I design and make commission pieces of primarily timber furniture including tables, chairs, drawers, wall units, jewellery boxes, book shelves, etc. Like many of the pre-industrial pioneers of the woodcraft tradition, I chose to work wood because of the independent way of life it offered. Materials can be gathered and processed by the maker. Craft work and the craft life could be said to be a moral activity and I believe that making a piece of furniture for a person implies a moral contract. The piece must serve a purpose well, and also last a lifetime. In past centuries this was the maker’s obligation to their client. The best craftsmen shared a common principal – truth to materials. They were respectful of materials, understood their preciousness and presented them with a level of grace. I endeavour to carry on these principles in my work. My furniture is intended to evoke a response in the viewer, to tell a story. I believe that in making successful contemporary furniture one must address craft and design with an equal level of respect and skill. Aesthetics, intellectual content and functionality are all considered with equal importance. My approach to furniture endeavours to bridge the gap between the “moral” and “truthful” approach of the highly skilled craftsmen of past centuries, and the design oriented approach of current times. The primary materials used are recycled Australian hardwoods. I often incorporate brightly coloured epoxies in an attempt to highlight grain patterns, which are like a palpable document that traces the history of the tree. The presence of high tech composites within natural timber, which can sometimes be hundreds of years old, is not only visually arresting, but may also remind us metaphorically of our place in relation to our natural environment. Traditional joinery such as dovetails and finger joints are also widely used, their precision and geometry adding a richness to the work. I often gather found objects from the forest floor where the timber originated from and cast these in resin blocks, which are then incorporated into the piece of furniture as a permanent visual reference to the origin of the timber. Similarly, objects of importance to a client may also be cast in resin and incorporated into the piece so as to personalize the piece and create a point of reference for future generations who may use the furniture. I have completed commissions for private and corporate clients in Australia, Japan and the USA.