Gareth Neal

Gareth Neal has a unique approach to making furniture. He looks at the conventions and long-held traditions of design and making, and through a process of investigation and appropriation, ingeniously juxtaposes them with new technologies and ideas. His “Anne” table and chairs (2007) and “George” chest of drawers (2008); “Urban Picnic” group (2010) and “Bodging” project (2011) amongst others, all demonstrate the breadth of thinking and commitment to this experimental approach. Gareth frequently works with groups, his own students and collectives to achieve a fertile and democratic idea base from which to begin developing a design language.

With the oak dining table Gareth investigates the notion of the perception of quality and the “hand-made”, whilst also unearthing the natural qualities of the oak, through the exploration and reproduction of tooling textures. He has captured the subtle discrepancies of the mark of the hand on CAD files, and recreated them via digital manufacturing onto the pedestal. The leather wall coverings in the State Music Room inspired Gareth to invluce the material when considering the design for the chair. Collaborating with Bill Amberg Studios helped Gareth resolve both the functional and aesthetic aspects of using this material, which he had not worked with before. Gareth’s London studio produces work ranging from individual pieces for the international collectors market, to bespoke commissions for private clients, and the design of production pieces for industry. His work has been exhibited internationally, and features in the collections of the Victoria and Albert museum and the Crafts Council. He is a Senior Lecturer at Brighton University.