Woodworker swaps superyachts for seating

WOOD WORKS: Students at the Centre for Fine Woodworking at Wakapuaka, from left, Tracey Perry, James Perry, Lukas Hamilton, John Shaw (tutor) and Nigel Whitton with chairs made as a set project.

                                                                                                                                                                                  

In terms of lifestyle changes, Nigel Whitton's has been extreme.

From cruising the world working on superyachts to meticulously sanding, planing and sawing in Nelson's Centre For Fine Woodworking, Whitton has gone through a transformation.

But it's not as severe as it may first appear.

Each student in the centre's inaugural nine month course is completing the second term assignment - building a chair.

All the bases are identical, and each of the five students has been able to apply an individual artistic flair to the upper half of the chairs.

Whitton has harked back to his nautical past, using copper rivets and slats reminiscent of the ribs of a boat.

He has also built the chair in ash, a strong wood that is suitable for both seating and boats.

Whitton intends to return to the sea when he, and the rest of the class, finish the course later this year, emerging as some of the most qualified woodworkers in New Zealand.

A boat-builder by trade, Whitton plans to work on superyachts again, as a furniture-maker and on internal repairs.

The course has taken his skills to "a whole new level", he says.

One boat that he has worked on, and plans to again, is the 90m luxury superyacht Athena, which visited Nelson in March, coincidentally when Whitton had already moved here.

Centre co-tutor John Shaw is as eager about his students as they are about the course.

"From my perspective, it's been going brilliantly.  The quality of the work has been excellent ...  It's becoming very apparent that they are going to be fine furniture-makers."

The Centre for Fine Woodworking also does two week introductory courses, six week core technique courses, and plans to do a woodbending course next month.

It can be reached through its website, www.centre-for-fine-woodworking.co.nz