Award-winning Master Craftsman and Furniture Maker

I always wanted to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps and become a cabinet maker and master craftsman, and having achieved this, I’m able to pass on my commercial and teaching experiences to those who also want to learn the art of furniture making.

Peter Sefton, Principal Tutor

After being a successful Designer Maker and Master Craftsman, Peter wanted to pass on his commercial and teaching experiences to those who also want to learn the art of furniture making. So, in the late ’90s, Peter became a qualified Adult Teacher in Further Education before running City & Guilds and BTEC National Diploma in Furniture Design and Making Courses at a local college.

After more than a decade of being part of the education system, Peter wanted to focus on more practical woodworking skills and decided it was time to set up his own private furniture school. From the outset, Peter decided to focus on teaching the skills required to make top-quality bespoke furniture whilst also understanding the constraints of running your own business. This led to the launch of the Peter Sefton Furniture School which opened in 2009, where he continues to train aspiring furniture makers and hobbyists looking to enhance their skills.

Over the years Peter has written many articles for leading magazines such as Furniture and Cabinet Making, Woodworking Crafts and The Woodworker. He continues to contribute to woodworking forums and demonstrates woodworking techniques at numerous exhibitions.

In 2014 Peter was honoured to be admitted as one of only 300 Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers – the furnishing industry’s charity where he was previously admitted as a Freeman – in recognition of his work in the education of future furniture designers and makers.

Peter took an interest in woodworking from an early age, inspired by his Grandfather he wanted to follow in his footsteps to become a Cabinet Maker and Master Craftsman.

Peter trained as a furniture maker in the 1980s at Brunel in Bristol alongside John Makepeace OBE and Sir Gordon Russell apprentices. During his studies he achieved the Fiddes & Son Award for ‘Furniture Studies’ and ‘Best at Show’ for his Satinwood Carlton House Writing Desk, gaining Distinctions in all subjects.

After graduating Peter became a journeyman Furniture Maker, crafting his own commissions, before setting up his own workshop in Worcestershire, making pieces for international designers and clients including; Viscount Linley, The Conran Shop, Tiffany and Co, Lutyens Furniture Limited, Shaker London, Colefax and Fowler, The Sultan of Brunei and the Lehman Brothers.