About
I became interested in folk music in my late teens relating to my interests in alternative music and started studying traditional stringed instrument construction at Douglas College in New Westminster, B.C. I completed my first instrument, a classical guitar, in 1989 at the age of 19. My instructor was Michael Dunn, and under his tutelage I studied for over two years and built ten instruments including resophonic guitars, and a couple of Maccaferris. I made my first Irish Bouzouki then using Rich Westerman's plans from LMI.
Concluding my training I moved on to work with Larrivee guitars for an additional two years. Here I honed my tool skills and production techniques
The Shop
I set up as an independent luthier in 1993 in Vancouver, B.C. and in 1997 I moved to Hornby Island, still on the west coast, and a beautiful place to live. In this tiny community of 1000 people I spend much of my time designing and building bouzoukis and guitars for players all over the world.
I play bouzouki in a contra dance group on Hornby.
I live near Sandpiper beach with my talented wife Michelle (who is a brilliant painter), son Hawthorne and daughter Lily (also both brilliant), 3 cats and 2 chickens.
You can learn more about our Island here.
