TONY’s BIO

Tony Grove is a versatile individual driven by a passion for exploration, creativity, and craftsmanship. With diverse expertise in wooden boatbuilding, illustration, custom furniture design, and education, he has forged an impressive career path.

Beginning with a boatbuilding apprenticeship in 1980, Tony honed his skills as a shipwright specializing in wooden boat restoration, construction, and interior building. Over the years, he has worked for various companies and private clients along the West Coast. Notably, he successfully completed the construction of a 34' sailboat named "Prospector" in 2005 and the structural restoration of SV Dorothy for the Maritime Museum of BC, the oldest boat in Canada, built in 1897 in Victoria, BC.

Tony's artistic pursuits include commercial illustration and art. He has produced work for Vancouver clients and magazines, including an illustration project for the United Nations through the FAO in 1989, published in multiple languages globally. His love for art has developed over the years, and he is now painting full-time, documenting some of BC's west coast through his depictions of historical boats and places.

Passionate about sharing knowledge, Tony has immersed himself in educational pursuits. He has published articles in various publications, delivered lectures to diverse groups and classes, and offered consulting services in boat interior design and construction. This accumulated experience led him to leave Vancouver in 1999 and begin instructing at the Silva Bay Shipyard School on Gabriola Island. By 2003, Tony assumed the role of head instructor, teaching traditional boatbuilding and designing a comprehensive course on ship cabinetry/joinery.

Tony now focuses on his independent endeavors as an artist, custom woodworker, and boatbuilder. When not immersed in his craft, he enjoys spending quality time with his family in his home shop amidst the scenic beauty of Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada.