Bespoke fine furniture making session in Cheshire with David Tragen

Description

Bespoke one to one sessions give you the opportunity to work on a specifc project or a set of skills that you can determine. Pictured here is the finished piece that a student worked on both in my workshop as well as at home. Geoff came to me wanting to create a coffee table and we worked on various aspects of his project. We discussed elements of style and proportion and used both full scale drawings and a maquette to help to picture the end piece. We then discussed the most appropriate way to join the various components and practiced some of the techniques involved. When working on larger projects such as Geoff’s table, ideally you would have access to your own workspace so as to make the process as cost efficient as possible. Before we start working together, I would find out what your existing skill level is and what you would like to achieve before giving you an idea of how many sessions you might need. We can work on various aspects of the design process as well as the making side. These include using computer aided design (I specialise in Rhino), scaled and full scale drawings as well as techniques to generate ideas. If you prefer to work in your own workshop, I am happy to travel, however there would be an additional fee depending on distance travelled. If you are interested in some one to one sessions then please get in touch. NB. As my work calendar changes on a weekly basis, the most practical way to arrange bespoke sessions through the booking system is to select a date and then I will confirm if I am available. This opens a dialogue between us whereby we can discuss mutually acceptable dates. Optionally you can click the 'message the tutor' button, we can find dates which are convenient and then you can select the date on the website. CASE STUDY - Geoff's coffee table. Geoff, a hobbyist woodworker with some experience in crafting tables and boxes, contacted me for one-to-one sessions to enhance his confidence both as a designer and a maker. He aimed to improve the quality of his joints, achieve greater precision in his work, and develop his design skills. To meet these goals, we devised a five-day program tailored to both his technical and creative needs. Geoff’s previous designs, largely inspired by George Nakashima, incorporated natural waney edges. We explored whether his design choices stemmed from uncertainty about achieving crisp finishes or were intentional stylistic preferences. I encouraged Geoff to develop his own design vocabulary and suggested looking beyond the realm of furniture for inspiration. His appreciation for architecture emerged as a key influence, leading us to discuss buildings he admired and analyse recurring design features. As homework, Geoff collected images and created sketches, while I emphasised the importance of brainstorming freely without overanalysing initial ideas. On the craftsmanship side, we focused on improving the accuracy of his work. Starting with fundamental techniques, Geoff practiced hand-planing to ensure pieces were flat and square. We then refined his marking-out skills, using scalpels to create accurate lines on all sides of his work. These improvements paved the way for him to confidently create mortice and tenon joints, with additional Cherry wood pieces provided for further practice at home. As Geoff’s confidence grew, we shifted focus to his design work, beginning with a low coffee table inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house. Through rapid mock-ups with hot melt glue, we explored multiple iterations, dissected construction challenges, and analysed proportions. From there, we transitioned to one-to-one scale drawings and a full-scale MDF mock-up, allowing Geoff to refine his ideas further. While Geoff initially planned to dedicate more time to improving his craftsmanship, he became increasingly invested in the design aspect and opted for an additional session to finalise his coffee table design. By the end of our sessions, Geoff had grown in both technical ability and design confidence. His distinctive style began to take shape, and he returned for further guidance on a console table—a companion piece to his coffee table. After refining its design together, Geoff completed the table independently, alongside a box, and submitted all three pieces to a local arts exhibition in Frodsham. His efforts paid off when he was awarded the runner-up prize, a testament to his hard work and perseverance. Geoff’s journey highlights the importance of balancing technical mastery with creative exploration, as well as stepping out of one’s comfort zone to achieve growth. His progress, both in design and craftsmanship, demonstrates the value of persistence and a willingness to embrace new challenges.

What's included in the price?

All materials are included and you will have your own dedicated woodwork bench and tools. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided but please bring a packed lunch.

Cancellation policy

Medium - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 4 weeks before the course starts

Maker

Cheshire Furniture Courses

with Craft Courses since 2018

Message the tutor

I am a trained cabinet maker / furniture designer maker and have over 25 years’ experience working with wood. I have worked on projects for businesses and high worth individuals including those from the worlds of Hollywood and Premier League football. I also have TEFL training under by belt from the 90s and therefore come from a background of teaching. I taught woodwork part time for Start in Salford for 4 years and then took up training in my own workshop in 2014. Designing and making furniture, lighting, wall art and sculpture has been a passion of mine for many years and my hope is that all students leave the workshop with some of the enthusiasm I have for the fields of Art, Craft and Design.