Don

I am a carpenter at heart, and it's what I do best.  I left school and went to college, and then after that I went to university pretending that I could be some sort of academic.  I don't regret doing that because it's life and it all counts, but all the while I knew that what I really wanted to do was make cool stuff with my hands.

​

I have travelled and worked with lots of different people in a lot of different countries.  In 2002 I settled in at Carpenter Oak in Devon and I enjoyed nearly 17 years with them, eventually becoming one of their senior carpenters.  In 2019 though, it was time for a change at last.

​

I took a break with my family and we headed north into Scandinavia for 3 months.  We lost track of time in the 24hr daylight, going whichever way the wind blew; skateboarding, riding, surfing, and just spending time with ourselves and our new friends.

​

After that amazing trip we landed back in Devon where I spent a few months with some friends in Kingsbridge.  We made some cool stuff and had a fun time, then the global lurgy kicked off and I was given the gentle shove that I needed to take responsibility for myself.

 

I have to say that I massively value the good relationships I have made with all the friends I have worked with, and I can still be found in all their various workshops as and when they need a hand, but now you are most likely to find me in my pwn workshop on village farm in East Portlemouth.  

 

I have been incredibly fortunate over the last few years to have had a string of really great customers and projects.  Unsurprisingly, some of the smallest ones have been the most fun and rewarding, but throughout 2023 I found myself stepping things up a notch to help create what is now the cafe and artisan centre at Village Farm.  As an added bonus I now  share my workshop right next door with John and Naomi  McShea, who both give me an unbelievable supply of imaginative and creative energy.