“I had the most amazing afternoon in the Wagtail workshop with James Deakin. I learnt loads about designing and making jewellery. James helped me make a beautiful silver bumble bee pendant and several cool silver rings. I didn’t think it was possible to make jewellery out of an old silver tea spoon! I can’t believe I achieved so much in just a few hours: designing, cutting, melting, casting, soldering, finishing and polishing silver. I loved it! 

My favourite bit was making a sand mould cast and then pouring in liquid silver to create my own personalised bee necklace pendant. I can’t wait to go back again and make something else! James made it such a fun experience.”

“My son, Johnnie, recently attended a workshop at wagtail Retreat with James. He took an old silver spoon with him, and they worked together to design and create a signet ring which my son absolutely loves! Johnnie has since had it engraved with his initials, and it looks like it was professionally made. He melted the left-over silver into a mould he made of a shark tooth (which he took with him to the workshop); it looks very cool!

Johnnie thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience; James is very friendly, creative and knowledgeable, and is passionate about jewellery making. I would recommend the experience to anyone. Johnnie had the best time.”

“I bought the Wagtail Workshop jewellery design experience for my daughter as a birthday treat. It far surpassed all my expectations. James was brilliant giving my daughter one-to-one hands on expert jewellery design manufacture experience in his ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of tools, presses, clamps and bunsen burners. My daughter left the workshop beaming from ear to ear: hugely inspired by James’s passion, buzzing from the whole experience, and proudly clutching some fabulous personalised  jewellery which she now treasures. I’ll will be back with my other daughter soon.”

“James was an extremely patient and enthusiastic mentor helping me to create a gorgeous piece of jewellery out of melted down silver. He helped me throughout the process and showed me what to do but helped out when asked. He gave me ideas for my project and helped me along the way to make what I was making the best it possibly could be. I managed to learn so much from my experience and he inspired me to want to do more of it. I will definitely be coming back again!”

“My son Arthur had the most wonderful time with James at Wagtail Workshop.  He had a really rewarding creative experience and produced 3 pieces of jewellery which he walked away with at the end of the day!  James was a great teacher - inspiring and enthusiastic.  Arthur really enjoyed the experience - now my other son and I want a go!”

“What a fantastic experience! From creating the moulds to chopping up the cutlery and attacking them with the fine blue flame, melting them to a shiny mercurial globule. From the pouring to the buffing, soldering and stamping, everything was intriguing.

All the little steps needed to produce a treasured little item were intensely satisfying.”

“A very enjoyable and instructive session. Being cack-handed and clumsy I was amazed at what I achieved under James’ expert and patient guidance! I will definitely be back for a follow-up session.”

“I was lucky enough to be gifted an afternoon at the Wagtail Workshop. It was such a delight to spend the afternoon with my daughter learning how to produce cast silver jewellery. We did everything from scratch and each created a beautiful pendant. My 11-year-old daughter really enjoyed melting down the old silver, while I enjoyed filing and polishing during the finishing process. Seeing the beautiful finished pieces was extremely satisfying.

James, who runs the workshop, made everything easy. He was on hand at every moment to ensure that what we produced was something to cherish, guiding us every step of the way. James’s quirky workshop is full of vintage tools and treasures, making the whole experience much more special. It was such a wonderful, relaxed afternoon.

I would highly recommend this experience, whether as a gift or to enjoy with friends and family, as it's truly a unique experience. Thank you, James - we will be back!”

“Thank you for an incredible day, crafting a signet ring for Rebecca using her father's old silver bracelet. From the moment we started, you brought your extensive knowledge and expertise to the table, making the entire experience enjoyable and meaningful. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, which helped ease any anxiety about working with precious materials. You took the time to understand my vision and shared insightful ideas on how to make the ring truly special.

What made the day even more memorable was the personal touch you added. You encouraged me to incorporate elements that represented my wife's personality and her family's legacy, creating a piece that tells a lovely story. As we worked together, I felt a deeper connection to the bracelet and its sentimental value. By the end of the day, I walked away with not only a stunning signet ring but also a rewarding experience of collaboration and creativity. I can't wait to present this beautiful piece to my wife and see her reaction. Thank you, James, for helping me turn a precious family heirloom into a timeless treasure!