He was an avid sketch artist in his youth then during his high school years, he became very adept in learning industrial metalworking skills. His family, however, wanted him to pursue academia after graduation instead of becoming a machinist. While working on his undergrad at the University of Victoria (UVic), Chris took a silversmithing course at Camosun College. Although Chris did complete his undergrad and worked at the University for a time, his passion has always been art and working metal. In 1999 he became a full time jeweller and later he traveled to New York and Tuscany, Italy with world renown Bulgarian Silversmith Valentin Yotkov to study classical European design and repousse techniques. Recently Chris started working with Namgis master artist, carver, and designer,
Joe Wilson to learn traditional design and wood.
