UK TAXIDERMY COURSES

Next UK Taxidermy Training Courses

Course	Skill Level	Course Dates	Period	Price	Places Available (4 Max)
Mammal	Beginner	Friday 6th to Sunday 8th August 2010	3 Days	£420	FULL
Bird	Beginner	Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th September 2010	3 Days	£420	FULL
Mammal	Beginner	Friday 5th to Sunday 7th November 2010	3 Days	£420	FULL
Mammal	Beginner	Friday 11th to Sunday 12th February 2011	3 Days	£440	1
Bird	Beginner	Friday 25th to Sunday 27th March 2011	3 Days	£440	FULL
Bird	Beginner	Friday 15th to Sunday 17th April 2011	3 Days	£440	3
Mammal	Beginner	Friday 4th to Sunday 6th June 2011	3 Days	£440	4
(NEW) Bird	Intermediate to Advanced	Dates to be arranged mutually once I have sufficient interest - please fill in the form below if of interest	2 Days	£280	2
NEW DATES TO BE ADVISED - PLEASE FILL IN FORM BELOW IF INTERESTED AND WE WILL NOTIFY ASAP
Fill in the Application form to book a place and send a deposit cheque (made payable to Mike Gadd) for half the course fee which will be cashed when the course is fully booked. The remainder is payable on the day.

Three Day Taxidermy Course Structure including your mounted item.

Mike has taught a good number of successful taxidermists and does a few taxidermy training courses each year.

Mike is well known as a competition judge and for his ability as a taxidermist and sculptor. As you will see from this web site, Mike has a wealth of knowledge to offer that will be of tremendous benefit.

Selection of Photos from the Beginners Courses

click to enlarge		click to enlarge	click to enlarge
Students making mannequins and anatomy lessons	Worried students with beraggled jays !	Final assembly details
click to enlarge		Absolute beginners to having produced a very respectable first bird/mammal -  Well Done !

Bird or Small Mammal Taxidermy Course
3 Day Weekend Course 

Three Day Course priced as above including your mounted item on a base, log book sheet, taxidermy suppliers' names and addresses.

There are considerable differences between bird and mammal, hence the two courses, but the core principles are similar. Quite a few people have either started on the bird and been back to do the mammal or started on the mammal and been back to do the bird and they have all found that even the similar sections helped to reiterate what they had learnt.

Three Day Course Structure

• High quality training in my village studio in Boston Spa West Yorkshire
• Taxidermy & the Law learn all you need to know (inc log sheet)
• Anatomy lesson clear learning through practical model building
• Use of measurements learn how to control all the most common mistakes
• Skinning, Degreasing you will be shown all the necessary short cuts stage by stage
• Washing & Drying learn Mike's techniques over 20 years of perfecting
• Making a Mannequin traditional bind up method is used (the most flexible) modern carving casting methods shown.
• Assembly stage by stage assembly giving the greatest control and simplicity and a procedure to help produce good results across all animals.
• Most important of all Modeling this most complex area covered in great detail
• Max 4 people with similar stage of achievement to make sure you get full attention and help.
• What do I need to bring? All materials provided, all you need to bring is a Note book, and camera if you wish, (but no sound or video recorder).
• You take home your finished piece look at the photos above; that could be you.
• Refreshments provided including light lunch for each day of the course
• Start 9.00 am to 4.30-5pm flexible to how we are doing
• Finishing techniques including decoration of bases 

Accommodation can be arranged in the village within walking distance to studio

Also included suppliers names and addresses chemicals needed information on law and keeping your log book.

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Three Day Course including your mounted item on a base, log book sheet, taxidermy suppliers' names and addresses.
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Application form

Please feel free to ring and ask any questions about the Courses
Contact:
Mike Gadd at Hollydean Cottage, Padmans Lane, Boston Spa, West Yorkshire LS23 6BR, UK 
Tel 01937 844580

Comments from past students:

"I wish to thank you for a great experience of knowledge that has come my way through attending your taxidermy course; invaluable information that will lay the foundation for me in the future. I really had a wonderful time with you and the class and this was only made possible by you. You are a great teacher and I was privileged to be there."
C. Hackett

"I had a wonderful time on Mike's course. I arrived to research a book, and left a complete convert. It's a fascinating process, and I can't imagine a better guide to it than Mike. For weeks after, all I could think about was how you get stuffed stuff stuffed."
Sam Leith - his book, Dead Pets (ISBN 1 84195 648 1), has an interesting chapter on what you might expect from the course.

Application form

 

 

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Intermediate to Advanced Bird Course (NEW)

Designed for those who have completed the beginner Bird Taxidermy course (or are struggling to advance their work)

Quite a few students are now at the stage of being able to get to grips with the assembly and produce an item but need to move the quality of their work forward.

The (Two Days) Weekend Course Outline is:

• You bring a skinned, fleshed, washed bird and manakin you have made (medium size bird your choce as you will be taking it back home)
• You bring some past work (optional but advisable) for professional critique - this is a crutial part of learning and all comments are directed at how to improve.
• You also bring a log or rock etc for your bird
• There will be a maximum of four students
• Lunch and refreshments will be provided

If this sounds of interest, please fill in the form and I will contact you regarding dates and pricing.

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ACCOMMODATION

BOSTON SPA

The Lodge 126a High Street Boston Spa LS23 6BW
Tel: 01937 844976 Mob: 07802 636900
The Lodge B&B Boston Spa
Entrance to the B&B is on the start of Padmans Lane, so its only a 100 yard walk to the studio. Please mention my name and that you're coming on the course when booking.

Four Gables Bed & Breakfast Oaks Lane Boston Spa LS23 6DS
Tel 01937 845592; www.fourgables.co.uk
5 mins walk from village centre and the studio.

Crown Hotel 128 High Street Boston Spa LS23 6BW
Tel: 01937 842006
It’s a pub that does B&B

WETHERBY (3 miles from Boston Spa)

Ramada Jarvis Leeds Road Wetherby LS22 5HE
Tel 01937 583881; www.jarvis.co.uk/hotels/locations/wetherby

Swan & Talbot 34 North Street Wetherby LS22 6NN
Tel 01937 582040; www.swanandtalbot.co.uk

Swan Guest House 38 North Street Wetherby LS22 6NN
Tel 01937 582381

DAYS INN WETHERBY Junction 46, A1 M Kirk Deighton Wetherby LS22 5GT
Tel 01937 7547557; www.daysinn.com
Motorway services

Maustin Caravan Park Kearby Nr Wetherby LS22 4DA
Tel 0113 2886234; www.maustin.co.uk
Caravan and camp site

TADCASTER (4 miles from Boston Spa)

The Calcaria 2 Westgate Tadcaster LS24 9JB; tel 01937 835695

Oakleigh Guest House 28 Wetherby Road Tadcaster LS24 9JN; tel 01937 833344

Shann House Hotel 47 Kirkgate Tadcaster LS24 9AQ; tel 01937 833931

WIGHILL MANOR CARAVAN SITE Manor House Farm Wighill Tadcaster North Yorkshire LS24 8BT
Tel 01937 833688; www.wighillcaravansite.co.uk
Caravans only

WHIXLEY (7 miles from Boston Spa)

WHIXLEY LODGE FARM Whixley Lodge Clockhill Field Lane YO26 8EE
Tel: 07719 830020 / 07783 796892
www.whixleylodgefarmcampsite.web.officelive.com
Camp site

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