Natasha GOWDY Furniture

I have been making furniture for over 10 years having studied Design History at Manchester Metropolitan University (1990-93). After college I worked for John Hetherington Furniture (Glossop, Derbyshire) where I gained considerable experience and completed some of my own commissions. The next few years combined renting bench space in a professional workshop with looking after our young son.

On moving to Devon in 2002 I completed a course with Christopher Faulkner at his fine furniture workshop near Totnes. During this time I learnt valuable new skills and my family and I began work on renovating the new workshop.

I usually combine my work on commissions with the production of speculative pieces. Working with a free reign gives me a chance to be innovative and to develop ideas that have been germinating in my mind. I draw inspiration from numerous makers, past and present, some favourites being Edward Barnsley, C.R. Mackintosh, Pierre Charreau, Alvar Aalto and Petter Southall.

Making furniture is very rewarding: there is great pleasure to be had from converting raw materials into useful, enduring objects. With regard to design, I strive to be both original and interesting and believe that beauty will often come from proportion, texture and subtle detail.

Based in South Devon, I am a furniture designer/maker specialising in contemporary handmade pieces. I use mainly English hardwoods, often sourced locally, in particular oak, ash and cherry. My designs are modern with clean, simple lines, whilst the techniques I use are rooted in traditional fine furniture making: hand-planing, hand-cut joints, natural wax finishes. The interest may be found in a joint, a subtle curve or simply in the wood itself.I have been making furniture for over 10 years having studied Design History at Manchester Metropolitan University (1990-93). After college I worked for John Hetherington Furniture (Glossop, Derbyshire) where I gained considerable experience and completed some of my own commissions. The next few years combined renting bench space in a professional workshop with looking after our young son.On moving to Devon in 2002 I completed a course with Christopher Faulkner at his fine furniture workshop near Totnes. During this time I learnt valuable new skills and my family and I began work on renovating the new workshop.I usually combine my work on commissions with the production of speculative pieces. Working with a free reign gives me a chance to be innovative and to develop ideas that have been germinating in my mind. I draw inspiration from numerous makers, past and present, some favourites being Edward Barnsley, C.R. Mackintosh, Pierre Charreau, Alvar Aalto and Petter Southall.Making furniture is very rewarding: there is great pleasure to be had from converting raw materials into useful, enduring objects. With regard to design, I strive to be both original and interesting and believe that beauty will often come from proportion, texture and subtle detail.