About
creating timeless, unique furniture for your home or space
Making Connections
I have recently moved my studio to where I live in Sutton, Dublin 13. I work with clients to create timeless pieces for their home or space that resonate their unique story. For me the process of creating is about making connections, with the client’s story, the material, the sculptural elements of the piece itself. Through weaving these together, I believe it is possible to achieve a resonance in a piece (a bit like composing a song) that can impart a feeling of joy or happiness.
From my studio I produce the candle cubes and the crosxings low table. Made from greenwood I use predominantly hand tools to produce each unique piece. Both the candle cubes and crosxings low table can be ordered online. Please get in touch if you have any queries or if you would like to discuss a more bespoke piece.
“We commissioned Colin to provide bespoke gifts for us and were truly impressed with his professionalism from start to finish and his outstanding artistic talent.”
From a young age I was always enthralled with designing and making things, first with my father (a very practical engineer) and then with my grandfather who taught me the skills of furniture making.
Having a background in engineering at Trinity College Dublin, followed by a period studying furniture design and making at the world renowned Parnham College in Dorset, England, I spent a number of years working in sustainable engineering and designing for international furniture studios before returning to Ireland to establish my own studio in 2015.
Starting the studio has enabled me to combine my engineering experience with my visual / sculptural passion and a love of creating handmade design from wild Irish hardwoods.
“I went to Colin with the idea of a combined desk and dressing table, and he came back with some drawings which I loved. His attention to detail is second to none. I love my desk dressing table. It’s so nice to own something so well crafted and to know that I can pass it on to the next generation”
Awards
Innovation & Craftsmanship Award, Overall Winner, Design & Crafts Council, 2019.
Best Product Award, Highly Commended, Design & Crafts Council, 2019.
Shortlisted IDI Design Awards, Furniture Design, 2015
Shortlisted IDI Design Awards, Sustainable Design, 2015
Winner (student) 15th International Furniture Design Competition, Valencia, Spain, 1997
Oldham prize, Parnham College, 1997
Smallpiece prize, Parnham College, 1997
Runner up, Production prize, Parnham College, 1997
Gold Medal, Trinity College Dublin, 1994
Foundation Scholarship, Trinity College Dublin, 1992
Press
Exhibitions
From the Maker, Só Collective, Kildare Village, 2016
IDI Awards Exhibition, Teeling Distillery, Dublin, 2015
International Biennale, St. Etienne, France, 1998
ModernGround, Royal College Art, London, 1998
ModernGround, Olympia, London, 1998
London Design Museum, London, 1998
International Furniture Fair, Valencia, Spain, 1997
New Designers in Business, London, 1997
Going Solo, Cork Street, London, July 1997
Testimonials
“Colin has a natural talent as a designer / maker. His ideas are thoroughly considered and flow easily into clear design solutions, which in turn develop into well-made pieces. He has a directness in his visual language which balances well between a metaphoric / referential and a literal read. He is a fine maker and understands what is and is not achievable within deadlines.”
“One of Colin’s final exhibition graduation pieces was a fantastically comfortable, powder coated steel framed, maple wood slatted chair - his brilliantly conceived mix of form (art) and function (engineering). We were so impressed with its stand out looks and comfort that we commissioned two. Time has passed and they have stood the test of time without fault.”
“I asked Colin to design shelves for my alcove as a memorial to three siblings. He took on board my initial ideas and designed and installed the perfect piece with great sensitivity and attention to detail. The three shelves are connected and support each other as siblings might, while each is unique and independent. I specifically wanted Irish oak and Colin went to great lengths to source a beautiful piece of 350 year-old wild oak from Stradbally. I’m really delighted with the piece and love the life and character of the wild wood.”