Graduate Exhibition 2023

9 months goes by pretty quickly! I have made many friends for life and learned skills that would be more difficult to gain elsewhere, as well as a lot of practical knowledge in woodworking skills and business.

I’ve really enjoyed my experience at the Chippendale School. The Professional course takes commitment and focus, as we are learning about a huge range of woodworking and design skills within a nine-month period.

We have a lot of creative freedom here and we have round-the-clock support from our woodworking tutors. It’s great to be following a path that makes me feel fulfilled – every day I go home happy.

My grandfather inspired me to become a furniture maker. I used to help him with his woodworking projects when I was a kid, and since then I’ve wanted to make this my career.

At the Chippendale School I’ve particularly enjoyed the design elements of the course. Although I had worked with wood before, I didn’t know how to design a project from scratch. We have worked with a drawing tutor who has shown us how to design things. After I graduate, I want to start my own furniture business back in the States.

With no prior experience, I truly wasn’t certain how the course would go: leaving my career and moving to Scotland for the year was a huge leap of faith. But I deeply believe that with no risks, you get no magic. I took a big risk and received so much magic in return. 

Count the cost. Take the risk as the potential rewards are massive but know the reality of what you’re doing. Success won’t be immediate or certain, but you will gain confidence, learn so much about yourself, and be welcomed into the most fun and supportive community of woodworkers.

It was an adventurous experience for me which has opened up a new world of opportunity. I made good friends, met great tutors and used the best machinery in the best environment!

The past nine months have been fantastic and intense in all sorts of ways. The greatest advantage of being in the full-time course environment was having access to the incredibly wide-ranging knowledge of all the tutors. This made every day an opportunity to ask as many questions as I could and absorb as much information as possible.

My experience at the Chippendale school was excellent. I have left feeling confident to make essentially anything out of wood. If you are looking to elevate your abilities to the utmost professional standards, this is a fantastic option.

Studying at the Chippendale School has been an intense and enjoyable learning experience. I have gained a wealth of new skills and knowledge in a highly encouraging and creative environment.