Jim Bennett MSDC

Biography / Artist’s statement

In a world of mass production making by hand celebrates the joy of imperfection.

Having run his own multi disciplined design practice for some years spending large parts of his time watching others make, Jim decided to follow his passion to make his own designs with his own hands. Retraining at the Liverpool Crafts college, he obtained a City & Guilds qualification in furniture & cabinet making.

Relocating to the Suffolk countryside Jim set up his own workshop in 2012 and now specialises in producing primarily handmade wooden furniture both to commission and for sale /exhibition / gallery.

Using local ethically sourced timber, often from the farm where his workshop is located, his work uses the timeless craft of traditional joinery to produce contemporary designs relevant to modern living. From bookcases and tables to bespoke boxes, the work is influenced by the simplicity and craftsmanship of the modern movement to the skill and beauty of Japanese carpentry.

His interest lies in producing items in a more creative and sustainable way - to make furniture which is not purely functional but has a level of intrigue and beauty – almost a sculptural form.

Jim has recently been awarded an Arts Council DYCP ( Develop your creative practice) grant to enable him to spend some time exploring different methods of working to create pieces of applied art for a wider audience through galleries.

Commission work comes mainly from word of mouth with several returning clients. Jim is a regular contributor of Furniture & Cabinetmaking magazine. He was recently interviewed and had an article ‘meet the maker’ in Country Living ‘Modern Rustic’ magazine.

Process and techniques

Process:

Jim draws inspiration mainly from the built environment, from architecture, as well as the materials he is working with. Whilst his workshop is equipped with some machines, most of the work is made by hand, allowing him to consider each piece and work with the natural characteristics of the wood.

Each piece starts with a drawing. A freehand drawing, then possibly several, often water coloured. Once the initial idea is formed on paper, a scale model is then made – normally in timber. This gives a good indication of mass, shape, proportion. Some of the detailing will also be worked through at this stage. Any detailing, use of different timbers or jointing methods will be considered at this point.

Technique:

His work is based in traditional hand-crafted woodworking and joinery. When designing a piece, selection of the timber is all important. Making by hand celebrates the joy of imperfection. Jim likes to see the maker’s hand in the finished work. Any defects or irregularities in the timber from the tree are used to advantage, not hidden and often repaired with a contrasting timber. The piece has to tell its own story from tree to finished article.

Resume

• 1981 – 1985 Worked in large architectural design office in central London for the Property Services Agency - as graduate in their Accommodation Group design office
• 1986 – 2005 Set up and ran my own successful independent multi disciplined design practice offering architectural and interior design services including furniture and textile design to both the residential and commercial sector
• 2005 – 2008 Attend part time Cabinet & Furniture making course at Liverpool Crafts College obtaining City and Guilds qualification.
• 2008 - date Working as independent cabinet & furniture maker. Relocated from Liverpool to Suffolk. Set up Jim Bennett Furniture with my own workshop Suffolk
• 2025 Awarded Arts Council DYCP (Develop your creative practice) grant