The Exhibition
Beautiful wood made into beautiful things. We want to show the world what is being achieved by Professionals, non-Professionals and those learning to make things from wood. The Future of the New Forest is more certain and sustainable if timber from there continues to be used to make useful things because this ensures resources return to the Forest to pay for its conservation. Joining these thoughts led to the idea for these competitions and the Exhibition at the New Forest Show.
Professionals are invited to exhibit pieces that demonstrate their styles, design and craftsmanship. Non Professionals and those in training are invited to demonstrate their skills by participating in competitions to be judged by Professionals. All the pieces of furniture on show can be offered for sale.
Those who make things from wood should be applauded by everyone because they are using a renewable resource. Obviously this acclaim can only be given if the trees used for the wood are being replaced. Those who make things of lasting value should be applauded most because they will last for as many years as the trees from which the wood came or much longer. Such people need to be encouraged and supported in a world where more and more is made to be thrown away in a year or less.
Information for Professional Exhibitors 2009 We shall be holding another Exhibition in 2009. The space available will be even less than in 2008 because we expect even more Trainees to apply. If you wish to be considered for space please email us at trust@newforesttrust.org.uk. We remain committed to pieces demonstrating:
Creative, functional design
Fine workmanship, and
The use of British timber, especially timbers from woodlands in the New Forest, in order to encourage the management of woodlands and the use of local and renewable resources.
[Exhibitors should note that the Organisers intend to have a ground sheeted floor again in 2008 with heaters, fans and floodlights to minimise possible negative environmental conditions.]
Trainee Fine-Crafted Wood Furniture Competition 2011 We hope to hold another Competition for Trainee Furniture Designer/Makers in 2011. Applications will be welcomed from those who want to enter in January 2011. If sending one to us by email or if you have a query please use our email address trust@newforesttrust.org.uk .
Please download the Rules and Application Form for 2009 from the link below.
The 2011 Exhibition will be held again in collaboration with the New Forest and Hampshire Show at New Park in the centre of the New Forest. More information about the Show can be found at www.newforestshow.co.uk
Competition Results 2008 The 2008 Exhibition An estimated 24,000 people visited the Exhibition over the three days 29th to 31st July of the New Forest Show.
In the People's Choice Competition over 3,100 votes were cast in two days and more remarkably nearly 600 children voted in the Children's Choice competition. By taking part the voters names are included in a cash prize draw made at 4.00pm on the last day of the Show.
First place in the People's Choice Competition went to Hannah Elizabeth Avery for her Sideboard in American Walnut. Hannah is the first Trainee to come first in this competition. She studied at the the Suffolk New College. David Barron came second with a burr walnut coffee table with elm support and next came Simon Pirie with a table and four chairs in oak and walnut. The Children placed Nicola Henshaw first with a Pelican side table in lime and oak. They placed David Barron second and Jane Winwood a Trainee at Chichester College third with a floor clock in English oak.
Judging in the Trainee Furniture Designer/Maker took place on the 28th July before the Exhibition opened . Judges Roy Tam, Paul Gower and George Morgan placed a Budsudan in English oak and bog oak by Liam Brannan of Rycotewood College first. Second, came James Otter from Plymouth University with a chair in English oak and Third came James Howell with a coffee table in beech and rippled sycamore inlaid with elm.
In the People's Choice Competition over 3,100 votes were cast in two days and more remarkably nearly 600 children voted in the Children's Choice competition. By taking part the voters names are included in a cash prize draw made at 4.00pm on the last day of the Show.
First place in the People's Choice Competition went to Hannah Elizabeth Avery for her Sideboard in American Walnut. Hannah is the first Trainee to come first in this competition. She studied at the the Suffolk New College. David Barron came second with a burr walnut coffee table with elm support and next came Simon Pirie with a table and four chairs in oak and walnut. The Children placed Nicola Henshaw first with a Pelican side table in lime and oak. They placed David Barron second and Jane Winwood a Trainee at Chichester College third with a floor clock in English oak.
Judging in the Trainee Furniture Designer/Maker took place on the 28th July before the Exhibition opened . Judges Roy Tam, Paul Gower and George Morgan placed a Budsudan in English oak and bog oak by Liam Brannan of Rycotewood College first. Second, came James Otter from Plymouth University with a chair in English oak and Third came James Howell with a coffee table in beech and rippled sycamore inlaid with elm.
Our Thanks
Many people made the 2008 Exhibition possible. In addition to the Organising Committee , we are deeply indebted to our Stewards who impressed everyone with the way they dealt with the public in the trying circumstances caused by excessive rain –
They were Frank Alexander, Caroline Bray, Christopher Bray, Peter Dance, Michael Graham, John Galling, Derek Hooper, Dick Howlett, Dick Mihalop, Clive Potter, Daniel Roberts, Isobel Smith, Juliet Thompson and Alun Williams. Our thanks go to them all and the 'iluvwood' Apprentices with or without beaver costumes Laura Catlin, Adam Muscle, Marshe Shefer, James Babs Henry Pomeroy, Rich Way, Liam Guilbert, Beck Alander, Phil Chester and Emma Colburn.
Competition Results 2007 There were 30 Exhibits for the crowds to see. Competition was restricted to Trainee Furniture makers. They came from four training establishments. Also on show were pieces from Professionals. There were three exhibits demonstrating the process of commissioning furniture, reusing wood from recycled when HMS Victory was refurbished and reusing wood recycled from an oak pallet. A full catalogue of the Exhibits can be downloaded by selecting 'Catalogue version 23-7-07' after pressing the Downloads button on the side of this page.
TRAINEES
This was second year the New Forest Trust organised this Trainee Furniture Competition. Prizes were much improved on 2006 because INEOS, a petrochemical company with its headquarters in the New Forest, generously put up a magnificent First Prize. The winner gained a commission from the Company to make furniture valued at £2000.
The winners of the Trainee Furniture Class were: -
First, Hannah Spender from Plymouth University
Second, Simon White from Plymouth University
Third, Luke Griffiths from Chichester College
"The Peoples Choice"
Over 2,300 votes were cast this year. We were amazed and pleased to see so many families taking part. Frequently, it was noticed a split between generations and the result was lots of children cast their votes separately. It may also be the reason that Nicola Henshaw gained 15% of the votes for her Hare and Tortoise chair carved from lime.
The prize for the winner of the "Peoples Choice" was also put up by INEOS and Nicola took away a cheque for £1000.
We found it fascinating to compare the way the experts (Judges) placed the exhibits and the way the public voted for them.
The People placed
Exhibit 2 a Strong Box-Karl Thornton 2nd (Judges 9th)
Exhibit 6 A large Bench-Danny Lashley 9th (Judges 4th)
2009 Exhibition and Results
'The standard just gets better and better every year' This comment from someone who has visited the Exhibition ever since they started summed up lots of comments made during the 3 days of the New Forest Show as well as the invitees attending the Reception the evening before the Show opened.
A forecast of bad weather depressed the numbers coming to the Show on the Wednesday but despite this we had over 19,000 visitors to the Exhibition with numbers voting for their preferred exhibit up on 2008.
For the first time the Judges picked the same piece that subsequently got the most votes from the People's Choice competition. This meant that James Otter from Plymouth University walked off with two prizes for his 'Restful Place' bench.
Two competitors from Rycotewood College claimed the second and third prizes from the Trainee's Competition; they were Amando Magnino with a coffee table designed for laptop users and Ehsan Shirini for his Drinks Cabinet.
Professional David Barron again came second in the People's Choice Competition with a wall mounted Jewellery Cabinet. Jered Allcock another Trainee from Rycotewood scored with both adults and children when his 'Permafrost' Coffee Table came third in the People's Choice and Children's Choice Competitions.
Jason Heap competed as a Trainee in 2007 this year he was back as a Professional exhibitor with another Coffee Table that claimed most votes from the Children who voted for their favourite piece while Nicola Henshaw claimed second place with her Pelican Chair.
Every year the voting slips are used in a draw for a prize after the Show. In 2009 Mrs Dorothy Waters of Sarisbury Green won the draw from the People's Choice voters and Bronia Waldron from Fair Oak won from the Children's Choice voters. Dorothy and Bronia with their families came to the New Forest Museum to accept their prizes and be pictured with the winning pieces in the Trainee Competition. The three pieces were exhibited for six weeks after the New Forest Show.
2010 Exhibition and Competition Results
We were lucky to have three sunny days for the Exhibition in 2010. This probably explains why we had a steady flow of visitors on all three days and an estimated 19,400 in total.
The Judges had a difficult time sorting out the marks for the Trainees and they decided to place Jessica Seacole in first prize in the Trainee Competition with an unusually designed coffee table. Ben Morgan came second with a simple Hallway table and Michael Sewell third with a sliding topped coffee table.
Two Trainees came first and second in the People's Choice voting. Oliver Garofalo's Flower Shaped cabinet was first and Eugene Osborne's Wine cabinet was second. The Swan and Cignets exhibited by Ian Brennan was voted third by the People and first by the Children. Nicola Henshaw was second again with a carved chair but another Trainee Robert Nowotny came third. Jane Pope won the People's Choice draw and young Alex Jacob won the Children's Choice draw. On 14th August they were presented with their prizes at the New Forest Museum Gallery in Lyndhurst where the three winning Trainee pieces were on show
Our thanks go to all our Stewards and the Members of the Soiuthern Fellowship of Woodworkers who joined us for the first time. Without support from Axminster Tool Centre the Trainee competition would be difficult but the demonstrations they ran on all 3 days were watched by many many people. Finally we really appreciated Lee Rowley and Michael Lonsdale two Plymouth University students who, for 3 days, explained their entries into the Trainee Competition.
