Taxidermy - it's a bit like Marmite - you either love it or hate it.

And it seems singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor and her family love it - because they've already signed up to attend a taxidermy class in Chiswick next month.

You could also be part of the experience and learn the intriguing art of stuffing dead animals, from skinning to stuffing, by joining an evening of taxidermy with Mabel Edwards at Chiswick Town Hall on May 13.

Ms Edwards said: "I wanted to bring taxidermy to Chiswick to give local people from my area the chance to learn the fascinating ancient craft.

"Quite a few people of the area have told me about the stuffed animals in their houses so perhaps Chiswick is an area somewhat already familiar with taxidermy."

Mabel Edwards

Sponsored by local distillery Sipsmith, who will be bringing along some gin for anybody feeling nervous, this will be the first in a small series of beginner taxidermy evening classes teaching the basics and giving people the chance to create their own little masterpiece - or at the very least kill your curiosity about the process.

The 26-year-old has worked in Chiswick for a long time and was keen to offer people a chance to have a taxidermy class on their doorstep.

The class will help you create a life-like mount of a stuffed white mouse, which students will then be able to take home.

Ms Edwards, of Bassien Park Road, in Shepherds Bush, said: "I was studying fashion and, through a project I based on how humans live with and use animals, I made a dress with mink on (I used an antique mink scarf) and a headpiece with a real mouse on which I had learned how to stuff.

"The taxidermy was so fascinating that I lost interest in fashion!"

The west Londoner has trained with professional Taxidermist George Jamieson and is a member of The UK Guild of Taxidermists.

She has incorporated taxidermy into her artwork since 2011 and has previously taught at the Last Tuesday Society in East London and at the Idler Academy in west London.

Ms Edwards hopes to add more beginners' mouse classes as well as intermediate bird day classes and a two-day small mammal course.

Hammersmith & Fulham and Ealing will see taxidermy classes in the near future too.

She added: "People are still always shocked to hear what I do and almost always very interested and suddenly ask me all sorts of questions.

"Mostly, 'what's the biggest thing you've stuffed'? Also, 'would you ever stuff a human?'

"The answer is a fox... and no."

There are seven places left for the class in May.

All students are provided with props and gloves. All animals are disease free and no animals were killed for this class. No experience necessary.

What: An Evening of Taxidermy with Sipsmith’s Gin

Where: Chsiwick Town Hall

When: Wednesday May 13 from 7pm to 11pm

Cost: £70 from http://mabeltaxidermy.bigcartel.com/