Scott Martin
Scott Martin is a retired tugboat Captain of 30 years who formerly lived and worked in New York. His job allowed 2 weeks off each month from the boat, and not someone to just relax at home until he was due back on the boat, he worked part time for two friends doing home remodeling and wooden boat repair and discovered a love and talent for woodworking. He built his first home on Shelter Island, NY and a few years later, he built a Herreshoff 12 ½ sailboat. He relocated to Virginia in 1995 and soon after, with his wife Debra, began building their Asian style home and Japanese Garden in Hanover County. Scott has also been an admirer and student of Japanese style gardens and volunteered at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden for a few years, eventually switching to Maymont where he has volunteered for 16 years.
During the Virginia home building process, Scott acquired the skills necessary to make all the cabinetry and woodwork in the house, eventually developing a second career as a wood craftsman, creating fine furniture. Over the years, Scott offered to provide various wood projects for Maymont, many of which are inspired by Sam Maloof, a furniture maker whose work is on exhibit in several museums, including the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City, to auction off at their annual fund-raising gala. The wood was provided from trees that came down in Maymont from storms and he turned them into beautiful creations such as rocking chairs, dining room chairs, tables and a variety of other objects, all made from “Maymont” wood. To date, he has raised over $35,000+ for the Maymont Foundation from his furniture donations.
Scott loves the process of crafting beautiful wood pieces, especially rocking chairs, and has showcased and sold his work in various venues, including galleries in West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington state.
