Classic Hand Tools Demonstrators Profiles - Westonbirt 2009

Cabinet Making Skills

Rob runs several week long courses in Canada and is in demand as a demonstrator for many organisations in the USA. He has visited the UK several times and his demonstration/seminar on hand cut dovetails is always extremely popular. He has produced fourteen DVD’s on various woodworking techniques and worked with established master makers in the USA and the UK.

David Charlesworth teaches fine furniture making skills, writes technical articles for magazines, makes instructional DVDs and has three books on technique published.
He runs fine furniture making courses at his workshop in Hartland.  There are five-day courses available in the spring and summer whilst twelve week, full time courses start in September and January.  The introductory course on sharpening, plane tuning and plane use is a revelation for those who struggle with hand tools.
For more information see: www.davidcharlesworth.co.uk

The Austrian Woodcarving School, situated in the beautiful Tyrol, runs bi-lingual courses throughout the year. This is their second visit to Westonbirt and will be represented by Pascal Wirth. Pascal will demonstrate Austrian and Tyrolean wood carving techniques. As with all the teachers at the school Pascal is a highly experienced master carver.
Pascal is well known to the numerous students who have visited the school from the UK. He teaches a variety of woodcarving classes including carving animals and human form. Pascal is a fluent English speaker.

Rune is a Norwegian woodcarver and woodturner.  He carves reliefs and sculptures as well as Norwegian dragonstyle and acanthus.  His turning often combines turning and carving.  For all his work, experimenting with both tradition and innovation is important, whether it’s small items for practical use, gallery items or for large public or private decorations.  It is Rune’s aim to deliver products that are personal, at the same time as it has a solid craft and artistic value.  Read more about the artist at www.runehjelen.com

Peter will be well known to readers of Woodcarving Magazine, which regularly features his informative and instructive articles on the carving of country folk, distinguished by their charm and depth of character.  A Yorkshireman born and bred, Peter derives much of his inspiration for his characters from his own northern background.

His work is “hallmarked” by the depth of research conducted into his subjects, as well as his distinguished carving style.  Peter likes to bring a simple and uncomplicated approach to all aspects of his work and tuition.  He has taught and demonstrated in a variety of situations and is a firm believer that, with the right combination of the three ‘Ts’ – TIMBER, TOOLS and TUITION even real novices in the craft are often capable of producing a great deal more than they might suppose.

Mark has lived and worked in Worcestershire for the last four years.  During that time he has become one of Wales ' foremost woodturners.  He has won awards at the National Eisteddfod and with the Worshipful Company of Turners.
Mark's work ranges from decorative, functional bowls to vessels, hollow forms and more recently wall pieces.  His work is motivated by the pursuit and exploration of line and form rather than an effort at an artistic statement.  With the thin walled vessels he tries to achieve the purist possible curve. Then he carves away areas adding life and movement to each piece.  This creative process has led from the vase like hollow vessels with exaggerated rims, which have become Mark's trademark pieces, to the more open sculptural forms.
"Delicate and with a difference" is how Mark's work has been described and it is the reason he was commissioned by the UK Government in 1998, has work included in private collections and exhibits at prominent galleries worldwide. Mark will be demonstrating the Munro tool plus others from the Classic Hand Tool range.

James Mursell runs The Windsor Workshop from his farm in West Sussex.
He teaches Windsor chairmaking through five-day courses that run throughout the year. These courses offer a challenge to both novices and experienced woodworkers alike. Green woodworking is at the heart of his approach, and great emphasis is placed on making elegant chairs. He also teaches at West Dean College several times each year.
Unable to buy the quality of tools that he needed, James has developed a range of wooden spokeshaves and travishers which he sells direct, and through Classic Hand Tools. His unique designs, with easy and precise adjustment, have many advantages over metal shaves.
He makes chairs to commission, using locally grown hardwoods harvested from a nearby estate, using English, American and contemporary designs.
His book Windsor Chairmaking should be on sale towards the end of the year.

Phil Edwards

Phil Edwards is the craftsman behind Philly Planes, who are reviving the lost art of the wooden plane making in the UK. As a woodworker with a passion for hand tools, planes in particular, it was inevitable that he would end up making them himself. From his workshop in Broadstone, Dorset he makes each individual plane by hand. His work has been published in various UK woodworking magazines and he will be attending shows around the country demonstrating the use of his planes.

Mick Hudson

Sheffield plane maker Clifton Tools will be represented by their Technical Sales Manager Mick Hudson who will be demonstrating the range of Clifton woodworking products.

Michel Auriou

Rasp and woodcarving manufacturer. Michel's hand stitched rasps and rifflers are the worlds best.

Steve Woodley

Steve Woodley is a Forester, Arborist and green woodworker based in Essex. Whilst running his own forestry training business his is also extremely committed to keeping old timber skills alive. Working almost exclusively with Gransfor Bruks axes supplied by classic hand tools Steve is the Hand crafted timber company specialising in timber conversion using medieval techniques. Keen to educate the public about this all but lost art form Steve can be seen regularly giving public displays of timber hewing throughout the southeast of England.
His last project was a collaborative venture with Traditional oak carpentry and Westover woodlands in the construction of a fifth century Anglo Saxon farm house at West Stow Anglo Saxon Village. A stunning earth fast building using hand split and hewn oak employing traditional peg construction throughout. Working with tool designs dating from the seventh century Steve manages to capture a beauty in his finished work that the modern saw mill fails to reproduce. This is why Classic Hand Tools is proud to support his efforts and why Steve carries the Sign of the `three golden planes' on his company T shirts!