What you get
Intensive 1-to-1 training in a busy, working stained glass studio where you watch and practise core glass painting techniques – while real work goes on around you:
“… a superb experience: the best course I have ever been on” (Isobel Ackery, Sussex, England)
“… a remarkable time” (Svetlana Makarenko, Denmark)
How it works
- Tell us what you want to learn.
- Book your course.
- Come here and learn.
Where you might come from to spend time and learn with us
People come to us from all over the world — from Peru, all over the USA, Israel, South Africa, Norway, Japan, New Zealand, Germany, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Holland, Taiwan, France, Kuwait, Singapore, Ireland and Italy.
The reason is, they learn a lot.
How you learn best
1-to-1, tailor-made training and demonstrations, one day or several. Plus you can watch and see what’s happening in a busy, working studio. This is a true-life experience where you see things as they really are … the designs, the glass, the work-in-progress, the paints and work-benches.
We’ll agree an agenda with you. We’ll provide the designs, the glass, the brushes, the space for you to work.
And all along, you’ll get the agreed and specific full-time instruction from one of us – Stephen or David.
The unique experience you get from us
Here’s what makes your time with us unique and valuable to you:
- We show you techniques. This means you learn the fundamental skills.You can then develop these however you choose
- You’ll always get the personal attention you really need. There’s no waiting for the “tutor” to get free from the queue of other people he must see before he sees you! We’re always on hand
- You concentrate on glass painting and nothing else. No lead-work or glass-cutting is involved. This means you’ll improve your glass painting at an astonishing pace
- We supply lovely designs and cartoons for you to copy. Together we’ll pick designs that you’ll love and which will also move you on. We have a huge number of designs for you to choose from, such as medieval heads, ornamental quarries, animals, and decorative borders
- We don’t have a “template”. This means you get the training that’s exactly right for you
- We are experienced teachers. We believe in teaching, but we don’t need to teach, nor do we over-do it/repeat ourselves. This means we are awake and alive to the things you want or need to learn
- We keep in touch with you afterwards — ask us questions by e-mail and we answer your questions with the best information that we have
If this sounds good to you, then come and train with us, and you will learn a lot.
Who this training is for
This training works best for people who have known us for a while.
So for example you’ve followed the blog or get the newsletter.
The reason is, you need to know what you’re in for when you spend time here.
We’ll do our homework. It’s also important you do yours .
The basic line is: you know the kind of people we are and the kind of painting we do, and we know something about you and your interest (amateur or professional) in stained glass painting.
We will teach you better when we know as much as we can about where you want to go.
You’re happy with a technique-based approach to learning (don’t worry, we’re actually very friendly!)
We want you to appreciate the importance of good technique, and it’s important you’re keen to improve your technique.
Also that you’re happy with a formal, structured offering from us.
You have good mobility in your upper-body. Also good eye-sight (with or without glasses).
The above points are all of them essential.
Who this training isn’t for
This is not emotional therapy or a healing exercise: it is hard work.
This stained glass painting course is not ideal for anyone in search of “play time” to express themselves or explore their artistic identity. These things are fine – but not these days you spend with us. At the end of your time with us, it’s important you do things hugely better than when you started. This is a question of technique. And technique is what we focus on with you. Technique.
You do need to be fit, mobile and emotionally well-balanced – this is a working stained glass studio, with stairs and all the usual hazards of glass, lead, kilns and stairs.
Plus we are hard task-masters – we will not indulge you, we will work you hard so you leave here confident and skilful.
Where
At the Williams & Byrne stained glass studio in Stanton Lacy, near Ludlow, in the county of Shropshire, England, United Kingdom.
To search by postcode (ZIP): SY8 2AE.
Here’s a map showing where the studio is in relation to Ludlow: See map of studio at Stanton Lacy and Ludlow
The cost
The cost for 1-to-1 teaching is £225 per day which includes 6 hours’ full-time teaching, your glass, your paint, firing, lunch and 20% VAT (sales tax).
Your travel to and from the studio, your accommodation and evening meals are not included.
How to book and pay
When everything is agreed, you can either pay by cheque or money-transfer. Or we can e-mail you a PayPal request for the complete amount: you then pay through PayPal (you don’t need a PayPal account to do this).
Your payment is your booking.
Terms
The training people get here is special. Everyone who’s ever learned with us has had a exhausting, technique-packed and fantastic time.
Because we want to continue teaching, we have these terms:
- We will ONLY accept your booking if we are absolutely confident we can do what you want
- Your full payment IS your booking
- Once you book, you can request different dates, but we cannot guarantee that we will be free to teach you then
- We reserve the right not to refund any portion of your fee if you cancel and we cannot fill your place
- We reserve the right to charge a 50% cancellation fee to cover our administration costs
Our terms exist to allow the 2 of us to continue teaching 1-to-1 with our devoted attention to your wants and needs. You’ve seen the testimonials on this page: we have a lot to give you, and, if you book, we expect you to turn up on the agreed date.
“You are both excellent teachers and as I suspected prior to my visit, you are both masters at running workshops which engage and adapt to the people there.” (Chloe Uden, Exeter, England)
Transport to and from the studio
The studio is in a tiny village three miles from the town of Ludlow.
If you want us to pick you up and return you to your B&B / hotel, we can do that for £5 to pick you up and £5 to take you back at the end of the day.
Accommodation
There are many different places where you can stay.
One option is: ring the Ludlow Tourist Information Centre and ask them to book you a suitable place. Their telephone number is +44 (0)1584 875053.
You also can search here.
Below is a list of different kinds of places.
Bed & Breakfast / Guest Houses (from £40 per person per night): The Mount (double en-suite and twin en-suite available from £45 per person per night), The Wheatsheaf – an old world pub in the heart of old Ludlow, The Hen & Chickens, nice place at 130 Corve Street, Acorn Place (highly recommended on two occasions), Cecil Guest House, The Merchant House, Henwick House, Branlea, Nelson Cottage. Also see Elm Lodge (highly recommended on two occasion) for self-catering or B&B.
Self-catering cottages and flats (by the week): Emily Place, Upper Linney, Balcony Flat, Ivy House, Frog Cottage, Posthorn Cottage, Mortimer Cottage, The Vineyard, The Mews Flat, The Bindery Flat, Drapers View
Hotels: The Cliffe Hotel, Degreys, Charlton Arms, Feathers Hotel, Fishmore Hall Hotel, Dinham Hall, Mr Underhill’s (Michelin Starred),
In the countryside, close to us, there is Seifton Court. Also Tugford Farm (which also does self-catering – but you will definitely need your own car).
Two important points:
- We have no relationship with any of these businesses. In particular, we haven’t stayed with them and we do not get any commission for listing them
- It is your responsibility to find and book a place. We cannot make your booking for you. We put all our energy into teaching you
Expert glass painting tuition from Williams & Byrne
The Williams & Byrne Stained Glass Studio, Shropshire, UK for exciting and technique-packed stained glass training.
“I admire your own unique works and feel honoured to have been taught by you both” (Sara Burns, Shropshire)
People travel far to learn with us.
“My students tell me how very kind you have been to them during their stay with you. I sincerely appreciate your generosity and courtesy” (Yasuhiro Muraoka, Kobe, Japan)
“Thank you for the wonderful time in your studio. Really enjoyed every second and learned so much. The beauty of this experience is that only after ‘digesting’ the knowledge I gain, I begin to think of the many new possibilities now available to enhance my work” (Rami Zarchi, Israel)
“Thank you! I miss being with you: great company, lovely studio, and I did learn a lot” (Martine Bennett, California)
“Thank you so much for a great day. I learnt an enormous amount and feel completely inspired” (Lynsey Hayward, New Zealand)
Write with questions when you have them. We’ll answer you in person, or we can fix a time to talk.
What to do now
- Tell us what you want to learn.
- Book your course.
- Come here and learn.