With guest teacher Botanica & Field.

Join us at The Rivershop for a beautifully paced, seasonal art workshop led by guest teacher Botanica & Field, exploring the quiet craft of flower pressing. Held in a light-filled studio at Thames-Side Studios, this hands-on session invites you to reconnect with nature, create something lasting, and learn the thoughtful techniques behind preserving flowers.

This is more than a craft session—it’s a chance to notice the details, work with the seasons, and make something meaningful with your hands. Whether you’re looking to begin a new creative practice or deepen your connection to plants, this workshop offers a relaxed, welcoming environment for all experience levels.

You’ll begin with an introduction to flower pressing—what to pick, when to harvest, and how to prepare different plant materials. Using our in-studio presses, you’ll press a small selection of fresh blooms during the class so you can learn the method through direct experience.

Alongside this, you’ll be working with a beautifully curated library of pressed botanicals gathered from previous harvests. These flowers and leaves have all been grown and pressed by Botanica & Field, using seasonal materials grown in UK gardens with great care. From delicate violas and cosmos to hellebores, ferns, herbs, and grasses, each botanical element has been thoughtfully preserved to retain its colour, form, and story.

As part of this flower pressing session, you’ll also learn the often-overlooked skill of colour correcting. You'll be shown how to retain vibrancy, avoid browning, and enhance faded petals, so your final piece reflects the true beauty of each bloom. These professional techniques will allow you to continue flower pressing at home with confidence and creativity.

The second half of the workshop focuses on composition. With guidance from Botanica & Field, you’ll create a pressed flower artwork using fine tools, archival papers, specialist glue, and a full palette of botanical textures and tones. Whether your aesthetic is clean and minimal or wild and overgrown, you'll be supported in shaping your own visual language.

You'll also receive tips on layout, balance, and colour theory to help bring your composition to life. There’s plenty of room for individual expression, and the slow pace of the session gives you time to reflect, adjust, and enjoy the process.

Beginners Epoxy Resin Workshop

Annette Younger

Knowledgeable and patient leader - always interesting people who sign up - wish it was longer!!

Marta Malolepszy

Great start to resin works, welcoming and nice class with good tips and guidance on what to buy and how it’s work. Highly recommend. 

Lucy Casey

I went to this class with very little knowledge of epoxy resin and its uses but had seen the cool effects it can produce on instagram so thought i’d try something knew and out of my comfort zone. Richard and his wife (and their daughter Esme) were so welcoming and friendly! I felt confident knowing I had support the entire time but the freedom to experiment and get on with it myself. 

Richard’s directions and little nuggets of advice throughout were really helpful. All the instructions were clear and we all went at a good pace. The resources were great and I was able to work on this lovely bit of yew wood and had a range of great pigments to choose from for the resin. Overall, it was really fun and informative and I was really pleased with the outcome of my piece. 

Would recommend for anyone who has an interest in resin and the pieces of art it can produce. I will definitely look out for future workshops they’re running. - Lucy C

Gabor Paszti

Richard was a great instructor, with many tips and tricks from his own experiences, which have proven really useful for us. He was a helpful, informative and relaxed teacher, making sure that everyone had what they needed and got the best out of the class. Both my wife and I had a great time, recommend this experience and would definitely do take a class again with Richard. Thank you!

Simon Daldorph

Workshop was great, well organised with Richard being a really helpful friendly instructor. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Kate McMullab

I attended the beginners Epoxy Resin Course and can't rate it highly enough. Richard was an excellent instructor and gave us enough space to learn whilst over seeing the class and all ways being on hand. He answered questions honestly and was open when he wasn't sure about the answer. All equipment was provided and as much resin as you wanted. I drove quite a way to attend this course but it was absolutely worth it. I can't wait to receive me piece once its cured. 


Meg A

Great workshop! Really informative, worth taking if you're looking to learn the basics. 

Aga Storwr

Very good, I'd like more of such courses maybe covering Some furniture elements as well.

Avinder Bhinder

I loved every minute and learnt so much.  Richard was really patient and helpful. It was so exciting to produce something so beautiful. It has inspired me to try this again.  

Emma

The Resin workshop was really interesting, Richard and his assistant were extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and we couldn't have asked for a better teacher. The venue was easy to find, and in good order. 

Tilda

Jennifer Sampson

We felt like trying out something different and decided to give this workshop a go. We really enjoyed the workshop and learnt lots about working with Epoxy Resin and the realities of working with Epoxy Resin. We made really beautiful boards and look forward to getting them once cured. I would definately recommend this workshop and hopefully we may do another one of Richard's  workshops in the future. Thanks very much Richard! Jen and Geoff 

Amy Jopling

Great to find a class dealing with epoxy resin in a furniture/woodcraft setting, rather than as jewellery - it's a really unique course in that sense. The instructor, Richard, is great - very knowledgeable and welcoming; and the class size is quite small so there's plenty of opportunity for one-on-one help and asking lots of questions. I'd really recommend this class to anyone with an interest in epoxy resin!

Sarah Burnett-Moore

Absolutely brilliant workshop with lots of technical detail about resins, and good health and safety practice.  Really pleased with the piece I made.

Zainab Ussen

This class provided a great insight into epoxy resin! The teacher, Richard taught us allot in terms of preparation and health and safety. He talked us through everything we need or should consider before we even start creating our work.

Very nice and friendly teaching in a lovely studio!  

Rui Goncalves

I thoroughly enjoyed this beginners course.  Richard is very friendly and makes you feel quite at ease. I liked very much the way he delivered the course with a warm and positive atmosphere in the workshop throughout the day. The course was excellent,  with lots of knowledge base information on how to use epoxy resin products and related materials and their interaction...  As well as some great tips using inexpensive materials. Useful advice on the health and safety aspect of using the resin materials and related tools. - Rui 


Nina Lala

Richard was a great teacher, methodically taking us through each step and giving us excellent tips along the way.  He was very accommodating and helpful. 

Steve Hance

Brilliant workshop! Richard was knowledgeable and patient with all of the attendees, regardless of ability or speed. The course was extremely useful, and also gave us an insight to the economics of what is achievable within a certain budget, as the materials are very expensive. I'd definitely recommend this course to anyone who has seen the numerous epoxy videos which are making the rounds on social media, and thinks it's something they can do - it'll give you a great perspective of what you can manage yourselves with a bit of guidance and personal hands-on experience . Looking forward to seeing how my mini river table turned out after fully setting...

Karina Mazurek

I went to the workshop with 2 of my work colleagues and we absolutely loved it! It was a lot of fun and a very informative course (whether you have used resin before or knew nothing about it). We weren't just given instructions on what to do - Richard has been brilliant in explaining to us step-by-step, everything that there is to know about resin e.g. how to prepare for working with resin, which one to chose for different projects, the best practices to achieve results we need etc. He also happily answered all other questions we had about working with this material and shared very useful tips and suggestions based on his own experience. I cannot wait to receive me piece once its cured.

Oriol Pallarès 

We have learned how to use epoxy resign, mixing colours and all tricks to take care if you mixe it with other materials like wood.
The teacher was very friendly and help us with all doubts and questions we had.
The venue is big enough for 8 of us with all facilities needed.
I will recommend this workshop to everyone who would like to work with product before start by youself.


Sam Rattley

Richard was a great instructor and took time to explain the process and any additional questions people may have had. The class was very relaxed, informative, and enjoyable. You never felt rushed and the time flew by in such a friendly environment. Everyone left with a smile on their face! Fully recommended.

Tania Paine

This was a great class for learning the basics of Epoxy Resin art. The teacher was very knowledgeable and there was lots of time to ask questions. I really enjoyed the class!! 

Tilly 

Very well executed course. I enjoyed the day and am pleased with my resin board. 

Sally Webster

This course was fantastic. Our teacher was so personable, thorough, knowledge & helpful. Having never worked with resin before, this course was perfect, it taught us the basics & showed us where we could take it. 
I would wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone & would love to attend future courses provided by Friendly Forces Construction! 

Chantel Campbell

I throughly enjoyed the workshop, Richard really takes the time to make sure everyone understands each part of the process and keeps it fun and engaging.

Julie Price

Easy to find, easy parking, friendly tutor. We had a great time  Richard put us all at ease and was open and happy to answer any small question . Adding new ideas and possibility. We are both going to head on to his next course in the new year and look forward to doing a bit of practisi v at home in the meantime. Well worth the money and experience. Julie

Sean Mac

Beginners Epoxy Resin Workshop - what a great afternoon.  Richard is a knowledgeable and charming teacher.  He has a great understanding of not only the subject of resin pouring and all the technicalities that go with it, but of how to teach.  The class moved along as fast as Richard could answer our questions. We all came away smiling and happy having not only learned an immense amount about how resin works as a medium, but also having actually made something.  I highly recommend this course.  It was exactly what I wanted to learn about and I will be returning to future classes producing coffee tables and then kitchen tables. 5 Stars all round.


Susan Poole

I thoroughly enjoyed this workshop. I'd never worked with epoxy resin before, but had seen it on instagram and was curious. Richard was a great teacher and gave time to everyone and answered all the questions as we were going along. I came away with new skills, confidence in working with epoxy resin and a piece I am proud of. I travelled a long way for this session but it was totally worth it. 

Esther Homiah

The course was informative and gave an insight into how to create the moulds and the diffetent materials you can use.
I would recommend the course.

Popi Konstantinou

We went to this course with my partner and we loved  it. Richard was very helpful and friendly and had lots of knowledge to share with us. We thoroughly enjoyed it, it was great fun! We will definitely be returning with the new classes and would recommend to anyone who wishes to learn about resin.

Jasmit 

Hello it was a wonderful class all my question became clear . Thank you so much looking forward to attend more classes 

Stephen Barr

Was not a cutting board - fair warning. I prefer the class as what it was honestly: we chose a couple pieces of scrap wood and filled the gap between them with resin, learning all about it in the process.

Dalida Oliveira

Absolutely brilliant workshop !
Great start to resin works, can't wait for more courses.
Dalida

Janak Shah

Great intro to pouring epoxy resin. If you’ve seen the instagram & youtube vids and want to know how to do it for yourself this is the course. There is no woodworking involved, you’ll make a mould and pour the epoxy. Richard is friendly & knowledgeable.

matt grossmith

Really interesting introduction to working with wood and epoxy.  Richard (the tutor) was very friendly, knowledgeable and explained everything clearly.
The workshop is well equipped and laid out and everything was ready to go when we arrived.
Would recommend to anyone with an interest in starting a new hobby or sideline.  Richard made some great recommendations on where to get the best materials and explained difference between the types of epoxy resins, what they can be used for (and importantly what they can't be used for!)
Hopefully Friendly Forces Courses will be expanding their offering for more advanced workshops (there was mention of a longer course where a stool or coffee table could be created).

Jenny Pout

Richard The tutor was patient, and friendly, but it wasn’t a chopping board as advertised on the site.  It was great to learn the tips and tricks of resin pouring, even if the finished piece  is on the small side using a couple of offcuts of wood.  

Sherran

I had a great time on this course and Richard was a brilliant teacher! I'd never used Epoxy resin before and didn't know much about it, but Richard took the time to explain everything as we went and was more than happy to answer all our questions. He also gave us loads of hints and tips for how best to continue working with resin ourselves at home. Would highly recommend this course!!

Chelsea

Had such a great time at this course and learned a lot. Richard and team were very informative and helpful. The venue was very nice also :) 

Wendy & Samantha Nash 

New experience which My daughter and I have interested for a long time ,Richard was great teacher with the 2 assistant, they are very welcome us and also we met nice people in the class , we had a brilliant time .. we definitely going to do it again will keep an eye on for the next course 

Sharna Aquilina

Richard was a brilliant teacher and the course was fantastic. The new studio is beautiful with great light and learning about how to work with expoxy resin was just as I hoped. I am hooked. 

Sam 

Really great class, really informative and easy to follow. I really enjoyed meeting the new people and teacher was very patient and knowledgable.  Really happy with what I have made. 
Would definitely go again. 

Fathima Ikram

Such a wonderful experience. Gave individual attention to all participants and clearly explained the process. The teacher was very informative and did not hesitate to answer any questions and doubts. Easy access to get to the venue. Can't wait for other epoxy Resin workshops. 

Julia Marsh

I attended the epoxy resin workshop in December after being given it as a gift for my birthday and needless to say it was fantastic! The course leader was informative and relaxed which made for a very enjoyable day. The resources available were good quality and I really was pleased with my wood and resin piece, which I am hoping to turn into a table top! Don’t hesitate to book this! 

Buhlebenkosi Ndhlovu

Loved loved loved my time there.
It reinforced my interest in working with resin and had some very useful tips at the end of it. 
Richard is knowledgeable and has the patience of a saint 😊
Looking forward to bigger project classes.
Thank you Richard 


Andy Hamilton

Great class from the perspective of someone who's watched a lot of videos but wanted hands on experience before attempting anything on my own.

Nicola

SsssLobner

David Goldsworthy

The course was well run and presented in a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. We learnt how to make a mould which was then used to make a small resin board. The venue was easy to find and gave enough space for the eight of us on the course to work in with comfort. I would suggest that it would be helpful to give the students a small handout to remind them of what they had learnt and how to obtain resin products for their own use.

Clare Kelly

I recommend this course highly - as an instructor Richard has a real lightness of  touch. He makes sure that you have all the technical knowledge you need to complete your project, but leave the creative elements entirely up to you! I had a really lovely afternoon at Friendly Forces.

Duncan Lewis

Richard was a great tutor, very friendly and explaining everything clearly and able to answer all questions. Instructions were clear and easy to follow. Worth noting that the door to the venue was locked when we arrived, so it's worth bringing the phone number with you so you can ring Richard and get him to let you in!

Victoria Thomson 

Richard was an excellent teacher. Loved the course, it was so informative and relevant- a new year energiser!

Karen 

Really great venue with a lot of creativity around!
Richard our teacher was very friendly, approachable and informative.  If you didn't understand then he was happy to reiterate for you. 
The class was a very good beginners guide to using resin and I do think I can now go away have give it a go myself. 
The reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.....there needs to be some improvement on sustainability & I know Richard is looking to this. Also I would have appreciated a fact sheet with helpful hints to either take away or to be emailed later. If these 2 small things could be rectified then 5 stars all the way! 
Thanks Richard 

Sarah

Brilliant course and intro to working with resin - can’t recommend it highly enough. Richard was a great teacher and explained all about resin with lots of very useful information. Very clear instructions and a well structured session that went at the perfect pace. Everything we needed to use was well organised and very prepared. All very easy to follow and in a great studio. Thank you also to Anneshka who was great at supporting throughout.  Was a lot of fun and would love to take another course. Thank you Richard 

Henrietta Foster

This was a well structured, interesting course with a teacher who was clearly very knowledgeable about his craft. I really enjoyed learning the technical details of the process of making resin and playing with glue guns! It would be great to see the changes mentioned to reduce impact on the environment take place as I was a little uncomfortable using some of the disposable materials e.g. the wipes used to clean the table seemed like they could have been replaced with spray and a cloth.

Gloria

This was a Christmas present for my partner and we had a great time! Richard was very friendly and knowledgeable.  I had never worked with resin before and found the class informative and fun. Would definitely recommend!

Austin Basile

I'd watched many resin youtube videos before taking this course so I arrived with many questions. I was very excited to get going but had no idea what to expect. We learned everything from making a mold to calculating the amount of resin we'd need to mix. The class ran smoothly and was very informative, and the venue seems perfect for what we needed. I can happily say that not only did I get my questions answered but I had a great time, and left very inspired and confident in my abilities to move forward onto my own projects.

Oli 

Really great course, clear instructions, had fun creating. Will do more. 

Kim Anderson

Richard was very friendly and informative, I felt he covered everything we needed to know and I left feeling very enthusiastic about starting our own projects! 

Warren

Venue was great, well equipped and organised. The course was planned out very well, with clear and precise instructions which were easy to follow and interactive. Richard was very knowledgeable and helpful. A great teacher with a calm personality. Would highly recommend this for anyone interested in Epoxy. 

Graeme Keeling

I learned the basics of materials preparation, and a combination of the technical preparation of resin e.g calculation of quantity, temperature control, mixing and pouring technique. Richard, the course tutor, was friendly, approachable and knowledgable. Instructions were clear and concise. The venue was well equipped, well organised and suitable for our group of ten. I would be more than happy to go back to Friendly Forces for other courses.

Jess

Really helpful and insightful class. Lives up to the name of the company! I am looking forward to further courses as they really support your learning.

Jessica A

jessica-adjei@hotmail.co.uk

Fun and engaging. Found the class informative and really helped me progress my skills. Can't wait for next time 

jess

Jess Adjei 

Very helpful team with lots of experience! Great class for beginners and the class is small enough for you to ask lots of questions! Looking forward to more classes! 

Kathryn

I had so much fun in this course! It was very easy to follow as Richard was super clear and very patient when I tried to take over the course a couple of times 🤭 I think I’ve found my new hobby! Highly recommend and you don’t need any experience or special skills, just go for it. 

Oliver 

Richard led a very interesting course, explaining the steps of the resin process very well along the way. Mixing the resin and choosing colours was great fun. 

  I had a great time and learnt alot on how to use the resin and mix different kinds of pigments.  Richard is  very friendly  , knowlegeable and will quickly put you at ease which is great for any one who is  new to resin.
I would highly recommend this class .

Tom Nixon 

This was a great introductory course on epoxy resin and wood. 

Richard is a nice friendly guy and a great teacher. He help all of us make a export resin board and answered all of our questions  

I would highly recommend anyone and everyone attend the course.  

Isabelle Marcoul

Great fun course with Richard, knowledgeable and pleasant teacher. We are hoping he will soon offer a follow-up course on the topic. Highly recommended .

A Hands-On Workshop in Botanical Pressing and Composition

Art Workshop - Pressed Flowers

Celebrate the festive season with this Christmas wreath-making workshop, nestled in the heart of historic Greenwich, London. This immersive and creative activity invites you to design your own natural wreath while learning the art of professional wreath-making in a charming, festive atmosphere.

Hosted by Botanica and Field at The Admiral Hardy, this 90-minute session is designed for all skill levels, from complete beginners to confident crafters. Your expert hosts will guide you through every stage of the process.

**In this workshop, you will learn:**

\- How to build a strong and balanced wreath base

\- Techniques for thoughtfully layering fresh and preserved foliage

\- How to incorporate natural accents like pinecones and dried fruit

\- Tips on exploring texture, shape, and colour harmony for a professional finish

All materials are provided, including fresh greenery hand-harvested from a family farm in Suffolk and preserved blooms from their own gardens. You'll work with a curated selection of pinecones, seed pods, and dried fruits, all chosen for their natural beauty. Feel free to arrive early to unwind with a festive drink or enjoy delicious food from the venue's kitchen.

You will leave this wonderfully enchanting evening with newfound skills and a one-of-a-kind festive creation, ready to hang at home. This workshop is more than just a class – it’s a memorable experience perfect for celebrating with friends or enjoying some creative time for yourself.

Step into Christmas with a hands-on wreath-making workshop at The Admiral Hardy in Greenwich, London.

 Christmas Wreath Making Workshop

Unleash your creativity and discover the beauty of combining natural elements with modern art in our Resin Flowers course at The Rivershop. In this immersive, hands-on workshop, you'll learn how to craft a unique wooden trinket tray using flowers and resin. Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned crafter, this course offers an enjoyable, creative journey that will leave you with a stunning handmade piece to cherish or gift.

The course centers around the popular art of resin flowers - an exciting technique that involves embedding natural flowers in resin to create beautiful, long-lasting designs. In addition to crafting your trinket tray, you'll also have the option to upgrade to create a larger tray or wall art if you're feeling adventurous. This is the perfect opportunity to develop a new skill, express your artistic side, and create something uniquely yours.

**What You’ll Learn:**

**Introduction to Resin Art:**
We’ll kick off the course by introducing you to the world of resin art. You’ll learn about the different types of resin, their properties, and safety tips to ensure you handle the material properly. Our instructors will demonstrate how to measure and mix resin, how long it takes to cure, and common mistakes to avoid. With a special focus on using resin flowers, you’ll be able to bring vibrant colors and natural elements into your artwork.

**Preserving Flowers in Resin:**
In this section, you’ll dive into the process of selecting, preparing, and preserving flowers to use in your resin projects. Not all flowers work well with resin, so we’ll guide you through the best choices and show you how to preserve them to maintain their beauty over time. Once your flowers are ready, you’ll learn how to arrange them on your wooden trinket tray to create a captivating, artistic design. The fusion of nature with resin will give your piece a timeless, elegant look that highlights the charm of resin flowers.

**Crafting Your Wooden Trinket Tray:**
The main project for this course is a wooden trinket tray, which you’ll customise with your own resin flowers design. We will guide you through each step of the process—from preparing your tray to pouring the resin and embedding your floral elements. This project is designed to give you the foundational skills you need to work with resin, while also allowing plenty of room for your own creative expression. You'll leave with a personalised trinket tray that's both functional and decorative.

**Advanced Techniques and Optional Upgrades:**
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll have the option to take your skills a step further by upgrading your project. If you want to go beyond the trinket tray, you can choose to create a larger wooden tray or even wall art featuring resin flowers. These upgrades allow you to explore more complex designs and work on a bigger canvas, giving you more space to experiment with your artistic ideas. Our instructors will be on hand to help you navigate these larger projects and ensure your final piece is beautifully executed.

**Course Details:**

**What’s Included:**
All materials needed to create your wooden trinket tray, including flowers, resin, and finishing supplies, are provided. You’ll also have access to a range of decorative elements to further personalise your piece, such as additional flowers, glitter, and pigments.

**Optional Upgrades:**
On the day of the course, you’ll have the option to upgrade your project to a larger tray or wall art featuring resin flowers. This is ideal if you want to challenge yourself or create a more prominent piece of art. These upgrades are offered at an additional cost, and you can decide whether to opt for them during the class.

**Takeaway:**
Your wooden trinket tray will not be ready to take home on the same day due to the resin’s curing time. We will arrange a collection date for your finished piece or offer postage, depending on your preference. Once the resin has fully cured, your resin flowers creation will be ready to adorn your home.


Join us in our studio to learn about the joys of botanical resin. 

Epoxy Resin Flower Masterclass 

Friendly Forces Construction

Join us for a one-day beginners woodworking course to make a personalised bread board. 

In this beginners woodwork course, students will learn how to make beautiful wooden bread board.  the course will cover how to  join together the wood and the various machines and tools needed to get a high quality finish to your piece. 

You'll learn how to safely and confidently use various machinery and hand tools in the workshop, including the mitre saw, band saw, drill press and sanders - with the possibility of the table saw,  jointer and planer. Therefore the course is great for beginners or just helping gain confidence in such fields. 

 At the end of the day expect to take home with you a board that's useful and takes pride of place in your kitchen.


Really enjoyed learning about the different grains of wood and using the tools in the workshop. Richard was very informative and certainly knows his stuff! I got to make my own serving board which was a present for my mum at Christmas, it now takes pride of place in her kitchen. Looking forward to trying the resin course.

Rebecca

A great class with a great teacher. I haven't stepped foot in a workshop since school so was somewhat nervous to begin with but Richard's knowledge and passion for woodworking really makes you feel at ease (especially when handling equipment). The class size is small (around six) which allows for one-on-one time with each student and definitely makes for a better learning experience. 

Overall, it was a great hands on experience learning about the structure, strength and durability of wood with a beautiful chopping board at the end (and the satisfaction of knowing you made it with your own hands!)

Will definitely be enrolling in another course!

This class was just what we were looking for. It was pitched perfectly for people with little woodworking experience but Richard was great at putting everyone at ease and giving people the right instruction and direction. What was really great was that he let you use the machines right from the off, trusting you to learn by doing which made everything even more rewarding. He was also very invested in how happy you were with your finished product, making sure you went home with something you were proud of. My only suggestion would be for slightly more options in terms of materials from which to choose at the start of the class.

Beginners Woodworking: Make a Chopping / Serving Board

Zoe Shutler

Richard certainly knew what he was talking about. He gave us lots of tips and details of where we could purchase our own supplies. We were the second group to use their new workshop & in its present set up it would have been a tight squeeze if there had been more than 7 of us. Definitely recommend this course as a great taster as to what you can achieve with resin. Would like to receive details of more advanced/larger projects workshops 

Jane

Duncan Thomson

This was an excellent introduction to resin. Richard was a very natural and welcoming teacher.  It was great to spend the afternoon with such friendly and interesting people, who all had so many ideas and questions to share. 

Michael Fletchet

Fantastic service. Really friendly and approachable in every aspect!!! Deffo using again!
Michael

Beginners Woodworking: Make a Bread Board

Lewis

Happy to attend, would like to attend another one of the woodworking courses here!

Great class. Made a very nice end-grain chopping board, really exceeded my expectations in terms of product and range of techniques used. Richard is a very approachable teacher and clearly cares a lot about student outcomes. Plan to go back to do further projects under Richard's supervision.

Angus Smith

Really great class. Richard taught in a very personable way. Seemed to really care about the students experience and the class was relaxed while structured and informative. Would highly recommend..

Toby Dawson

The atmosphere was great, a lot more than just a board making course but a social and educational experience.

Excellent day. Richard was attentive and we came home with some work to be proud of.

Yahia elgamal

It was great! I absolutely loved every minute of it! 

Richard is a great instructor, he doesn’t over-instruct and gives the space to really get a sense of the workshop. His communication is super clear. 

I never did any woodwork before, so learning the basics and getting  a beautiful bread board while learning it is absolutely great. I have to say, the 4 hours we spent flew by like 4 minutes!

A great opportunity to get a sense of woodworking!

Thanks Richard & Georgina!

Karen

Extremely fun class! Richard was great at teaching and encouraging a lively conversation throughout. I feel like I've learnt a bunch of woodworking basics, and will definitely be back for Richard's other classes!

Extremely fun class! Richard was great in teaching and encouraging a lively conversation throughout. I feel like I've learnt a bunch of woodworking basics, and will definitely be back for Richard's other classes!

Bina

It was very informative, friendly and loads of fun. We were taught how to use so many different things and the rooms were full of tools and machines. It was inspirational and amazing time.

Deborah  Doidge

A truly fantastic class, I went solo and had a great time in the class and came away with a gorgeous board that I still can’t believe I made! 

Tabitha Vidal

The workshop was excellent.  A great combo of theory and practical demonstration, which all rolls into a day of making something beautiful and personal. I will definitely be back! 

Tegan Everett

Amazing experience, got it as a birthday gift. Pacing throughout the day was brilliant, really got to know about the process and techniques used in an engaging way. 

Made a fantastic chopping board that will last me a lifetime! 

Rufus Gibbs

This was a fantastic experience. Richard, who runs the workshop, does a wonderful job of making sure you are always busy throughout the day. You are either learning techniques from his excellent, clear explanations or carrying out these newfound skills in practice. I was thrilled with how my board looked at the end of the day and had a great time making it. I cannot recommend this workshop and teacher highly enough!

Mike Cole

Having attended a beginner’s class in epoxy resin with The River Shop a few months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it, I wanted to widen my knowledge of crafting skills with a beginners woodworking course.  Starting from a basic knowledge that was just about sufficient to know which end to hold of a saw, I came with an open mind and a desire to pick up as much as I could learn.  Richard was a superb instructor, making everyone feel at ease whatever one’s skill and knowledge level.  Over the course of the day which flew past, I learnt to appreciate and understand wood and laminates and use a variety of power tools that previously I’d have struggled to plug in, let alone know what they did.  And to cap it all, I was chuffed with the finished item.  Only problem is I like it so much, i don’t know whether I’ll use it or frame it!  Looking forward to booking another course with Richard and The River Shop.

Fred 

Had a great time on the course. Found all the process rewarding and was pleased with the out come. 

Anna-Chiara Bellini

I spent a very enjoyable day at the Rivershop. Richard is a fantastic teacher, it's absolutely evident that he has a passion for teaching carpentry, and the machines in the workshop are astonishing! I loved making my breadboard, and I'll be back for more classes. Very pleasant atmosphere too.

Nora Jenewein

I made a bread board, mission accomplished! It was a good atmosphere and Richard showed us all the cool saws/tools and let us use them - love the hands on vibe. 
It is also a very creative location.
In terms of time: I was a bit confused at first whether it was 3,5 hours or 7,5 hours but Richard explained that it depends on the season and how long the glue needs to dry and also how many students there are. 
I would have loved to have more time at the beginning using the clamps, gluing the timbers together as I lack spatial awareness and it takes me a bit longer to understand such things.
But all in all: highly recommend the workshop! And you can look forward to the giant sander...

Make a Bread Board, for beginners! 

Carina Ferreira

Richard is a great teacher! The day goes by so quickly. It’s fun, exciting and even challenging at times. I enjoyed the entire process (including the heavy machines) and can’t wait to try the other courses. 

Ben Batchelor

Had a really fun day on the breadboard class. And ended up with - a very nice breadboard, chuffed! Great tuition, facilities, and fellow group of woodworkers. Highly recommend.

Sarah  Brown

A fantastic day working with wood. It is a real thrill to see the fruits of your efforts at the end of the day. Richard is an efficient, fun and insightful tutor. I'd recommend this class to anyone interested in wanting to gain some confidence and experience in working with wood. 

Greg

The whole experience was fantastic. The venue was perfect and Richard the perfect guide, giving you assistance where needed but leaving you to learn as much as possible for yourself too. I found it so rewarding to feel like I'd made something from almost nothing and would recommend this course to any beginner. For me this was exactly the right experience to have, so full credit to everyone involved in it. I shall be back for another course in the future! 

Callum Robertson

The course was great - I learnt a lot and the teaching was really helpful. I would recommend anyone looking to learn about woodworking.

The Beginners Woodworking Workshop is a one day course where you will learn to make a bread board in just a few hours!

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