Bursary Awards
Applications for the next bursary awards will be announced soon. Click here (pdf) to see an example of the previous rules and timetable.
Bursary Award Winners 2026
In 2026 the Turners’ Company offered Bursaries to help talented turners develop their skills and to move to a higher level of achievement. Applicants needed to present a clear plan of how the award would advance their work and raise the profile of the craft. A total of £12,000 was available.
We had an unprecedented number of applications and it was very difficult to choose our final awardees. However, we are proud to announce our impressive list of 2026 awardees below:
Already a successful and recognised turner (WIW Master’s Exhibitor, and winner of the V&A Choice Award), Max is to be encouraged to continue in his development and growth as a turner. The committee are keen to play a strong part in that and have therefore offered a large contribution towards the training with Giorio Romani in Italy to help Max in turning larger forms.
Already a successful and recognised turner (WiW Master’s Exhibitor), Stewart is to be encouraged to continue in his development and growth as a turner. The committee are keen to play a strong part in that and are offering a large contribution towards training with Alan Mailland in France to help Stewart grow professionally.
“I believe that both of these opportunities to work closely with highly acclaimed and accomplished wood artists will help strengthen not only my technical skills, but also my artistic purpose, intent and aspirations. These opportunities will take me out of the comfort zone of working alone in my workshop where there is no one standing over my shoulder to offer a critique of what I am doing or to offer suggestions for new directions. They will take my turning beyond the level I have reached and show me avenues for further development and growth”.
This application was novel and intellectually fascinating, and is strongly supported.
Geoff and Amy will visit the region of Asturias in Spain to track down pole lathes, tools and almost lost techniques. The region of Asturias in Northern Spain is famed for its country crafts which have continued for longer than elsewhere in Europe due to the remoteness of its villages and towns. They have discovered links to two pole lathe turners who have knowledge of the lathe via an unbroken link back to when these lathes were being used regularly. “This is very exciting as in the UK, the last spindle and bowl turners (The Bodgers and George Lailey) ceased turning in the 1950’s with no obvious continuation, save perhaps the work of Stuart King. There is only one old photo of an endgrain cup turner that we know of from France and little is known of the tools they used to hollow endgrain on the pole lathe. We are convinced that such a trip would bring great benefits to the growing pole lathe community in the UK”.
Alicja’s approach to bringing emotion into turned objects has already been recognised through the award of the AWGB first prize at WIW25 and was welcomed by the committee, as is her zeal for experimentation and discovery. The committee is delighted to award her funds towards training with Jason Breach and Colwin Way. She is strongly encouraged to develop her practice commercially as well as artistically.
Lilo is already an experienced, talented and recognised maker. His work featured on the cover of the WIW magazine 2025. He is a qualified goldsmith with over 20 years’ experience and has worked with different types of metal, precious and not, introducing wood into his jewellery creations. The committee are keen to support his further development as a turner, and is delighted to support him with his training with Phil Irons.
Harvey gave an impressive presentation and put forward a strong case for a bursary award. In 2025, he set up Kimble Turning, a UK registered company, with the aim of developing a career in turning and wood art. He also developed his old garden shed to create a large woodturning studio space The committee were keen to support him in building up his skills and confidence to become a professional woodturner and were happy to offer him an award to enable him to take training from Phil Irons on large hollow form turning.
Adam gave a strong application, rooted in sound personal knowledge, appropriate ambition, and family tradition.
He has specialised in woodwork for nearly 9 years, combining a background in landscaping with formal university art school training. He is a self taught turner, but aware of his limitations. Adam founded an arts collective in 2024 as a way to provide a platform for himself and other independent makers committed to sustainable craft. “My longterm goal is to offer more advanced courses. Access to better equipment and specialist training will allow me to increase my scale and standard of woodturning, and build a sustainable woodturning practice rooted in community”.
Adam’s application was strongly supported and the committee wish him well and look forward to hearing and seeing the results from his training courses in Windsor Chair Making and with Geoff Hannis Tree to Treen.
Yunseol Yeum
The committee found Yunseol a driven and enthusiastic turner who deserves strong support and encouragement for her obviously considerable potential to be realised. The committee were in full support of the training with Randon Burns on spherical shape making, The committee were also keen to offer support for training in green wood working and pole lathe turning to extend her skills repertoire at London Green Wood.
Victor has an exciting mix of skills, experience and future ambition, and the committee were very keen to support and encourage this. Victor was awarded funding towards a course with Francis Wood and with Andy May.
“In 2024, I became a self employed instrument maker/repairer and I have enjoyed the practice of maintaining and playing the Northumbrian small pipes (NSP). Self funding my own journeys to see makers and players around the country such as Andy May and Francis Wood. In this time I have learnt that the NSP have an unbroken tradition in England in both their playing and construction since the 17th century. Offering me a deep language of turning techniques and ornamentation to use throughout my career as an instrument maker”.
Currently a self-employed garden designer and landscape project manager, the committee were impressed by Guy’s enthusiasm and progression. There is every reason to believe that Guy can make the transition from gardener to professional woodturner, and there was a real enthusiasm to support Guy in this endeavour. The requested award is approved for training with Phil Irons.
Bursary Award Winners 2024
Bursary Award Winners 2022
Bursary Award Winners 2019
Bursary Awards Winners 2017
Bursary Award Winners 2015
Bursary Award Winners 2013
Kevin Garwood
John Turner
John Fells
The bursary has enabled the winners to attend training courses, seminars, and some have also purchased or loaned equipment. Michael Hanbury attended a 3 week training course at the Escoulen School of Turning in France as a result of his bursary win. Further information about these winners can be found on page 15 of the Summer 2013 issue of The Turner.
Bursary Award Winners 2011
Bursary Award Winners 2009
Bursary Award Winners 2007
Bursary Award Winners 2005
Bursary Award Winners 2003
Bursary Award Winners 2001
Christopher Barker
Mark Hancock
Laura Ponting
If you have been inspired to try your hand at woodturning, visit the Register of Professional Turners website where you will find a UK wide list of dedicated turners, teachers and demonstrators.