People
Archipelago is a collaborative organisation - we work together to run projects that interest us. Some of our endeavours involve all of us, some just a few folk. We would love to grow our team, if you'd like to join us get in touch!
Directors
Ben Wilde
Ben trained as a boatbuilder at the North West School of Wooden Boatbuilding in 2008 and has been working as a boatbuilder and teacher since. He ran the boatbuilding programme of the GalGael Trust from 2010 to 2018 including a major Heritage Lottery Funded project 'Anchor and Sail'. As part of that he delivered the first City and Guilds qualifications in boatbuilding in Scotland with Martin Hughes from the Scottish Maritime Museum.
While at GalGael he built at least 10 new boats and restored as many again. Notable projects including restoring Orcuan, a 30' Hebridean Birlinn belonging to the GalGael Trust; new build of the Iain Oughtred West Coast Skiff and developing a new 10'6" clinker dinghy design with builder and designer Jonny Burke.
He's also been instrumental in establishing the Clydebuilt Festival in Glasgow and the Glasgow Coastal Rowing Club. His main interests are maritime heritage and making it as accessible as it possibly can be, and of course sailing, rowing and playing in small craft.
Daisy Martinez
Daisy lives in the West of Scotland and is a woodworker with skills in boat building, traditional oak-framing, letter carving and willow basketry. During her apprenticeship with the Anchor and Sail project, Daisy worked with a small team of fellow apprentices and volunteers to loft and build the 22 ft ‘Captains Gig’ for Glasgow’s Tall Ship at Riverside. She holds a City & Guilds Level 2 certificate in Marine Construction. Daisy also holds a BSc in Environmental Science (Ecology) from Edinburgh University, and continues to carry out research exploring the impacts of agricultural pesticides on soil and plant health. Daisy loves to work with others in community; from 2009 - 2019 she was a trustee of MED Theatre, a community theatre company based on Dartmoor. In 2015 Daisy co-founded Skills for Change, a community learning project for young people developing creative skills for a more sustainable, resilient future. Daisy works regularly as a collaborating workshop facilitator with the School for Experiential Learning in Devon. Daisy is currently working with friends to build a fleet of traditional coracles for a Scottish Highland coracle adventure!
ROBBIE WIGHTMAN
Robbie Wightman is a solicitor with over 25 year experience in Personal Injury, Mental Health Law and Professional Negligence Litigation, working in both the private and public sectors. He has had a lifelong involvement in traditional boats and in 2010 he became the Convenor of Scottish Coastal Rowing Association from which he stepped down in 2020 having guided it from its establishment to being a widely regarded and emulated organisation internationally. Robbie was chief umpire and race director at the St Ayles Skiff World Championships in 2013, 2016 and 2019 as well as holding the same role for Castle to Crane for the last 4 years. We are delighted that Robbie has brought his wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise to the Folkschool to help guide us in years to come.
Staff
Jae Bradley
Jae (they/them) came to boatbuilding and woodworking via the GalGael Trust whilst recovering from illlness. Between 2011 and 2015 they worked on several boats, carrying out repairs, restorations and new builds under the tutelage of Ben Wilde. During that time they also built a playground structure for Arrochar Primary School and worked directly with pupils on the design. After their time at GalGael Jae ran their own business ‘Haund an Ee’, working with young people on art and craft based projects ranging from building boats to large scale outdoor musical instruments.
Jae’s passion is for community based boatbuilding and how a meaningful craft practice can aid marginalised people in finding their voice, self worth and (re)connection to their own communities.
teachers
Andy McKenzie
Andy always had an interest in metal work and making things from an early age. In 2006 he was lucky enough to volunteer for a project building a Viking longhouse who had a blacksmith on site. He had a day with him in the forge and that was it, he was hooked.
Andy is a mixture of self taught and classically trained. Which he says “basically means my hands are covered in burns and I melted at least half of my early work. But, pardon the pun, blacksmithing lit a fire within me and I’ve been passionate about it every day since I started swinging a hammer”
Andy runs Feather Forge making lovely pieces for sale but teaching was the next logical step and he absolutely absolutely loves it “Every student has a moment where everything clicks and they realise they can do it too and I find that very rewarding”