Celebrate the opening reception of our new arts exhibition 'West Coast Architecture' with a lively artist talk from Cam Russell and Karen Trickett of Coventry Woodworks.  Both are established woodworkers, Karen is the recent winner of the 'Wood' Category at the Ladysmith Fine Craft Show 2022 and Cam established the Fine Furniture Program at Camosun College. They will be talking about their projects and uses of local wood from the island. This is a free event. After the artist talk, enjoy the art. 

Registration is not required, but you will receive a email reminder the day before the event if you do.

KAREN TRICKETT 

I was introduced to woodworking by my grandfather, Oliver Williams, when I was just 6 years old.  I was allowed to “help” my granddad (a CPR steamship Captain) work on a variety of wooden items in his basement workshop.  We most often made our projects from lumber salvaged from ships being refitted at the CPR docks so it was years before I realized that not everything was made from teak and mahogany!

Following graduation from high school I trained as a Veterinary Technician and practiced that for several years before deciding to adopt woodworking as a career change around my thirtieth birthday.  I enrolled in the Fine Furniture Program at Camosun College and graduated as the top student in 1990.  My first job was as a contractor working for BC Transit restoring two electric rail streetcars before setting up shop as a self-employed woodworker.  I have now been designing, making, restoring and finishing a variety of wooden items for twenty years and wouldn’t want to do anything else.

 CAMERON RUSSELL 

I grew up in Victoria doing the usual boy activities of the era, making go-karts, tree forts, and overly detailed model car kits.  After taking every available shop course in school, I decided to become a — what else — shop teacher.  I completed a Bachelor of Education degree at UVic and UBC in Industrial Education and following a year of teaching high school in Port Hardy, returned to Victoria and began an apprenticeship as a Joiner-Cabinetmaker.

Following that training, I set up a tiny garage workshop and became self-employed in the early 1980’s.  Two years later, I was offered a chance to return to teaching (adults this time), which I love doing.  Happily, this led to establishing the Fine Furniture Program at Camosun College where I worked for 30 years and saw nearly 500 students through the 10-month program.  Following my 30th class, I retired and have now joined Karen to work full time in our home-based shop taking on commissions for furniture and cabinetry.