origins |
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| Award winning founding designer/maker Alun Heslop was born in Kent 1971.
BA Hons in Fine Art (Brighton 1991-1994) B TEC National Diploma in Spatial Design, (Rochester KIAD 1988-1990) “Where trees grow, so does the spirit of the imagination.
We move through space and time, dynamic and fluid. Occasionally we may rest or pause, and perhaps sit down for a while. And there is the moment of contemplation. A moment to deliver a truly unique experience to sit and feel welcomed, comfortable, elevated and perhaps even astounded.” Alun rapidly developed an interest in the art & craft of chair making, primarily with the use of green woodworking and sustainable practice, and established himself as an artist/craftsman in 1997. During time abroad in Switzerland (2002 – 2006), Alun developed a further ongoing interest in seating ergonomics & refinement in chair design & performance. Returning from Switzerland in early 2006, Alun set up the ‘chaircreative’ workshop creating ever more unique & time invested sculptural chair art works, and is now based in Mid Sussex, nestling under the South Downs. Alun has produced work for both public spaces and private clients, including seating installations for The Royal Horticultural Society, Royal Botanic Gardens & the North Downs Way national trail. Recent public works include the exterior & interior gallery seating for the Marks Barfield designed Lightbox Gallery, winner of the 2008 Art Fund Prize; Hedgehog Here & the Cricketer’s Bench for the Belmont/Harris Estate, E. Kent; Sculptural installations for Primary Schools in N.London, in association with Breeze Landscape architects and recent schools ‘active-engage’ projects including ‘The Dragon’s Tale’ West Hoathly, W. Sussex. Notable recent private commissions include the 8.5 m sinuous curving Sleeping Dragon bench (Bedfordshire), Lobo Loi chair (London) and the 2.5m i drop! Sculptures (St. Albans & Maidstone). Recent commercial projects include the waiting area seating, chairs and interior design elements for Hancocks the Jewelers, Burlington Arcade. |
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| Awards | ||
| 2008 2007 |
WoodAwards, WINNER, furniture category ‘Sleeping Dragon’ bench project. WoodAwards, shortlist, furniture category Lightbox gallery seating project. |
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| Exhibitions/Events | ||
| 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006 2006 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 2000 |
21st Century furniture – Making the Future, Portman Village, Seymour Place, London Art in action, – Waterperry, Oxford. Antiques for the Future IV - Sotherby’s, London 21st Century furniture – The Arts & Crafts Legacy, Milllinery works gallery, Islington The Spring Show – Chalkhill contemporary art gallery, Guildford Art in Action– Waterperry, Oxford. Bespoke, Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers, House of Commons, London Design & Bespoke, Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers, South Kensington, London Woodform II sculptural form & furniture, Belmont House, Kent Form, Olympia, London Design Spotter at IMM – Cologne Origin, The London CraftShow, Somerset House, London Fine crafted wood, New Forest Show Art in Action – Waterperry, Oxford. Woodform – sculptural form & furniture, Belmont House, Kent Blickfang, furniture, fashion design, – Stuttgart Origin, The London Craft Show, Somerset House, London Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design, Cheltenham Fine crafted wood, New Forest Show (‘people’s choice’ prize winner) Once Upon a Time, Orell Füssli, Zurich Chairs and Landscapes, Last Gallery. Zurich With the Grain, The Metropole Galleries. Folkestone Wood works, White Cliffs, Kent Gateway to the Millennium, Ashford Creative Sense, Royal Botanic Gardens, W. Sussex. |
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