Meet the Team
Bill Shea and Kerri Dwyer-Shea are a husband and wife team working together to create beautiful, functional pieces of art, to be played on, enjoyed, admired and passed on for generations to come. We are inspired to know all who play on our Legacy Boards will enjoy the game with family and friends and share our love for the natural beauty that comes together on our boards.
Our Passion, Your Legacy in the Making
Bill Shea: Founder, creator, visionary
Nearly a lifelong backgammon player, (and still a novice) my four siblings and I were taught to play at a young age by our Mother. We continued the tradition by teaching our 16 children to play. At our annual family reunion, you will always find at least one competitive game of backgammon being played in nearly every room!
Legacy Boards evolved initially out of necessity for a bigger more functional board to play on with my four growing boys. That board is still in use today! That success inspired me to create them each a custom board of their own. With no kids left to make them for and a growing passion and desire to create, I had to find a new outlet. I began experimenting with live edge slabs, resulting in my first backgammon table, and then a 2nd and a 3rd. But what does one do with all these tables? That’s when I began donating them to local charities for auction, and they were selling! I was giving back to the community and selfishly, it allowed me to keep making them, doing what I love.
Having spent my career in sales and marketing, I understand the complexity of marketing a product to be valued by multiple generations. This requires extraordinary elements carefully combined with top quality materials, pride and hands on craftsmanship.
Kerri Dwyer-Shea: Co-creator, energetic partner in life and crime
As a career specialty nurse and massage therapist, my passion has always leaned towards an integrative holistic approach through hands-on practices including Healing Touch, massage and the mind-body connection to promote well-being. The decision to team up with my life partner and join Legacy Boards Backgammon was an easy transition. The opportunity to challenge myself, gain knowledge and learn a new craft was more than appealing. Joining Legacy Boards Backgammon provided me with the opportunity to explore my creative side while maintaining my love for details, the merger came at a perfect time in my life.
Although we collaborate on most pieces, we maintain our individuality. I bring my softer side and offer a new perspective on many Legacy Boards projects. I love working with my senses and the natural elements. There is something magical about seeing the potential in an unrefined, raw piece of wood, in anticipating the layers of beauty that will reveal themselves to us as we work and refine each piece. The result is the joy that comes from seeing our initial vision transform into a beautifully functional piece of art and knowing that each piece will be played on and enjoyed by family and friends for decades to come.
Our shop is located in Marshall, NC, about 40 miles outside of Asheville in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We are inspired by its thriving art community and love being surrounded by so many talented artists.