CLAIRE DARWENT

My desire to become a furniture maker began in Berlin in the 1980's. A work placement in an office as part of a German degree had delivered me to this amazing city where I was soon caught up in the possibilities that Berlin afforded young people. Respect for craftsmanship and the guilds were still very much alive and there were great opportunities for women to learn a trade so I quickly turned my back on the office and became apprenticed for 3 years to master joiner and cabinet-maker Andreas Brueggener. I remained in Berlin a further 4 years honing my skills alongside some brilliant craftsmen as the city went into transformation... I made my way back to the UK in the mid 90's when I was offered a position in London making bespoke furniture with Clive Howdle of Marylebone High Street. This lasted three years before I decided to strike out on my own producing a wide range of bespoke furniture commissions for private clients, interior designers and architects... contemporary furniture..

Primary location: London United Kingdom