Commissions

Though I do some speculative work, much of my work is done to order, either from an existing house design, or from a commission for a totally individual piece. Commissions are at core about the relationship between the client and maker, out of which comes a piece which owes its uniqueness to the collaboration between the two parties. I try to really encourage the client into this collaboration through site and workshop visits. Very often my clients are commissioning for the first time, and are somewhat nervous. This is understandable and appropriate, but quickly changes to eager anticipation as we both dance the path towards creating a piece that will accompany many generations of the client’s family.

Introduction

I have been making furniture and other objects for the last 24 years, in which time the nature and focus of my practise has changed.I aim to build useful, beautiful and fun pieces which reflect my personal relationship with the world aroud me. I now work out of my workshop next to our home, and though much of my work is still furniture, I also build wooden cabins and structures and help others to develop their confidence with making skills.

 

Work practice

My goal is to fully tap my playful creativity in the design and making of a piece, knowing after many years of practise that the success of a particular design is closely bound to my enjoyment of the process.

The core value that underlies the work that I do, is my huge respect for the natural world of which we are all a part. This attitude means that I design each piece to fully honour the wood from which it is made. This I strive to achieve through the beauty and appropriateness of the design, the solidity of the construction and the choice of woods that are as local as possible. Much of the wood I use is from storm damaged or diseased trees, and in consequence the wood is often characterful and unique, the finished piece striving to reflect some of the history of the tree from which it came. I combine handwork and machine work to create each piece, and similarly combine traditional and modern joinery techniques, choosing what is most appropriate for the looks and strength of the piece. I use exposed joinery whenever I can.

 

About Me

Born in Vienna, Austria in 1961 and educated at the University of East Anglia from 1981-84, prior to doing a short apprenticeship with Dennis Thorold in a freezing watermill, with no electricity, in the winter of 1984. This was enough to send me scuttling back to London, to the warmth of the London college of furniture, where I spent 3 very focused years studying cabinet making, and furniture design. There followed 5 years of designing and manufacturing furniture for the Conran shop, and other retail outlets in the Uk and Europe. Since 1991 I have been designing and making wooden furniture to commission in Mexico, London and Devon, where I settled with my family in 1999.

Facilitated Furniture Making

Using the well equipped facility of my workshop, my extensive wood working skills and my enthusiasm for the process of facilitated learning, I can guide you in the making of a desired piece tailored to your individual needs.