Coventry Woodworks

custom furniture, interiors & automotive woodwork

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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.

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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.