My first experience of upholstery was around 30 years ago. I was teaching at the time and scraped together enough money to buy my first flat. I picked up a heavy-duty sofa-bed in a second-hand shop, took it apart and turned up at an evening class with one of the arms as my first project. Luckily the tutor was very understanding, and over the next few months I managed to re-upholster the whole sofa bed, section by section. I found this very satisfying and continued to work with textiles as a hobby making loose covers, curtains and blinds.
During lockdown I happened across an upholstery podcast, it got me thinking that perhaps it could be possible to do this as a full-time career. I enrolled on a business upholstery course in Manchester. This confirmed to me that it was the right thing to do. It was the perfect combination of design and problem solving with plenty of physical work thrown in. I took on some work for friends after this but felt that I wanted some more formal training alongside taking commissions. I enrolled on the Master Upholsterers diploma course achieving a distinction at the end of second year.
I get great satisfaction from transforming items of furniture knowing that they will go on to be used for years to come. I’m interested in sustainability and will offer sustainable choices where possible.
