Kevin Gauld
Keeping Orkney's crafts alive
- Kevin sources Scottish hardwoods responsibly felled from woodlands
- He is inspired by the heritage and materials of the Orkney islands
- His work includes a version of the Orkney chair called the Brodgar Chair
An Orcadian through and through, Kevin Gauld was born, raised and educated on the Orkney islands (which lie about ten miles to the north of the Scottish mainland) and is passionate about their heritage, which is reflected in the furniture he chooses to make. He loved making things from wood even as a child and left school as soon as possible to embark on an apprenticeship. Since founding his workshop in 2007, his designs have found fans around the world for the way in which they reinterpret centuries-old designs, such as the iconic Orkney, straw-backed chairs, and he has been encouraged by the positive reaction to his work. “My craft has survived this long and there is still a great demand for it, so I feel it is in safe hands for the future.”
Interview
- What is your educational background?
- When I was 16, I started an apprenticeship with a local business called Traditional Orkney Crafts, making Orkney stools and small side tables. My great-grandfather was a furniture maker and my grandfather was a boat-builder, so there seems to be something in our genes that is drawn to working with wood.
- Do you train apprentices yourself?
- Yes, particularly in the craft of traditional Orkney straw work, which is rooted in the vernacular furniture of the islands. Stitching a straw back onto a craft frame is a very unique technique. Training others to keep such crafts alive is an important part of what I do.
- How does your work link to the islands of Orkney?
- The traditional pieces I make have been made here for generations and they speak of local materials and functionality. Orkney is a windy place – hence the high backs of the chairs – and there are not many trees, so my designs often incorporate materials such as straw and Orkney stone.
- What do you love most about what you do?
- It is an honour to keep traditional designs and skills alive and make items that are viewed as heirlooms. I also take great pride in knowing that my work does not have a detrimental effect on the planet. Even the oats to create the straw backs are grown at the family farm where my workshop is located.
Kevin Gauld is a master artisan: she began her career in 1997 and she started teaching in 2018
Works
Where
Kevin Gauld
