Mary Ashton » Professional Demonstrators

I first discovered the pleasure of creating with wood when I attended an evening course at the Bristol Women’s Workshop, in the mid 1980’s. My tutor persuaded me that I had a natural affinity to both working with wood and teaching (she encouraged me to show others in the group the skills I had advanced further forward with).

Consequently I went onto study Fine Furniture  and Woodmachining both to Advanced City & Guilds levels. Whilst learning I taught on the Women’s Workshop course I had started with myself, and also provided courses for a charity that specialised in provision of craft courses for vulnerable adults.

Whilst attending my  furniture studies I enjoyed producing woodturned components for pieces of furniture, gaining confidence with copy turning and making items that reflected drawn designs for drawer handles, table legs, etc.

I discovered Max Carey’s workshop in Portishead in 2002, which later became the Max  Carey Woodturning Trust and for which I am a trustee. My woodturning skills and passion for turning advanced quickly here and my teaching provision evolved to become more about woodturning rather than furniture.

I now provide 1-2-1 woodturning tuition, to adults, and occasional demonstrations when I am able fit them in.