Yuqi, Malaysia
Furniture courses: Teaching staff
Full-time Teaching Staff
The Chippendale School has attracted teaching staff who are recognised in their fields for their experience and expertise. Highly regarded visiting experts also teach on the furniture course (scroll down to see profiles).
Anselm Fraser - School Principal and Senior Lecturer
Anselm trained in Sussex with Michael Hay-Will in 1981 before setting up his bespoke furniture and handmade kitchen business, Anselm Fraser Furniture. He started the Chippendale International School of Furniture in 1985 and has since trained nearly 300 Students, many of whom have gone on to open furniture and cabinet making businesses around the world.
A natural communicator with an outgoing personality, Anselm's hands-on and enthusiastic approach to teaching is much loved by his students. His inspirational style marries the 18th century values of Thomas Chippendale with 21st century techniques.
Anselm’s lectures are one of the highlights of the school day, but he believes that it is only by living and working with wood in a busy workshop that a student can excel in this demanding discipline. Highly regarded in the furniture world, Anselm is also a guest lecturer at Edinburgh University and Gordonstoun College.
His extra-curricular activities include walking and swimming. For more information go to Founder.
Alan McGovern - Workshop Manager & Health & Safety Advisor
Since leaving high school in 1985 Alan was trained by Anselm at the Chippendale International School of Furniture with further training at The Midland International School of Polishing. He is an expert in finishing and polishing techniques, and an accomplished teacher and demonstrator.
Alan also has a Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) Assessors’ Award which means that Alan works as an assessor to validate UK Government recognised furniture-making exams.
In his spare time Alan enjoys going to the gym and computing.
Graham Davies - Senior Tutor, Veneer, Marquetry & Gilding
Graham joined the school in 1990 and is now its Senior Tutor. He is a time-served furniture restorer and maker. Graham specialises in veneer repairs, especially Dutch marquetry and gilding, and he is also an expert in colour matching. Graham passes his passion for furniture making onto his students.
Graham served a 3 year apprenticeship at the Chippendale School of Furniture. He has also attended the Jean Burhouse Furniture workshop in colour matching with the German company Konig, where he honed his expertise in veneer repairs, Dutch marquetry and gilding.
Beyond the workshop, Graham enjoys cycling and home improvements.
Clare Charleston - Restoration
After leaving school in 1996 Clare wanted to do some form of craft and design; she was given the opportunity to do her apprenticeship at the Chippendale School of Furniture. She added to this by attaining an SQA in Hand Crafted Furniture, Joints and Assembly Furniture between 1997 and 1998.
As a fully trained furniture restorer, she combines her work in the commercial workshop with her role as support teacher. Clare also became a qualified First Aider in the Workplace in 2008. Claire finds furniture restoration work very rewarding and passes this enthusiasm onto her students.
Clare likes abseiling and hopes to undertake an Open University course.
Sandy Burns - Workshop Co-ordinator & Tutor
Sandy joined the School in 2004 as a student then stayed on to expand his skills and opportunities. He is particularly good at helping students get the most out of the course for their own long term benefit. Sandy has chosen carving as his specialist field. When not carving explicit birds, doors and gothic carvings, he makes fabulous tables, kitchens and bespoke furniture. Sandy also maintains the machinery in the workshop to ensure smooth running.
His other passions are fly fishing in the summer and skiing in the winter.
Isobel Edgar - Admissions & Student Services Co-ordinator
Isobel joined the school in 1994 and is the first point of contact for all our prospective students. She arranges accommodation with host families or self contained accommodation, basically whatever a student needs Isobel can arrange. Her motto is "If a student is happy then I am happy".
Isobel enjoys cooking and is a very keen bowler and member of Gifford and East Lothian Bowling Club.
Visiting Experts
The school has built up a distinguished network of specialists who each make an invaluable contribution to the course. Some lecture at the school, for up to a week at a time, others welcome the students to their workshops or business premises. They are all successful professionals in their own right.
Professor David Jones - Furniture Historian
Professor David Jones of St Andrews University, is one of Scotland’s leading furniture historians. He gives a keynote lecture on the life and times of Thomas Chippendale.
www.st-andrews.ac.uk
www.thechippendalesociety.co.uk
Charlie Oldham - Master Carver – Wood carving
Charlie Oldham leads the session on woodcarving. He qualified as a Master Carver in 1988 having trained in top London workshops where he worked on some of the finest pieces of 18th century gilt wood furniture. He has worked on the restoration of Hampton Court, Spencer House and Windsor Castle. He runs his own carving workshop in Somerset.
www.charlesoldhamfinewoodcarving.co.uk/
Eilidh Keith - Stained Glass
Eilidh Keith is a professional stained glass artist. She trained at the Glasgow and Edinburgh Schools of Art, then completed a Masters in Hot Glass and Sculpture at Ohio State University. In 1988 she set up the Glass Art Studio in Glasgow and since 1990 has also taught at the Glasgow School of Art. Her work can be seen in many of Scotland’s historic churches.
www.gsa.ac.uk
Tom Thackray - Windsor Chair Maker
Tom Thackray presents the five day course where students learn how to make a classic Windsor Chair. Tom, who is based in Yorkshire has over 40 years experience in the tradition of the making of Windsor Chairs.
www.tomthackraywindsorchairs.co.uk
Simon Macintyre - Furniture Restoration Expert
Simon Macintyre is a specialist tutor in furniture restoration. He has his own successful furniture restoration business in Sussex.
Download Furniture Restoration
Wepham Farm Stables, Wepham
Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9RQ
Tel: 01903 883387
Gareth Evans - Gilding
Gareth Evans takes the gilding session. He graduated from St Martins College of Art, London and went on to gain experience with the famous London gilder, Ray Knight. Gareth has a gilding practice in Devon and attracts clients from across the world.
www.societyofgilders.org
Ralph Curry - Wood Turning
Ralph Curry teaches the art of wood turning. He trained at the Merristwood Arboreal College and worked for 20 years as a tree surgeon across Scotland. He became a wood turner and bowl maker in 1995 and his work is sold in some of London’s top stores including Harrods. He also provides the school with its supply of local hardwoods and gives students a memorable demonstration of his mobile sawmill.
Alec Glass - Upholstery
Alec Glass demonstrates the skills of upholstery in the first term. He has ran a successful business in Musselburgh, outside Edinburgh for 25 years, and learned his skills from his father. He works on contemporary pieces as well as commissions for museums and private collections.