Many students come to the Chippendale school having never worked with wood before. Alex Stanton, from Brisbane in Australia, has the advantage of three years experience fitting timber floors and staircases. He’s also had a long interest in designing furniture and has tried his hand at making simple pieces such as tables. In deciding to …
The Chippendale school is more than just a place of learning. It is a community of people who share a love of woodworking – whether as tutors, students, or graduates who have stayed on at the school in incubation space. Everyone at the school is passionate about their craft, and always happy to share that …
David Hall is a former teacher whose previous job was teaching English at a primary school in Hong Kong. Thinking ahead, he’s now bought a farmhouse and outbuildings in rural Aberdeenshire which he intends to convert into a studio and workshop. With stunning countryside and beaches nearby, he’s also hoping that footfall to his studio …
Ross Cunnison, originally from Stonehaven but now living in Edinburgh, previously worked offshore for ten years in the oil and gas sector. Prior to that he studied geophysics at the University of Edinburgh. His decision to enroll on our professional course was influenced by enjoying his experience of being on a Chippendale school one-week introductory …
Tom Smyth from Bristol has swapped life at The Community Farm in Chew Magna, Somerset for a different hands-on year as a professional furniture student. His previous job was working for an organic vegetable box scheme, making up boxes of fruit and vegetables and delivering them around the Bristol area. But, looking for a change, …
It’s always a pleasure to see what our intermediate students can design and make in just a month of tuition. But under the expert eye of Alan McGovern, who has over 30 years of woodworking experience and is the principal tutor on the course, everyone seems to excel in woodworking skill and design creativity. One …
