We will guide you to realise your potential as a craftsperson and fine furniture-maker. We teach you traditional methods but you will get diverse approaches to try. The end result is always very personal.

Tutors

  • Peter Quin

    Founder & Principal
    Master Furnituremaker, The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers

  • Andrew Lapthorn

    Designer-Maker, Fellow of the Society of Designer Craftsmen & Owner of Lapthorn Furniture

  • Mark Thomas

    Designer-Maker & Owner of MakerMark

  • Paul Iaquaniello

    Designer-Maker & Owner of Kent Furniture Design

Peter Quin, B.Ed. (Hons) - Principal

Peter has been a cabinet-maker and teacher for 30 years, beginning his training in a traditional family-run business in Banbury, Oxfordshire. He was the only apprentice amongst eight colourful, worldly-wise, and skilled cabinet-makers, who were as much interested in you as a person as they were about the important task of learning a trade.

He has worked in various workshops, and has enjoyed success in making furniture from his own workshop since 1989.

His teaching career began with a three year spell in Africa, working as a volunteer lecturer for a development agency. Since this beginning, his career has seen him write, implement, and run degree level programmes, validated by the University of Kent in Furniture Design and Making.

Peter enjoys working with students to realise their potential as furniture-makers and designers, sharing their enthusiasm, and providing them with the necessary making skills and professionalism to pursue their ambitions after the course.

Above: Peter hosting his renowned Summer break Paella. Below: a winter fry-up breakfast with students.

Andrew Lapthorn, Fellow of the Society of Designer Craftsmen

Andrew is an award-winning Furniture Designer Maker, owner of Lapthorn Furniture, in Rochester.

Andrew completed his studies in 'Furniture Fine Craftsmanship and Design' in 1981 at one of the foremost establishments of its kind in the country, Rycotewood College, Thame. At the same time, he passed his Licentiateship of Society of Designer Craftsmen with distinction, and he has been running his own workshop ever since. You can see more of Andrew's work at www.lapthornfurniture.co.uk

Above: Andrew (3rd from left) showing students one of his pieces, a Teak bench at the Historic Dockyards in Chatham. Below: Mark in his studio in St. Leonards.

Mark Thomas, Designer-Maker

Mark is a Designer Maker who works from his studio MAKERMARK in St. Leonards, near Hastings. He holds a Bespoke Guild Mark for his work 'The Axis Table’.

Mark is inspired by the natural world and mid-century Scandinavian design. He uses traditional cabinet making techniques to make contemporary furniture and was a graduate of the school in 2019. Mark was nominated for the prestigious Wood Awards in 2022 and 2023 and was the recipient of a Bespoke Guild Mark in 2024.

Paul Iaquianello, Designer-Maker

Paul Iaquaniello runs his own design and furniture making workshop – Kent Furniture Design – out of West Malling, Kent.

He combines his award winning background in graphic design and commercial art with his skills as a professional wood technician to make fine bespoke furniture.

In addition to the course tutors we have our machine technicians Anna & Tom. They are on hand to offer friendly help and invaluable advice.