My early study began in Venezuela where I studied Architecture. From there, my interest in product and design grew and I found myself more interested in the finer details like doors, windows, and handrails. The comparatively big structures like stadiums, buildings, train stations lacked lustre with these finer points that I was not involved with.
I decided to change my studies to Industrial Design, where I was able to structure my understanding of a product, the brand and the role of a designer.
In 2015 I moved to Cornwall to lay down some roots and grow with my family, having married a Cornish maid. I made friends with a local guy called George, a master craftsman who appointed me his apprentice. He was happy to share his wealth of knowledge and bestowed me the art of traditional English joinery, replicating sash windows, doors, conservatories, porches and the restoration of old historical and listed buildings. This was complemented with the production of other kinds of bespoke furniture such as kitchens and cabinets.
I noted that I wanted to specialise in wood as a medium. I like how with a sustainable and natural resource you can apply it to so many uses even to this day with the advent of modern materials.
My desire to learn led me to enroll onto a wood and composites boat building course at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis, Dorset. Sailing and spending time in the water was a family pastime, so the thought of learning how to build a vessel out of wood ticked all my boxes with boats, wood, product, vessel, scale and the understanding of the shape of a hull and all it’s forces.
Alongside my studies I was fortunate enough to be able to continue to work with George. Towards the end of the course I was commissioned to build a 19’ fishing boat, a Larch on Oak Clinker, with a diesel inboard. This was a great opportunity, as I had the honor of developing ideas from the start to finish. It was launched in September 2017 (Small Boats Monthly Article on the Boat)
Along my career I’ve worked on building sites (first and second fix), fitted out deck hardware in super yachts and laid decks on too many boats to mention. I have worked on exterior and interior veneer and joinery work, here in the UK and abroad. The magic of producing beautiful wooden products is that they get to be finished and with it, comes the next project.
