furniture school
Next date: Nov. 2026. An introduction to hand tools and furniture making, our One Week Taster course is an ideal try before you buy into a longer course. No previous experience is required, just plenty of enthusiasm. These courses book fast! 5 students per class maximum.
Next date: 21st – 25th June 2027. 5-day Design Course – with internationally recognised designer and maker Marc Fish. This will take students through Marc’s approach to designing original furniture and sculptural work.
We are delighted to showcasing our students work at New Designers 2026 London’s Most Established Graduate Design Showcase 1st – 4th July, 2026Business Design Centre | London New Designers is an annual London showcase of the UK’s most innovative emerging
Next course: 23rd – 27th Nov. 2026. Spend a week on our hands-on course designing and making your own handcrafted wooden box while developing essential woodworking skills in a friendly, professional workshop environment.
Next Course: 7th-11th Dec. 2026. In this fun and informative workshop, students learn to transform thin veneers into flowing, three-dimensional forms that balance structure with delicacy. Cost: £995.00
Next Date: 12th – 17th April 2027. During this six day course, you’ll explore the intricacies of the Japanese dovetail joint, learning how this beautiful and highly refined piece of joinery is designed, constructed, and executed by hand.
You’ll be guided by Theo Cook, who has spent many years developing and mastering this distinctive joint.
Exciting News: Joseph Robinson Wins the Christopher Claxton Stevens Prize 2025! Our very own Joseph Robinson, a graduate of our 50-week Designer Makers’ course, has won the Christopher Claxton Stevens Prize for his stunning Gratus Bench. It’s also worth noting that Joseph’s win marks
Open Weekend with ArtWave Festival
6th – 7th September 2025 | Lewes District
Our annual open weekend during ArtWave is always a busy weekend
Open hours: 11am – 4pm
Graduate exhibition and Marc Fish’s studio open to all.
Free no need to book.
Next courses: 10th – 11th Oct. 2026, 27th and 28th Feb. 2027.
An ideal course for anyone who wants to learn more about finishing techniques and get some practical, hands-on experience. Cost: £350. Tutor: Marc Fish.
Next course: Oct. 24th & 25th, 2026 + Feb. 6th & 7th, 2027.
This course provides hands-on experience of the sophisticated techniques used in the composites industry.
Cost £540. Tutor: Theo Cook.
Next course: 14th & 15th Nov. 2026 | 20th & 21st March 2027. Ideal if you want to know more about the mark of a master craftsman – the dovetail joint! When well-executed it is the epitome of high-level work. Cost: £350.
Next course: 27th Nov. 2026. We’re delighted to offer a Marquetry ONE day course taught by Audrey Fasquelle, a highly experienced craftsperson and recognised as a Master Furniture Maker for her marquetry work by the Furniture Makers Company. Cost: £195.
Next course: 28th & 29th Nov. 2026.
We are delighted to have Dickie join us to offer would be woodcarvers chance to explore this ancient art form with a master of the craft.
Cost £350. Tutor: Dickie Baugh.
Next course: 5th & 6th Dec. 2026 and 29th & 30th May 2027.
Experience these amazing techniques and take your work to a different level! As laminating is more accurate than steam bending, it is ideal for combining sculptural work with fine cabinet making.
Cost: £350. Tutor: Marc Fish.
Next course: 14th May 2027.
A one day course on French polishing with shellac, run by Derek Jones, once editor of Furniture & Cabinetmaking magazine and author of French Polishing, Finishing & Restoring Using Traditional Techniques.
Cost £150.
Next course: 17th July 2027.
Steam bending is an ancient woodworking process which is found on every continent.
Charlie is the UK’s leading steam bending expert; his work is sold internationally and can be found in museums, private residences and commercial premises.
Cost: £240 – 1 day.
Next date: Early 2027 TBC.
If you’re looking to expand your machine woodworking skills, our 5-day hands-on wooden stool making course is for you.
£850.
Next course: TBA.
Learn how to make a wooden plane. This will involve skills such as band-sawing, routing, drilling, shaping with a spokeshave, sanding and finishing. A 3 day course. Cost: £595. Tutor: Theo Cook.
Here at RHS we are excited to announce upcoming dates for the diary!
– New Designers, London – ArtWave, Lewes – Bespoke Guild Marks – Finalist with Heritage Crafts.
Ian Burnell completed our 50 week course and entered his chair and stool for the prestigious Bespoke Guild Mark from The Furniture’s Makers Company. This chair is a celebration of my love for birds, flight, and the iconic Supermarine Spitfire,
Next course: dates TBA.
Covering hand tools, there will be practical sessions on planing, sawing and chiseling – forming the ideal starting point for cutting and fitting accurate joints.
Cost: TBA. Tutor: Theo Cook.
The flooded Fens Console Table and The Marshlands Drinks Cabinet by Elliott Butterwick explores the relationship between the North Norfolk’s tidal swells and its salt marshes.
Both of these pieces were handcrafted on our 50-week Furniture design and makers’ course.
The Marshlands Drinks Cabinet, designed and made by Elliott Butterwick whilst a student at Robinson House Studio, has been awarded the Christopher Claxton Stevens Prize by The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry.
We are delighted to be taking several of our students and their work to New Designers, London
New Designers is an annual London showcase of the UK’s most innovative emerging design talent. Since its inception 39 years ago, New Designers has provided a platform for over 3,000 graduates every year to present their visionary ideas to industry professionals and the public.
Keep up-to-date with RHS news about Taster week courses, Weekend classes and Student work here on our Instagram account.
The new 19 weeks course has been specifically designed for students who want to learn the core skills of traditional and contemporary furniture design and making. You will guided through several set projects that teach you to create furniture of exceptional standard.
Cost: £14,500.
Deposit £6,000 to secure your place.
We are delighted announce an open weekend on Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd September, 2024.
Open hours – 9.30am – 4.30pm.
Next course: date TBA.
Learn how to make your own jigs and templates at this one-day course with senior tutor and master craftsman, Theo Cook.
The course covers making jigs by hand as well as the use of CAD programs, laser-cutter, and a CNC router. Cost: TBC.
Next course: date TBA.
This one-day introductory course is designed to help attendees understand and apply different approaches to veneering.
A one day course.
We are proud to announce our course has been SCQF credit-rated by Qualifications Scotland. robinson house studio‘s popular 50 Week Furniture Design and Makers’ course qualification opens more opportunities for students wishing to study furniture design and making. Completion of
Next course: dates TBA.
This three day course takes you through completing a three-legged stool. Using through-tenoned construction (now known as “staked”construction) is a skill worth learning for any furniture maker. Three legs instead of four means the stool will never wobble, no matter what floor it’s sitting on, the mortise layout is simple, and, of course, there’s one less leg to make!
Cost: £350. Tutor: Derek Jones.
A new book by Marc Fish celebrating the last 10 years of furniture design.
Marc Fish has been making furniture for over 20 years, the release of his new book ‘a second decade of creativity’ charts the last ten years of Marc’s studio and highlights the progression in his work to date.
Next course dates TBA. Japanese style joinery can be extremely complicated but there are occasions when simplicity and function come together to make the perfect form.
Cost: £350. Tutor: Derek Jones.
Next course dates TBA.
The six board chest is a design that is almost as old as the concept of furniture itself and is as relevant today as it has ever been.
Cost: £350. Tutor: Derek Jones.
Next course: TBA.
This course is taught by expert maker Derek Jones. The key principles for building a cricket table are simplicity, necessity and ingenuity. Using just two types of joint it’s possible to create a robust structure from almost any species of wood that can be used to make a variety of different pieces of furniture.
Jamie Furlong did the 50 week designer maker course with us in 2021. Previously, Jamie enjoyed yachting and has been able to take his career one step closer as a boat builder now.
Luke Evans joined us in 2021 from Australia, he studied the 50 Week Furniture Design and Makers course. Here, three main pieces are designed and made giving students a good all round knowledge of the skills needed to make high-end work.
Maquette making is a useful way of planning a project. It helps the maker to see if proportions and materials work well together on a model, often very small.
Joe Robinson completed a 50 Week Furniture Design & Makers’ course.
Here you can see the three projects he completed in his time with us.
Fascinated by different landscapes, Joe has been looking at Iceland in particular and has taken inspiration from skeiðarársandur river delta. Made from valchromat and hand carved for the texture.
Robinson House Studio Workshop and surroundings tour and promotional video 2022.
Do get in touch with any of the team here at RHS
If you have any questions regarding any of the courses please contact Jo our administrator or Theo our senior tutor here:
Email: admin@marcfish.co.uk.
Or Tel: +4401273 513611.
If you’d like to speak to Marc Fish please email him here: info@marcfish.co.uk.
Crafted Conservation: John Makepeace OBE and Marc Fish
The artists introduce their practices, both deeply rooted in experimental material science. With thanks to Sarah Myerscough and her gallery.
Peter studied on the full time 50-week Furniture Making and Designing course. He says – “sessions with Marc really opened my eyes to different ways of approaching things.”
Christian Watson featured in Elle Deco, July 2021
This wonderful low table was designed and made here at the school by our 50 week student Jed. The table stands 380mm high and at its widest point is 1100mm in diameter.
Wilson Law, 50 week student at robinson house studio 2021 completed three excellent pieces of work.
We’re delighted to be back up and running not only with lockdown easing and an awful lot of risk assessments under our belts but our new premises is finished and amazing!
Tegan Foley writes “Constantly striving to transcend the barriers of art, design, sculpture and furniture, this iconic piece by Marc Fish really does stand in a class of its own.”
With access to 3D printing for prototyping and a CNC machine, I was keen to use these facilities for my first project.
We were thrilled to see ex-student Anna Dugard’s wonderful console table featured in Furniture & Cabinetmaking magazine. F&C is an industry stalwart, it focuses exclusively on fine furniture with the aim of promoting excellence in furniture making, so we are always delighted to see our students’ work showcased.