It was a double celebration for East Lothian at this yearโs New Furniture Makers Awards in London, when two graduates from Chippendale International School of Furnitureย took national honours. Among them was East Lothian local, James Gascoigne.
The alumni from the Gifford-based school took home top honours at the prestigious event, which celebrates emerging designers and craftspeople from across the UK. In total, six Chippendale students were shortlisted at the awards, held on 29th October.
East Lothian based James Gascoigne received the Empty Chair Award for his sculptural and thought-provoking piece You Might Like to Sit Down. The brief challenged designers to create a chair symbolising those excluded or marginalised whether by gender, race, class, age or disability. A former Royal Navy officer who spent nearly two decades in transport finance, James returned to his creative roots through Chippendaleโs Professional Course. His practice, The Cabinet Office, now produces one-off and limited-edition pieces that showcase boldย and playful design.
Ellen Baines, from Herefordshire and founder of Verb Furniture, took first place in the Bespoke Award category for her striking Flow Display Case. Ellen originally trained as a theatrical carpenter at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and has built sets for productions across the UK and Europe, including for The Muppets. Inspired by the natural world and her love of climbing, her award-winning piece reflects a desire to create lasting, meaningful work with a contemporary edge.
Tom Fraser, Principal of the Chippendale International School of Furniture, said:
โWeโre incredibly proud of Ellen and James and the creativity theyโve shown throughout their time at the school. Both have demonstrated real vision and originality in their work, qualities we strive to nurture in all our students. Itโs wonderful to see their pieces recognised on such a prestigious stage.โ
Located in Gifford, East Lothian, the Chippendale International School of Furniture attracts students from around the world to its nine-month Professional Course, designed for those looking to launch a career in fine furniture making and design.
