Sylva Foundation graduates awarded funded bench space through Claxton Stevens Prize

Three graduates of the Sylva Foundation’s Wood School – Phil Sampson, Nicola Rees-Williams, and Sam Petterson – have been awarded funded bench space, supported by a £1,000 grant from The Furniture Makers’ Company through the Claxton Stevens Prize.

The funding, which is sponsored by Christopher Claxton Stevens, a Past Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, will provide the recipients with free access to professional workshop facilities, machinery, and expert guidance at Sylva’s Wood Centre, supporting their transition into the next stage of their woodworking and furniture-making careers.

The three recipients come from diverse professional backgrounds.

• Phil Sampson began his career in engineering, working in electronics and computer science, including developing satellite control systems. After serving as an officer in the RAF and later working in software engineering for a global publisher, he joined Sylva’s Professional Course to explore a full-time transition into furniture making.
  
• Nicola Rees-Williams, previously working in graphic design and home-educating her children, progressed from Sylva’s Introduction to Furniture Making course to further develop her creative practice and challenge herself in a new discipline.
  
• Sam Petterson studied Furniture and Product Design and worked as a designer for major brands in the contract furniture sector. He joined Sylva to deepen his technical skills and expand his practical knowledge.
  
  

Joseph Bray, head of the Sylva Wood School, said: “Access to workshop space and machinery is often one of the biggest barriers for emerging makers. Through this funding, recipients will gain free access to a shared workshop and wood machinery, guidance from Sylva’s Wood School team, membership in a vibrant community of designers and makers, and between three and twelve months of supported development time. We would like to thank Christopher Claxton Stevens and The Furniture Makers’ Company for awarding this special prize.”

Christopher Claxton Stevens said: “The Claxton Stevens Prize, which has been awarded since 1989, has traditionally been given for the most outstanding piece of furniture awarded a Bespoke Guild Mark each year.  After the Covid crisis, when no Guild Marks were inspected, the prize was given to help furniture makers train at Sylva, and this year the Bespoke Guild Mark Committee has once again decided to use the money to encourage outstanding pieces of furniture to be created which might be submitted for future Guild Marks.  I am delighted that we can put the prize to such good use in this way.”

Nicola Rees-Williams said: “The professional course has helped me find my own path into furniture making; now continuing to make at Sylva with the support that brings is both exciting and full of possibilities.”

Phil Sampson added: “Sylva’s willingness to find space alongside some of the more established makers for several of us after the course concludes is a fantastic opportunity.”

Sylva Foundation is a national charity working for a society that lives in harmony with nature, focusing on the stewardship of our forests and the utility of home-grown timber. It provides solutions to meet significant environmental challenges by innovating, collaborating, training, and advocating.

The Wood School, which is based in Long Wittenham, Oxfordshire, was established by Sylva Foundation to bridge the gap between education and the wood industry. It is inspiring and educating the next generation of designers, makers, consumers and woodland owners in the value of home-grown timber.