Teacher turns his hand to furniture (From Craven Herald)

Teacher turns his hand to furniture

8:37am Tuesday 21st October 2008 in Search Module By Clive White

A former teacher is fulfilling a lifetime’s ambition to design and build his own furniture.

Three years ago, David Mawdsley was working in the science technology department at Oakbank School, Keighley. Today he is a member of top ranking Northern Contemporary Furniture Makers.

He has set up his own workshop in Gargrave, near Skipton, where he is making hand-crafted pieces alongside his wife Stephanie, an embroiderer.

“I’ve always wanted to make my own furniture. It’s been a lifetime dream,” said David, 48, of Addingham, who specialised in teaching resistent materials at Oakbank between 2000 and 2005.

All this week he has been preparing pieces for the Exhibition of Contemporary Furniture at Tennants Auctioneers in Leyburn which runs until October 31.

Pieces will also go on show at a Craven Museum exhibition, in High Street, Skipton, which started yesterday and continues until December 23.