This award has been won by Darren Christie, a qualified zoologist from the Falkland Islands, for the quality of his marketing materials produced while on the course.

His work included an elm and fumed oak jewellery box which he made for his wife, complete with brass hanging pegs for necklaces, and drawers for other items

The box also has a hand-gilded mirror and is decorated with hand-carved Celtic knots, an intricate pattern of loops that have no start or finish and which represent friendship and love.  Darren also tied the leather drawer pulls into Celtic knots to match the carvings.

Adding significantly to the box’s complexity, its four sides are made from a single piece of elm that was carefully mitred so that the grain of wood flows organically around the box.

Earlier in the school year, Darren won our first-ever bedside cabinet award, a first-term project that gives students an introduction to different woodworking skills while working on a modestly-sized piece of furniture.

Like his jewellery box, his stylish oak and satinwood bedside cabinet is destined for Darren’s home in the South Atlantic.

Darren is now returning to the Falkland Islands to set up Desire Cabinetry in the islands’ capital, Port Stanley.

Read more about Darren’s story here