Ray Buckmaster, Wood Studio Coordinator

Ray embarked on his woodworking journey in 2008, initially as a summer pursuit while teaching elementary school, driven by a desire to create custom furniture. In 2015, he began planning to establish his own business in Charleston, South Carolina, leading him to transition to full-time woodworking in 2016. Ray and his family now reside in Tryon. Over the past decade, he has collaborated with numerous clients, creating one-of-a-kind, purposefully designed furniture pieces.

Ray holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the College of Charleston, where he also earned his Bachelor’s degree. While he values his experience in the classroom, his passion for creation led him to pursue woodworking full-time. He currently leverages his teaching expertise to instruct woodworking classes at TACS, where he has been a valued instructor since 2021.

At TACS, Ray offers adult classes in furniture making, wall-mounted fine art, and toy making, and has developed an exciting youth woodworking program. This innovative program features custom-sized workstations and tools, with a strong emphasis on character building alongside skill development.

Reach Ray at (828)859-8323, wood@tryonartsandcrafts.org