Tim Hawkins

I am a designer maker of bespoke wooden furniture and trained first at Art College before focusing my creative skills on furniture design.

Some years ago I decided to try to combine these two different areas of interest by whenever possible making pieces which express something about our lives and the world in which we live – pieces that I feel happily stand their ground in the context of Art whilst still serving a practical purpose.

I am inspired by nature and the world, by life experiences of my own and of those around me and my pieces begin as a feeling, sometimes taking many months of thinking and drawing before an idea crystallizes in to a design that can be made.

I try to express feelings or emotions in my work, creating furniture that can be read as a viewpoint on various aspects of life and can be about anything - from a money-box about the legal system to a double bed about love relationships or a set of cabinets about our planet from a Maori viewpoint.

I am passionate about wood and enjoy making in both traditional and contemporary styles in solid timbers, sometimes using combinations of various contrasting woods.

This wonderfully interesting natural medium has many colours, textures and properties that I shall continue to explore and from which I shall go on learning.

I have almost thirty years of experience as a furniture maker and my late grandfather and great-grandfather were ecclesiastical woodcarvers - I myself feel privileged to have made pieces for Hereford Cathedral and for various churches.

As well as exhibitions and corporate pieces I also make furniture for the home, and it is very important to me that each customer commissioning furniture is happy with the designs which I create to suit them, whether they live in a castle or a modest apartment.

For example - a piece for the home might reflect the interests of the individual, as with an inlaid design for someone who wanted sailing boats depicted in keeping with their hobby, whilst ecclesiastical furniture is inspired by the character and requirement of each different church.

The architecture of Hereford's bridges inspired three exhibition pieces that I made in 2008, whilst earlier and more recent pieces have been motivated by parenthood, tree lore and water.

My ambition is to continue to make what I hope will be the heirlooms of the future, combining the finest quality woods and age-old traditional methods with my evolving knowledge and experience.

All but the smallest pieces made bear my 'makers mark' acorn and have a unique certificate of authenticity and whether you would like a simple piece made for the home or have a desire for something special –perhaps to celebrate a forthcoming event or commemorate a past one, I would be happy to create for you a piece to be treasured.