NNEWSEWSIn brief...
12 The Woodworker & Good Woodworking October 2019 http://www.getwoodworking.comCHIPPENDALE SCHOOL PRIZE WINNERS
nails. Christian’s specific design, asanoha, is a
particularly popular motif still used in architecture,
fashion and graphic design. The asanoha pattern,
based on regular hexagons or an aggregate of
triangles, is widely used on kimono and baby
clothes, and is believed to give health and long life.
Christian is now returning to Portland
to set up Christian Taylor Fine Woodcraft.
The Students’ Choice Award, chosen by the
students themselves, went to Grant Anderson,
originally from Zimbabwe but now living in
Scotland. His signature piece was a drinks
cabinet with some 1.8m of tambour door. The
complexity involved in Grant’s drinks cabinet is
that the external tambour doors also attach to
an inner tambour mechanism, giving a real sense
of motion as the tambour doors move in opposite
directions. Grant will now pursue a new career in
fine woodworking.Best Design Award
The Best Design Award went to Ross Cunnison,
originally from Aberdeenshire but now living in
Edinburgh, who first came to the Chippendale
school on a one-week introductory course.
His portfolio included a sideboard made from
olive ash, a coffee table in walnut and oak, and
a hall table in solid oak. Ross is going forwardsThe Chippendale International School of
Furniture has announced its prize-winning
student graduates for 2019. Each year, the
school takes 26 students from around the world
for its 30-week professional course, which
is a pathway to a career in fine furniture
design and making.
This year, the school welcomed students
from the USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia,
Poland, Germany and Iceland.Student of the Year
Student of the Year was Christian Burt, from
Portland, Oregon, who won the prestigious award
for his exceptional furniture made while studying
on the professional course. His Japanese-
inspired tea cabinet, made in sycamore and
beech, showed off his high level of accuracy and
craftsmanship. It has a kumiko limewood front
panel, which is the delicate and ancient Japanese
art of assembling pieces of wood without usingpiece was a rocking chair inspired by the late Sam
Maloof whose rockers are in national collections,
and have been owned by US presidents. Paul is
returning to Alberta to set up his own furniture
design business, Dry Tree Construction.Marketing Award
One unique aspect of a professional course
at the Chippendale school is that it teaches
the basics of business planning and marketing,
to give students the best start post-graduation.
The Marketing Award is given to the student who
creates the best portfolio of marketing materials,
and this year’s winner was Heather Jones from
Los Angeles. She demonstrated a flair for giving
personality to her pieces, carrying fun and quirky
descriptions into her promotional materials.
She’s initially returning to the USA and setting
up Heather Jones Bespoke Furniture.Richard Demarco Prize 2019
The Richard Demarco Prize 2019 was awarded
to a Northern Irish student who used the Brexit
debate to create a humorous, yet pointed, piece
of furniture. The annual prize is awarded by the
celebrated Professor Richard Demarco CBE, one
of the UK’s leading arts commentators. Professor
Demarco’s prize is awarded to the student whose
work not only displays design and woodworking
skill but also exceptional artistic talent.
Stephen Barr’s ‘Strong and Stable Brexit
Cabinet’, in walnut and Japanese ash, depicts
the Union Jack on one door, and the EU’s stars
on the other. Stephen is setting up Starship
Unicorn Furniture from premises in West Lothian.
“This has been an exceptional year, with our
students designing and making some fantastic
pieces,” said Anselm Fraser, the school’s principal.
“I’d like to congratulate every one of our
graduates for their hard work and wish them
all well in their new careers,” he finished.
For more information on the school,
see http://www.chippendaleschool.com.with his furniture making
business, Ross Cunnison
Bespoke Furniture.Public’s Choice Award
Each year, students show
off their pieces
at a public exhibition in
Edinburgh, with the public
invited to vote for their
favourite designer. This
year’s Public’s Choice
Award went to Paul
Hartman from Alberta,
Canada whose signatureStudent of the Year,
Christian BurtPublic’s Choice Award
winner, Paul HartmanMarketing Award
winner, Heather Jones