Bio Of Jerill Vance

In 2009, after more than 32 years in the chemical industry, I left and obtained an Associate of Applied Science degree in Fine Woodworking from New River Community and Technical College in Lewisburg, WV.

In 2011 I obtained my business license to build furniture as well as teach woodworking. Utilizing a grant from the WV Commission on the Arts I built a wood drying kiln in 2012 and was also juried into Tamarack in Beckley, WV. I initiated a woodworking program and taught for a non-profit organization in the Kentucky prison system. I began demonstrating woodworking with hand tools at Heritage Farm and Village Museum in Huntington, WV in 2014. I began The Appalachian Heritage Woodshop project in 2017 and now share my love of furniture with others through videos on WV PBS stations and YouTube.

I am now able to enjoy the profession of custom designing and building furniture, as well as, teaching woodworking to others.

About Appalachian Heritage Woodshop on PBS

In 2014 Jerill Vance had an idea for a TV show that would combine Appalachian history and furniture. After much thought, discussion, trial and error learning process, and hard work, the six episodes of Season 1 aired in October 2018 on West Virginia PBS (WPBY). The Covid 19 pandemic delayed Season 2 but the 13 episodes began airing in July 2021. Thirteen episodes of Season 3 are in production and will air in Summer 2022.