Values
Craftmanship, furniture making, cabinetmaking - the values of the past are an inspiration for today's best furniture designers
When Anselm Fraser set up the school in 1985 he was determined to bring the steading back to life. Where there were once 30 farm hands working on the fertile East Lothian soil, Anselm wanted 30 men and women dedicated to the art of furniture making.
And he wanted his furniture school to be the best in the world. A school where students could learn how to be first class craftsmen and women, inspired by the work of Thomas Chippendale and other great furniture designers.
He has succeeded because his vision is rooted in the timeless values of expert tuition and sustainability.
Passing on the skills of cabinetmaking, woodworking and design
A book can teach the basics of woodworking, such as how to hold a chisel but it cannot show you the right amount of pressure to apply to achieve the best finish.
A website can display a range of veneers, but it cannot teach you how to obtain a perfect colour match. No book on cabinetmaking or website on woodworking, can replicate the atmosphere of the school’s workshops. Up to 20 students, each with their own workbench, learn from their experienced tutors and from each other.
Cabinetmaking and woodworking skills in a sustainable environment
The school promotes the use of locally sourced and sustainable materials, for teaching cabinetmaking skills; woodworking with a minimal environmental impact. Students are provided with oak, ash, elm, spalted beech, yew and sycamore. If a students wishes to use other timbers they will be charged accordingly.
Anselm and his staff have built a supportive, sustainable community that nurtures talent and celebrates creativity.