After studying at the Ontario College of Art, Ron worked as a commercial photographer and graphic designer before turning his attention to furniture. In 1987 he started Carriage House Designs, designing and building limited production and commissioned furniture for clients in both Canada and the United States. In 1992 he moved to Perth, Ontario to continue working on commissions from a studio a stone's throw from his home near Otty Lake.
While his work is influenced by a wide variety of historical furniture styles, he also draws inspiration from outside the tradition of furniture making. Such diverse sources as traditional Japanese architecture, early 20th century industrial design and the forms of his natural surroundings are all echoed in his work.
A founding member of The Furniture Society, Ron has an enthusiasm for furniture making and design that he has shared with students at Rosewood Studio since 2002. In July 2007, he became the owner of the school, where he continues to draw on over thirty years of experience designing and building furniture.
Since the school's inception in 2002, it has been our pleasure to have hosted literally dozens of the finest furniture designers and makers from across North America as guest instructors. More than great teachers with a passion for furniture making, they have a background of designing and building furniture professionally, with an understanding that goes beyond the academic or theoretical. Whatever difficulties students might face, chances are that your instructor has been there, and found a workable solution to the problem.