, and the icing on the cake, was that yours, took me from a silver awarded tutor to a gold 'provider' so happy happy happy :-) see you again :-)"

Jodi S reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"Just spent the day having my first ever go at stained glass. From the start of the day (when even successfully cutting the test glass seemed impossible!), til the end of the day, when I finished my 'tulips on a grassy knoll', Rachel was unfailing supportive and positive. All four of us were blown away with what everyone else had achieved and deeply chuffed with our own pieces. The day just flew by, it was totally engrossing and I learned so much - who knew soldering could be so much fun! Would highly recommend, even for people with 'two left thumbs'."

Swanwick Studio responded:

"What a lovely review, thanks so much :-) It was a pleasure teaching you all & I always love watching all the creations develop throughout the day. Well done :-)"

Laura C reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"I attended Rachels Stained Glass Christmas Decoration workshop back in December as i wanted to try something new. I really enjoyed myself and found the whole process very relaxing and therapeutic. Her studio is cosy and busy; full of inspiration. The instruction from Rachel was fab and tailored to each person. I didnt quite finish my decorations so booked to attend again! The second workshop was just as enjoyable. Fab workshop if you want to learn all the skills needed to start a new hobby, or to just make some beautiful items as gifts or for your home. The endless tea and biscuits were an added bonus :)"

Teresa reviewed: stained glass 'your own project' workshop

"A lovely relaxed workshop. I was put at my ease and encouraged with my own design and the possibilities which i could achieved. On the strength of the workshop and Rachael's kind and calm nature i have rebooked to do phase two of my project."

Swanwick Studio responded:

"What a lovely kind review. Thank you so much for taking the time, it's very much appreciated :-) Can't wait to see these panels progress"

Jean Hunter reviewed: stained glass 'your own project' workshop

"Knowledgeable and enthusiastic tuition throughout the day teaching cutting, grozing, and grinding techniques plus advice on designs, progressing to working with lead, copper foil and soldering. All in a cheerful atmosphere of camaraderie and fun whilst giving particular attention to precision and the importance of careful measurements as well as advising on a realistic timescale for creating a complex panel which you can be proud of."

Swanwick Studio responded:

"Thank you so much, that's a lovely review & I appreciate your thoughts and time taken :-) Looking forward to our next workshop where we'll work on the next stage of your project"

Jan Carter reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"I booked a one day open workshop at Swanwick Studio to learn how to copper foil, having only a small amount of previous experience at glass cutting. Rachel is an enthusiastic teacher with so much experience that you can’t fail to learn from her. The studio atmosphere is relaxed and friendly and learning is at your own pace. Thank you Rachel for a great day, I’m truly inspired!"

Swanwick Studio responded:

"Thank you so much, that's a lovely review & I appreciate your thoughts and time taken :-) I'm so please the passion has been passed on - it's such a fantastic medium to work with, with so many possibilities - onwards & upwards :-)"

Marion Slade reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"Rachel was most welcoming and I had a really interesting day. I had already acquired an elementary certificate in Stained glass work about 10 years before, but although I did complete a number of projects at the time, I had not had time in recent years, so I felt lacking in confidence at the start of the day. Rachel soon put me at ease, and gave me excellent advice, revising the skills I needed to get going on my stained glass panel for our front door. I felt happy with what I achieved during the day, and can now proceed at home. All students who attended were each working at individual projects, and it was great to see their work and to talk about it. I enjoyed the course so much that I hope to attend another day when I reach the leading stage for my panel."

Swanwick Studio responded:

"Thank you so much, that's a lovely review & I appreciate your thoughts and time taken :-) Looking forward to seeing the progression made in your beautifully designed panel. It shall be a beautiful addiction to your home :-)"

John lowdell reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"We booked the stained glass workshop as Christmas gifts , very impressed with the organisation , we were provided with beautiful gift vouchers to give on Christmas Day , Rachel who runs the course kept in touch with informative e mail too beforehand The actual day was great ,we all thoroughly enjoyed it , so much so that I am sure we will be back Rachel is an excellent teacher and communicator , providing enough instruction but also giving a good deal of freedom on individual approach We all agreed it was the most excellent Christmas present"

Swanwick Studio responded:

"Wow, thank you so much, that review is very much appreciated this end, all the detail really tells others about the whole experience & is very thoughtful of you J :-) So glad we 'all' had a great day. See you in Port Solent :-)"

Chris reviewed: Stained Glass Christmas Decs Workshop - half day

"Great day spent with Rachel. Instruction was excellent and fun. Ended up with a piece I was chuffed to bits with ?"

Lynda Blomerus reviewed: Stained Glass Small Panel Workshop

"An absolutely fabulous day, learned so much, Rachel is amazingly patient and knowledgeable! She goes above and beyond for her students! Thoroughly recommend to everyone wanting to learn new skills and start a new hobby and knowing that Rachel is always there to help! Fantastic day and thoroughly therapeutic too!"