Born in country Victoria, Richard's life-altering affair with timber began well before his first day as an apprentice cabinet maker back in the early 80s - but it was a good place to start.
On completion of his apprenticeship, Richard had displayed enough promise to be accepted into the Canberra School of Art, with a major in wood. After a couple of years honing his skills in commercial, domestic and fine furniture making, Richard was ready to go out on his own, and took up a residency making individual pieces to his own distinctive designs at Melbourne's famous Meat Market Craft Centre.
Richards' 3 years there included a period under the tutelage of David Upfil-Brown - acclaimed designer and maker of fine furniture, now Principal Instructor of the Centre for Furniture Craftmanship in the USA.
The up-close-and-personal nature of the Meat Market Craft Centre meant that Richard was being constantly approached with requests for private tuition in design and furniture making. Realising an opportunity to combine his natural ability as an educator with his love of furniture craftsmanship, Richard took the next step and established the Coles School Of Woodcraft in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.
After 10 years at the helm, a change of lifestyle beckoned, and Richard and his family moved to the rural hinterland of Queensland's Sunshine Coast, where Rivergum Timbers was born.
With a lifetime that's revolved around a passion for Australian timbers, Richard, as the owner of Rivergum Timbers can offer you a unique guarantee of quality: If Richard wouldn't use the veneer himself in his own highly detailed work - it won't find it's way onto the Rivergum stock list. Simple as that.
Carl Painter: Woodcraftsman
A cabinet maker by trade with over 15 years experience with timber, Carl's speciality at Rivergum is solid timber furniture. Carl grew up just around the corner from Rivergum's workshop and while other kids were out playing cricket, Carl was making boxes and tables. He's literally grown up making furniture and jumped at the chance of an apprenticeship with Geoff Pike of Geoff Pike Fine Furniture.
Working with veneers over the past 7 years has seen Carl develop into a master craftsman of fine tables (coffee, dining and exotic boardroom tables a speciality), chairs, bookcases and more. If you enjoy talking to someone with a real passion for timber - stop and spend some time with Carl when you next visit us at Rivergum.
Clive Talbot: Tutor and Woodcraftsman
Clive Talbot joins the Rivergum team with a passion for wood,
spanning over 34 years. He is a specialist in the fashioning of high
quality art deco, furniture and carvings. His passion for woodworking
runs in his family. Clive is also an tutor in wood carving and hand tool restoration, plane tuning and sharpening workshops, along with
marquetry and box making.
We invite you to come along to one of our courses and learn from the wealth of experience Clive brings to Rivergum Timbers.
