Last week, two intermediate course students started on their one-month stay with us. One, Kelvin Palmer from East Lothian, is a retired hospital consultant. He comes to us with little woodworking experience. His interest in furniture making was sparked by coming to our end-of-term exhibition. The idea of woodworking as a serious hobby in retirement …
We’re always delighted when a graduating student decides to set up in business from incubation space at the school. But it usually takes a little while before commissions start to roll in. However, Eion Gibbs from the Scottish Highlands won his first piece of business before graduating. Through his business, Belladrum Woodworking, he’s currently building …
Our professional course Student of the Year is Christian Burt, from Portland, Oregon. He initially studied photography, then worked on an organic farm growing a variety of soft fruits, before deciding to train for a more hands-on career. Christian came to the school with no experience in working with wood, but quickly showed innate design …
The recipient of this award is chosen by the students themselves, for the professional course student whose work they feel deserves recognition. This year, the award went to Grant Anderson, originally from Zimbabwe but now living in Scotland. He lived in London for some 14 years and worked in the motorbike business before moving to …
This award is made to the professional course student who showed exceptional design skill. This year’s recipient was Ross Cunnison, originally from Aberdeenshire but now living in Edinburgh. He first came to the Chippendale school on a one-week introductory course. Ross previously worked offshore for ten years in the oil and gas sector. Prior to …
One unique aspect of a professional course at the Chippendale school is that it also teaches the basics of business planning and marketing. Because there’s little point in being the best furniture designer in the world if you can’t market yourself. It’s a holistic approach designed to give our students the best start to their …
