Belen Gallego, our most recent intermediate course student, will be leaving us on Friday to return home to Barcelona.

She’ll be taking with her a beautifully-designed and hand-crafted writing desk that she has made during her month with us.

The olive ash desk with chalk-painted cabriole legs will soon have pride of place in her Spanish home.

Belen has thoroughly enjoyed her stay with us in Scotland and now intends to buy hand tools, rent workshop space and continue her woodworking journey.

Our intermediate course is perfect for keen hobbyists like Belen because it provides students with a whole range of skills to really get to grips with woodworking.

Belen has been on other short woodworking courses and came on our intermediate course because there was nothing similar in Spain.

It’s maybe one reason why this course, only introduced last year, is proving so popular – with students coming from as far away as Germany, Trinidad & Tobago and Brazil.

Belen also found the time to make an olive ash chopping board and beech serving tray, with their handles shaped into ducks’ heads, a very creative design flourish.