Mark Newson

My interest in wood dates back to my school days where I had an inspirational woodwork master. Whilst at school I made a table and waste bin for the school foyer. However, being a Grammar School a career in a trade was frowned upon and being a 'sensible' boy took a 'safe' career in retail banking. Twenty-five years later I was facing 'voluntary' redundancy.

Now not being so 'sensible' and not that much of a boy it was time for a change in career so in 1997 I enrolled on a one year furniture designing and making course at Rycotewood College in Thame. I enjoyed myself finding that I was one of the more able students and finished the year having won the prize for the best piece of contemporary design at the year-end show.

Buoyed up by this I set off as self employed and have since then been either dealing directly with my clients, working jointly with other designer makers or collaborating with designers to bring their ideas to reality.