I started playing guitar at 14 and repairing guitars in 1984 at the age of 18.

In 1985 I built my first electric guitar - a telecaster built on a workmate bench in my bedroom!

Between 1985 and 1987 I attended a guitar making course in Bristol run by the Kinkade Brothers. During this time, I produced four electrics, one acoustic, and one semi-acoustic, plus carrying out a wide variety of repair work.

In 1987 I started a two year OND Course at the London College of Furniture: Musical Instrument Studies of Modern Fretted Stringed Instruments. This was an excellent course, covering not just the practical aspects of making but the history and theory behind instrument design.

In 1989 I graduated from OND and joined the two year HND Course in Musical lnstrument Technology in the modern fretted Department. This built on the OND, adding more techniques, examining acoustic theory and focusing on modern fretted instruments.

During the four years at college I designed and built eleven guitars and two mandolins of varying types and design. I graduated with an overall merit and, thanks to the guidance of my tutors, Herbie Schwartz and Michael Gee, a wealth of information and experience.

 

In 1991 I accepted a job with the newly formed Patrick Eggle Guitar Company as supervisor of neck production. Responsibilities extended to training new employees in guitar building techniques
 

At the end of 1991 I left Patrick Eggle and concentrated on hand-built acoustic instruments. In the following two years I built 2 classicals and a mandolin along with taking on significant amounts of repair and restoration work. I also gained a Certificate of Adult Education Teaching  and started teaching evening classes in stringed instrument making at local Community Colleges.

 

From 1994 to present I have been a full-time independent Luthier and continued running evening classes, only stopped currently by the recent Covid-19 restrictions. During that time I have built over 140 stringed instruments and performed over 500 major restorations.