About Oakwhittle Studio

At Oakwhittle Studio we spend most days listening to timber and showing people how to make neat, confident cuts. The bench room is small, the pace is unhurried, and the aim is simple: carve pieces that feel calm in the hand and honest to the grain. Light falls cleanly across the benches each morning here.

Our approach is tool-first. Before the first line is marked, we check sharpness, stance and the way the wrist wants to move. A few early passes on scrap let you feel how a gouge lifts and settles, how pressure rolls into a clean corner, and how to stop before the fibres bruise. Once that feel arrives, we sketch lightly, test the angle again, and begin on the actual panel. It is a steady rhythm: look, set, cut, breathe, then tidy.

Projects vary, but they are always practical. Newer carvers often start with a leaf study or a simple rosette. Lettering follows when spacing makes sense and hands know where to rest. Those with experience sometimes work on low-relief motifs that bring shadows forward without digging too deep. If you bring a personal design, we will talk through what suits the wood, what might be refined, and which steps keep the work clear and achievable within the time you have.

Sharpening is part of the day rather than an afterthought. We show how to read an edge, when to strop, and how a small change in bevel can turn scratch into sheen. It is not theory for its own sake; better edges simply make better mornings. You will leave with notes that translate to your own bench, whether that is a dedicated space or a board held with clamps on the kitchen table.

We keep groups small because conversation matters. Questions arrive in real time, and the answers usually appear in the wood itself. A slight turn shows which fibres want to lift; a quieter push reveals a cleaner arc. This is the kind of learning that sticks, and it welcomes pauses as much as progress.

Bath is a good town for this sort of work. Visitors often pair a session with a slow walk around the crescent or the canal path. If you need advice on timber suppliers, we keep a short list and can point to places that stock practical sizes for practice panels and small projects. We also keep a few prepared blanks in the studio for those travelling light.

Accessibility matters to us. The main bench room sits on the ground floor with step-free entry. If you have particular needs, let us know ahead of time and we will arrange the layout with more space around a bench or seat adjustments for comfort. Quiet focus is part of the atmosphere, and we are happy to shape the day so it feels workable and welcoming.

People come for different reasons: to make a useful sign, to try a new craft, to reset a busy week, or to pick up a skill that can accompany other woodwork. Whatever brings you in, the structure stays clear. We start with safety and comfort, then balance guidance with time to work. There is no rush to finish everything; learning is more reliable when each step settles before the next.

If you are thinking about booking, the practical details are straightforward. Our phone line is direct, and email works well for sharing a sketch or idea. We can outline likely timelines, what to bring, and how to make the most of a single day or a few shorter visits. Payment is by standard methods, and we confirm dates in writing so you have everything in one place.

Oakwhittle Studio is easy to find in Bath. The address is 15 Laura Place, Bath BA2 4BL, England, and sessions run most weeks with a few quiet slots reserved for one-to-one tuition. To talk about a place at the bench, call 441 225 684 531 or write to [email protected]. We look forward to seeing what you make when wood, rhythm and patience meet.