Malcolm Healey makes and restores fine string instruments and kindly agreed to let me join him for an hour of his working day this week. It's a photographer's dream (or certainly one of mine) when you turn up at a location that just shouts 'photogenic' at you! The hard part then is deciding where to really knuckle down a good set of images. Luckily for me, Malcolm's stories and demonstrations about particular instruments around his workshops made that easier - everything from new custom-builds to a lifelong restoration project on one of King George II's instruments.

Great workshops, interesting stories and a first-hand experience of a real craft - what more could I ask for?!