We’re still looking back at some of the standout furniture made by the class of 2017/18, and how a nine-month professional course at the Chippendale school gives students the skills they need for a career in fine woodworking.

Tom Dunne from Herefordshire was unsure what to do after leaving school, but a visit to the Chippendale school convinced him that woodworking was the right career path for him.

During his year with us, he proved to be a gifted young student demonstrating fine craftsmanship, a keen eye for design, and attention to detail.

His signature piece was a display cabinet that Tom designed to be the ideal record player, with lots of interior space to store vinyl records.

The cabinet was made from fumed oak, which lends dark drama to the patina, with brass hinges and glass doors.

His other stand-out piece was a walnut and sycamore coffee table with ebony inlays.  It’s African-inspired in a geometric pattern of complex veneers that add an unusual and eye-catching aesthetic to the piece.

Tom is setting up Thomas Dunne Furniture from incubation space at the school, and intends to stay on in Scotland for up to a year before opening his own business in Bristol.