1994: Art and Design Diploma (distinction) Waltham Forest College London
1997: I graduated with a 2.1 with honors in Fine Art Sculpture from the now University of Gloucestershire
2000-2002 City and Guilds level 1&2 Fine Furniture and cabinetmaking
2002- present, Self employed Instrument/furniture maker/artist
Originally from Walthamstow in East London, (Birth place of William Morris), I left when I was 24 to study Fine Art Sculpture in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, which I passed with a 2:1 with honors.
I later spent two years studying Fine furniture making at the Gloscat Technology School before starting my own business in the Forest of Dean (2002), moving my workshop near Montpellier, Cheltenham in August 2003. In 2005 I moved my business to a purpose built workshop at home,, no longer open to the general public.)
In January of 2003 I was honored to have a visit by Kantele Player and composer Lani K Thompsons It was truly inspiring to meet and talk and to hear and see Lani play! I have made big changes to my playing, and my Kantele making since then! I was interviewed by her for the American/Finnish magazine New World Finn, and you can now read it online:
Click here to read
I have also been very privilaged to have work with Chris Fioster over the years working on Icelandic Inbstruments, plus many other fine artists.
Musically, I was taught the recorder and Guitar at school and when I was 15 I designed and made an electric guitar..
I played Lead guitar in a Pop band for a while (our band came Fifth in the Youth Rock Band of the Year show at Ronnie Scots Night club in London.) I later spent 3 years learning and playing the Highland Bagpipes with the Waltham Forest Pipe Band.
Over these years since I have made Harps, Psalteries, Ukuleles, Didgeridu, Dulcimers, various experimental Zithers and Kanteles, Langspil and epinettes.
I am currently working on wire harps, and maube some nickelharpas as well as new lyre models and Ukuleles