About Me

Since the age of 12, when I mimed to Beatles records using a cricket bat, I knew I wanted to play guitar. When I got my first one that year, a Musima nylon string that I still have, I was in heaven. Over the years I have progressed onto steel string acoustic instruments, and guitars and music have been my lifesavers and stress relief - along with Irish flutes/whistles where I "dabble" from time to time. As my guitar collection grew I became increasingly more fascinated with the beautiful woods they were made from and what made them sound and play the way they did. I wanted to see if I could create instruments of my own and take and shape a sound of my own. In 2003 I was able to realise my dream and have finally got a "real job" making stringed instruments.

My love has definitely been in the fingerstyle area of guitars, with in fluences from the traditional music of England, Scotland and Ireland, and I have gravitated to small guitars - this is where the guitars I make have their "balance". I have two Lowdens (F32C and S25), a McIlroy A30 (a stunning guitar) and have had the priveledge to play many of Stefan Sobell's creations so my guitar base is definitely the "European School" rather than the "American School" although I have a Taylor 312 (Spruce/Sapele Grand Concert) which is lovely guitar particularly for recording.

My exploits with the plectrum have focused around Irish bouzouki and gutar/bouzouki instruments following my time in Ireland and the influence of the thriving and exciting Irish music scene, and I have come to respect these as compliments and inspirational springboards for guitar playing. Ideas flow freely between the two and I would recommend them without hesitation to guitarists. They are really cool slide instruments with the double course strings providing perfect support for the slide.