Nick Capenter was 17 when he first attempted to build a guitar at home in his backyard in Fremantle. With very few tools, no teacher and no real materials, he managed to construct something guitar-like using an old tea chest and some fencing wire.
“It didn’t work of course,” laughs Nick, as he thinks back to that first attempt. “It kind of folded in on itself and almost collapsed. But that didn’t matter, I was hooked. I loved the process and I knew this was what I wanted to do.”
Today, more than 30 years after that first attempt and around 650 instruments later, Nick has a well-established name as a luthier and his business, Wildwood Instruments, has people travelling from all over Australia to work with him.
Now based in Daylesford, Nick makes custom electric and acoustic guitars and one weekend a month, he opens his workshop and runs classes for people to build their own stringed instruments.
“Moving to Daylesford allowed me to offer something that no one else in Australia does,” says Nick.
“Most guitar making courses are long, because it does take time and a lot of skill to make a guitar from scratch. However I use kit guitars for my courses. When people book, they choose the guitar they want to make, and we can get it done over a weekend.
“It makes for a really satisfying experience for my clients as they walk away with something tangible and they have acquired the basic skills to take home, fix their own instrument and maybe commit to making another instrument on their own.
“Being in Daylesford also means there are plenty of food and accommodation options so overall it’s a great weekend away,” Nick says.
Nick’s love of music and instruments has guided his business from the beginning, from construction to teaching and most recently, as an artist. After years of building instruments for other people, Nick felt is own creative side was calling out for more.
“When I build a guitar it’s a tool for someone else to tell a story with, but through my art I can tell my own story.”
Nick’s creates 3D sculptures that are based on or around music. Most of his work is created from wood, his favourite medium, and incorporates other elements including metal work and bright colours to bring an interesting and captivating interpretation of themes and ideas.
Some pieces are decommissioned instruments given new life through sculpture.
“I take the idea of music and make it a visual piece. Music is such a big entity with so many facets. It’s a language all on its own, filled with emotion. There’s always so much to tell which means the inspiration is endless,” says Nick.
Since 2018 Nick has had four exhibitions including a shop front in Melbourne’s Little Collins Street, and a display during Melbourne Music Week. He was also commissioned to create a Christmas themed exhibit for the City of Ballarat in 2022 and has done so again this year.
“Last year the theme was Santa’s Workshop and this year it’s Santa’s Post Office. I’ve really enjoyed creating pieces for these displays and was happy to be asked.”
In addition to this, Nick has a permanent art exhibition at the Guildford Hotel in Daylesford. The recently renovated Music Hall is now open to the public, and anyone visiting the pub is welcome to tour the hall.
“It’s great to have something in town on permanent display. My studio and gallery are a little out of the way, so the Hotel is just easier for people to visit.”
To add another string to his bow (or guitar) and further nurture his creative side, Nick creates funny, music-based print designs for t-shirts and other products.
“I launched these designs in June this year,” says Nick. “Some are hand painted; some are created digitally. They are far from the medium of wood I normally work with, but all these various ways of creating art are tied together by the common theme of music.
“Many of the print ideas have been in my sketchbook for some time but were not suitable to be made into 3D sculptures like my other artworks. So they found their place on merchandise. I’ve also made prints of some of my previous sculptural artworks so that if people like it enough they can wear it,” Nick says with a smile.
With so much already on the go it would be difficult to imagine that there is something different to come, but Nick remains openminded.
“I’ve realised over the years that adaptation is the key to survival. I’ve changed my business model many times over the last three decades. I love what I’m doing now but it may change. I’m looking forward to whatever comes next,” says Nick.
Further information about Nick, his artwork and the weekend courses can be found online. Art can be viewed in person at the Guildford Hotel, Daylesford, or by making an appointment with Nick at his home studio.
Santa’s Post Office will be on display through December and January in Sturt Street, Ballarat.