Biography

Simon is both a fine furniture maker and professional freelance cellist, working regularly since 2001 with orchestras in the North-West such as the BBC Philharmonic, RLPO and Manchester Camerata. He has recorded and performed with artists including Sting, Lewis Capaldi, Corinne Bailey-Rae and Elbow, and has toured extensively throughout Europe, America, and the Far East.

 

Simon’s interest in woodwork was nurtured more recently by the late Peter Howcroft, an inspirational tutor with a passion for design. With Peter’s encouragement he took a year away from his career as a cellist and enrolled on the full-time diploma course at the Peter Sefton Furniture School in Upton-upon-Severn. Simon’s ‘Dickie-Bow Credenza’ - his final showpiece for the diploma - was successful in being awarded the Felder UK Wood Machining Prize as well as the Wood Workers Workshop Visitor’s Choice Award for Best Piece at the final exhibition. His achievements came to the attention of The Woodworker Magazine, who went on to publish a cover feature in their July 2018 issue. Graduating with Distinction in Diploma of Furniture Design & Making, he returned to Manchester to set up his own workshop, specialising in hand-crafted, exhibition quality work. He currently draws inspiration from Scandi minimalism and Japanese furniture, creating contemporary pieces through a retrospective lens.