Meet Gareth
established 2018
from business analyst to woodworker…
In 2017, Gareth trained in the John McMahon School of Fine Woodwork successfully completing basic and intermediate courses in woodworking, and then going on to learn advanced techniques. Early in 2018, while taking a planned break from working as a Business Analyst, he took the time to consider whether it would be feasible to break away from working with computers to working with wood, at the same time exchanging an office environment for a workshop. In addition, during the summer of 2018, Gareth was approached by a local French Polishing company and invited to work with them to learn new skills and methods for how to finish wood. A few projects for home plus smaller commissions later, there seemed a real possibility that this transition would succeed. It would also utilise some of the detailed design and analysis skills gained over many years in IT, albeit in a different context.
Gareth initially started to work in half of a double garage, the other half taken up with storage and the car. Over time this has gradually changed so that most of the garage/workshop is now given over to woodworking and the car unceremoniously relegated to the drive!
He made his first workbench from recycled pine and has made good use of wall space by making cabinets to store tools and make them easily accessible when working. Some of those tools have been passed down for two generations within the family; tools that have been used for the last 100+ years. Gareth much prefers to work with hand tools using traditional skills rather than operating machines.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with machines and power tools, they have their place in today’s workshop, and Gareth does use them to save time for certain tasks. However, there is more enjoyment and satisfaction in being creative and ‘hands on’ rather than operating a machine.
More recently, Gareth has been approached by others to help them develop their own woodworking skills. This has been a most enjoyable time for Gareth, providing instruction on how to make basic joints and create small projects. Also, the Covid pandemic (2020 to 2022) has highlighted the need for a peaceful place where a project is created with no pressure to ‘do it quickly’. Gareth’s garage/workshop is large enough for two or three people at the same time and he has created a stress free and calm environment in which to both learn and improve mental wellbeing.
Perhaps Gareth has reached the stage of life when it is time to give more back to others as there does seem to be a natural progression and desire for him to provide the workshop, tools and his time for the benefit of those that don’t have the opportunity of their own.
What I Do
Skill Starters
Interested in learning traditional woodworking skills? Discover how to use standard hand tools, and the basic wood working techniques for a variety of projects.
Woodwork Projects
Got a specific project or item in mind that you’d like to make? Enquire about our wood working projects – these make a great birthday gift idea!
Taster Sessions
Come and use some hand tools to make a box and see whether it’s your ‘thing’.
This is a great present for a birthday or christmas.
Bespoke Furniture
Using locally sourced materials where appropriate, Gareth makes sure each piece is beautifully bespoke and to your exact requirements.
Workshop Location
Gareth@RefineWoodwork.co.uk