A PASSION for seeing old items come back to life has led one woman to share her restoration skills.

Anne Miller, who runs Belmont Studios, in Wrelton, with her husband Anthony Miller, has introduced upholstery and caning restoration classes after qualifying with a City & Guild.

“The restoration of chairs is a craft that goes back hundreds of years and my passion for the traditional techniques is the key to helping the students in achieving their best for their projects," Anne said.

"When it comes to design choices, chairs can be very close family heirlooms and it is important to offer advice to suit both the style of the chair and the student’s personal taste, whether classic or more contemporary.”

Of French origin, Anne said she had enjoyed from an early age the activity of restoring old "items", from small pieces of furniture to later, whole properties.

"Though too old to enrol at the Designs and Arts Ecole Boulle of Paris, I decided in my late thirties to combine my love for antiques and fabrics and to formally retrain in traditional upholstery and caning restoration," she said.

"I obtained my City & Guild qualifications after five years of tuition with a leading upholsterer for whom precision of work and respect for the piece of furniture - whatever its style and age - was at the centre of the restoration process.

"However, this does not prevent adding a modern or quirky twist to an old family heirloom or car-boot find and, within the framework of the class, anyone with a reasonably practical mind and crafty hand can apply themselves to this most rewarding learning activity.

"As a teacher, the rewards of seeing the total beginner proudly achieving their first completed restoration makes it all worth while."

With a maximum of six people per class, Anne is able to provide this individual tuition and advice to all levels of attendees, beginner or advanced.

Classes run Tuesdays to Thursdays in two-hour sessions at Belmont Studios, with a choice of times to suit everyone: mornings, afternoons and also evenings for those who work.

All the necessary tools are provided and upholstery/caning materials can be purchased in class.

For further information or to discuss your project, phone Anne on 01751 476 931 or email anne@belmont-upholstery.co.uk