Page 96 - Australian Wood Review №103 2019
P. 96
FEATURE
An Overseas Investment
Travelling overseas to study is a considerable financial and personal
commitment. An interview with Samuel Sheppard looks at the return.
ast year Sam Sheppard, 25 intersecting components. Did you I have had the opportunity to meet
Ldecided to put his career as a have skills already? In brief, what’s a lot of great people and explore
dentist on hold and travel to the UK your background? beautiful places. I definitely felt the
to undertake a full-time course in fine pressure to get as much out of the
furniture making at Waters & Acland. SS: I had always enjoyed tinkering in experience as possible, but I didn’t
We asked Sam if it was all worthwhile. the shed, but my skills were limited to really feel I owed that to anyone
some pretty basic DIY projects. I did but myself.
AWR: Starting with the obvious question: a fantastic Windsor chair course at
why did you travel all the way to the UK to Rundell & Rundell as a trial run before AWR: What was the brief for your
learn woodworking and furniture making? committing to the course, but I would first self-designed piece? Did it have
say I was pretty much a beginner. to incorporate certain elements or fit
SS: In my job I was constantly specific criteria?
bombarded with the question, ‘Why AWR: On a personal level, what’s
on earth would you want to be a it like leaving your life behind to SS: The brief was very open in terms
dentist, why not do something else?’ transplant yourself into an out of town of what piece of furniture we made,
Perhaps this got to me, but ultimately location in a foreign country? Did however it had to be primarily solid
I felt that it was time for a change. you feel like you’d put yourself under wood, and incorporate at least one
I was really impressed by Waters & pressure to return home with the goods, traditional piston fit drawer.
Acland, and I have always wanted to so to speak?
spend time abroad, so it seemed like AWR: Tell us about the inspiration
the right choice. SS: It is an enormous challenge, for your design? What did the design
and there are definitely times I felt process involve and how long did it take?
AWR: Your final self-designed piece is homesick, but the experience has Do you feel you have added your own
complex with all kinds of angles and really broadened my horizons, and personality and style?
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