US chairmaker David Douyard to teach workshops in Australia

Above: Nick Found's workshop in Red Hill, Victoria

David Douyard is an award-winning chairmaker who specialises in building Windsor and ladder back chairs, and also teaches chairmaking in his workshop in Northwest Connecticut, USA. He has been building chairs for more than 20 years having studied under some of the great Windsor and ladderback makers.

In March 2023, to coincide with the Bendigo Lost Trades Fair, David will travel to Australia, and along with Nick Found, teach two classes at Nick’s workshop in Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.

Nick Found is an industrial designer (and goat farmer) who amongst design work and university lecturing has spent the last seven years studying Windsor chairmaking both locally and in America. This year marks a transition as he plans to develop his personal chairmaking practice with a strong focus on moving toward teaching in the following years.

In one class students will make a Jennie Alexander style ladderback chair, while the other will focus on making a Jennie Alexander style rocker. The five students in each class will walk away having learnt to make a chair from a tree as well as weave a seat too. Nearby accommodation is also available.

The chair class runs from March 1–5, and the rocker class from March 22–27.

Contact Nick Found via Instagram @nickfound_chairmaker