Introducing our third group of talented students who are showcasing their finely crafted pieces at the 2021 Graduate Exhibition & Sale. Group 3 were tutored over the past year, by Clare and Grant.
This year’s Graduate Exhibition took place at the School from September 8th until the 11th September. If you couldn’t make it in person, don’t fret as we have shared some wonderful content from the exhibition across our Instagram and Facebook pages.
Meet the talented graduating students in Group 3 from the Professional Course 2021…
Anna Patxot Bertran, Switzerland
a n n a
Learning at the Chippendale School has been for Anna an ‘enriching, intense, challenging and fun experience’ that has prepared her for the start of her professional furniture making career. She begins her design process by searching for a connection between the object and its surroundings – rather than focusing on one style, she allows the aesthetics to form around simple lines to create elegant and functional pieces. The collection from a n n a will be the first of many more creations and bespoke furniture pieces.
Instagram: @annafurnituredesign
John Heuchan, UK
Laurel & Wood
John Heuchan loves to create ‘simple designs with elegant straight lines’ and has an experimental approach – for example, he loved using reeded glass in the doors of a display cabinet to give subtle glimpses into its content, as well as trying different ways of adapting the legs to support the top of a console. After graduation, John plans to start running his own business, Laurel & Wood, where he will expand on his experience and work on fitted furniture such as bespoke kitchens and wardrobes.
Instagram & Facebook: @laurelandwood
George Young, UK
Braw Wood
George Young has always dreamed of designing and making furniture, inspired by Arts and Crafts, Shaker and Japanese furniture. Over the past ten months he has been able to follow in the footsteps of designers he admires, like George Nakashima and Tim Stead, to create fine furniture that he hopes will outlive him and several generations. George’s work enjoys simplicity and functionality, while celebrating the beauty of wood. Follow his journey as he develops his own furniture design business, Braw Wood, at Myreside Studios.
Instagram and Facebook: @brawwood
Website: www.brawwood.co.uk
Alison Thacker, UK
The Toadstool Nook
“Ideas and inspiration bounce around the room” says Alison, of the ‘magical’ experience of being surrounded by other creatives and using the ‘vault’s worth’ of knowledge passed on from Chippendale’s tutors. Whether it’s a flippable coffee table that emulates a cozy patchwork blanket or a treasure chest to hold evidence of your adventures, Alison tries to incorporate a sensation of welcoming comfort into her designs in order to make furniture that naturally feels like home. Following her time at Myreside Studios, Alison dreams of moving her business, The Toadstool Nook, back to her homeland on the West Coast of Scotland.
Instagram: @thetoadstoolnook
Ben Barbour, UK
Benedict Barbour Design
Inspired by working as an artist and curator for museums in the Gulf, Ben developed a display case in American Black Walnut for people to ‘curate a museum in their own home’. Ben’s marquetry cabinet design was developed from an observational drawing he produced during lockdown. The cabinet itself is fabricated from locally sourced Sycamore and Wych Elm, adding to the site-specific nature of the piece. After graduation, Ben will rent a workbench at Myreside Studios to develop his business, Benedict Barbour Design, alongside continuing his own practise as an artist.
Instagram: @benedictbarbourdesign
Website: www.benedictbarbourdesign.com
Follow in our graduates’ footsteps…
We are currently accepting applications for our next Professional Course for 2022/23. If you are interested in this or any of our other courses, see more information here.