After 26 years of practicing traditional upholstery and, to a lesser extent, cane and rush work I set off, at the end of 2012, to extend my knowledge and skills of fine furniture making . This eventually led me to Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, a small school with an all encompassing, immersive method of teaching. It proved to be a revelatory experience!

My work is much influence by my time there and, particularly, by the philosophy of James Krenov which lies at the heart of the school's curriculum. Machining is used as an initial milling process to thickness and shape the component parts, and to take some of the slog out of the work. Thereafter, reliance is on super sharp hand tools to achieve fine fitting joinery and final surfaces before applying natural finishing coats. Sanding has become unnecessary, which has led to a cleaner and healthier working environment.