Meet our members: Ben Fowler

Freeman Ben Fowler’s lifelong love of rowing and first-hand knowledge of boat building informs much of his design. Working out of a workshop in Newhaven, East Sussex, Fowler & Co offers a complete furniture design and manufacture service: from bespoke joinery to consultancy on architectural projects and product prototyping. Ben has won numerous Design Guild Marks, with his first awarded in 2014 for Hat Tree. We caught up with Ben to find out more about him.

Tell us about your background

I am a lifelong boat lover which led me to Kingston rowing club at 14. I spent my youth rowing to a reasonable level, competing at Henley Regatta in the late 1970s. I then went to Leeds Polytechnic to study furniture design. After I left the Royal College of Art in 1984, I spent two years working for the great Mark Edwards MBE, boat builder to the Queen no less, learning boatbuilding from him.

How did you break into the industry and what is it about the sector that made you stay in it?

While learning to build skiffs with Mark, I met a fellow called Andrew Brace, a formidable carpenter and joiner who had worked for Mark for many years. Tired of boat work in freezing damp conditions, he wanted to make furniture. Together we decided to start Fowler & Brace, a bespoke cabinet makers in 1986, in a tiny 500sq ft shed under the castle walls in Lewes, Sussex. Andrew moved on after three years or so. With help from friends and family, I carried on for some 35 years, ending up in Newhaven with our 10,000ft workshop still making bespoke furniture, staircases and all manner of things.

I have also developed some contract and commercially mass-produced furniture. Much of which has been inspired by the one-off products first made here at my workshop.

When did you first hear about The Furniture Makers’ Company and who encouraged you to join?

An early mentor of mine was Mary Shand, (Lady Sterling), who always spoke warmly about the Company, told me I should join.

What area of the company’s output resonates most with you and why?

Three years into the business after Andrew left and in need of help, my new partner Peter Kelly and I decided to get and apprentice. Matt joined at the age of 15 coming in at weekends to sweep up. Now 30 years on he is a partner in the company and runs the workshop from his bench. He has trained many of the apprentices since – Andy, Geoff, Tommy, Fergus and most recently Liv. They have all been great, many of them staying for a decade or more, before starting their own workshops. The livery company’s commitment to the development of young people is therefore a draw for me.

Can you share a highlight or fond memory of your time involved with The Furniture Makers’ Company?

It is so nice to meet the senior members of the Company at shows etc, where they talk and promote so enthusiastically the work.

Have you got any advice to any new members regarding getting the most out of membership?

Be more involved than I have been.

Finally, tell us something your fellow members may not know about you – a secret talent, an interest outside of the world of furniture.

I play the guitar a little, but not very well. I also sing a bit, but this is not a talent and therefore best kept secret.

Ben is going to be racing in the 22-mile Great River Race, from Millwall to Richmond, on Sunday 10 September, and wants to raise money for our charity. You can sponsor him here.