What began as an interest in brass instrument repair – under the supervision of the brass instrument maker, restorer and collector Frank Tomes in 2011 – has progressed into an in-depth natural trumpet-making apprenticeship with David Staff. Graham Nicholson has also had an encouraging influence, particularly in the field of engraving, which has become a focus since 2016.
The inspiring hours spent in the workshops of Tomes, Staff and Nicholson, the zen-like concentration and satisfaction of metalworking, the sense of ‘quisque faber fortunae est’ [each is the maker of his own destiny] that I feel while working in the workshop, and the need to practice key skills, led to the gradual development of my own workshop from 2016 onwards.
I continue make engravings, and I began making bassoon crooks during the extensive Covid-19 ‘lockdown’ of 2020.