The Alan Peters Award for Excellence

The Alan Peters Award for Excellence

The Alan Peters Award for Excellence commemorates a man dedicated to bespoke furniture and highly respected by all within the industry.  Whilst being a model professional that started his career as an apprentice under the renowned Edward Barnsley in 1949, Alan Peters OBE was also a great teacher, always keen to share and encourage.  It is only fitting therefore that our award for students and emerging talents bears his name and respects his philosophy of excellence in every aspect of design and craftsmanship from timber selection to appropriate design.

The award is designed to encourage and promote emerging young talent within the bespoke furniture industry. It gives up to three new designer-makers the opportunity to win free exhibition space for their entry at Celebration of Craftsmanship & Design. This allows winners to exhibit and network with established and highly regarded professionals within a selling environment, gaining valuable experience and exposure to a very discerning and knowledgeable audience.


2018 Winners

Kate Morgan – ‘Ianus’ Console
(Waters & Acland Furniture School)
What the judges said:

“Very much an Alan Peters piece, combining his distinctive protruding tenons and drawer dovetail pins. The piece is elegantly proportioned and functional with a lovely relationship of circular legs and tenons, whilst the precision of making and finish are excellent.  It is unusual to see a piece so symmetrical that it could be placed in the centre of a room.”

Oxford College Furniture Design

Timothy Burns – ‘Tide’ Console (Rycotewood Furniture Centre)
What the judges said:

“There is an element of fun and lightness in this table which is enhanced by both the choice of leather rather than timber for the shelf and some subtle constructional touches such as the curved and chamfered edges of the rails.  Whilst in one sense the sculpted wave limits the table’s function it simultaneously creates an alternative function by forming a bowl.”

2017 Winners

Christopher Cooper –’Manuell-Coates’ cabinet
(Rowden Atelier Woodworking School)

What the judges said:

“A fun, quirky and confident piece that demonstrates accomplished workmanship and attention to detail.  It is almost a work of art in itself with its unusual, sculptural form and is immediately visually captivating.  Details such as the matching edge coves and painted mirror rebate ensured that this piece stood out to us as exceptional both in design and craftsmanship.”

Freya Whamond –’Bud’ chair
(Rycotewood Furniture Centre)
What the judges said:

“This is an ambitious and experimental design that, although in its early stages of development, represents a good attempt at creating a chair design that says something interesting in terms of its design – a notoriously difficult thing to achieve in chairs.  The result is a visual feast that also demonstrates significant technical difficulty and innovation.”

Finn James – ‘Brompton’ coffee table
(Williams and Cleal Furniture School)

What the judges said:

“This is a visually simple piece, however its clean form has been subtly enhanced by the choice of veneer and top recess to add just enough interest to the piece to ensure that it is not dull.  The execution of this piece is excellent and this is particularly important for a piece where any un-crisp lines would completely break the piece aesthetically.”

2016 Winners

Chris Wiseman –‘Oak Within’ Sideboard
(Waters & Acland Furniture School)

What the judges said:

“An ambitious piece that was extremely well executed.  We loved the fabulous yet simple, slightly oriental, visual concept which promises a subtlety that is then delivered through the deception of the doors and drawers on the front lapels.  Alan Peters would have loved to have run his hand across the sycamore cloak that beautifully compliments the oak that it wraps around.”

Oscar Winter – ‘Huddle’ Table
(Rycotewood Furniture Centre)

What the judges said: 

“This is an interesting concept for the modern office space.  Part art, part functional meeting point with a beautifully laminated ribbon to act as both decoration and support for various electronic devices etc. The well-chosen cherry and olive leather nicely complement one another and help to create a piece that is interesting yet harmonious.”    

Simon Bulley – ‘Lines in the sand’
(Rycotewood Furniture Centre)

What the judges said: 

“There is more to this piece than initially meets the eye as its clever design entwines two mitred spirals together whilst managing to retain a simple honesty of construction and form.  The result is an intelligent approach to furniture making, through the use of standardised components, that is both economical in terms of time and materials.”

2015 Winners 

Charles Byron – ‘Log Stack’ Cabinet

(Williams & Cleal Furniture School)

What the judges said:

“An absolutely stunning piece that one could imagine Alan stroking and studying with great interest.  Bold yet understated.  He only had sections of veneer to work with, so did very well to match up the annual rings and give the impression of a single leaf with shakes in it. Good attention to detail as he even veneered the inside of the back panel with the end grain veneer.”

Sam Carter Bespoke Furniture – ‘Overarching II’

(Peter Sefton Furniture School)

What the judges said: 

“A somewhat familiar looking design concept but one that is sophisticated and adds noticeable innovation with immaculate execution.  We loved the subtlety of the sycamore drawer pulls and feet which have been well thought through.  It is such a mixture of curves and angles that it makes each joint so complicated to get right.  A crisp piece for the connoisseur.”


Avian Evans-White – ‘Revolve’ Bedside Tables

(Rycotewood Furniture Centre)

What the judges said: 

“The excellence of these elegant bedside tables lies in their subtlety.  They are not the most innovative in their aesthetic design but are beautifully crafted with a deceptive amount of work and skill required.  The judges liked the pivoting drawers and felt that the design deserved recognition despite their modesty.  They can and will be a treasured and appreciated addition to somebodies home.”

2014 Winners

Sam Bolt – ‘Reveal’ Bedside Tables

(Ryecotewood Furniture Centre)

What the judges said:

“A refreshingly light and original design which expresses wood and technique beautifully.  Sam shows a real feel for form and proportion and the judges liked the subtle contrast of the Sycamore and Elm.  All of the workmanship looks clean and crisp with well-proportioned dovetails showing a great attention to detail.”

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Daniel Harrison – ‘Spires Dreaming’

(Ryecotewood Furniture Centre)

What the judges said: 

“A striking design with a little flair and a good combination of hand and machining skill.  The fluted base is similar to that used by Alan Peters on several different sized round tables and the book matched solid burr top is beautifully displayed.  A design that will sit comfortably alongside those of professional designer-makers at CCD.”

Tom Jarrold – ‘Elixir’

(Williams & Cleal Furniture School)

What the judges said: 

“From first impressions this piece looks quite plain and ordinary, but as you explore further you start to appreciate how complex and well-made it is.  The tricky scrolled door handles, a lovely drawer opening detail and pull out tray.  The interior has been well thought out to fulfil its function with good use of materials providing a very pleasing aesthetic whilst beautiful all round craftsmanship make this piece a worthy winner. ”

2013 Winners

                 Jan Waterston – ‘By Nickel & Space’        Thomas Whittingham – ‘Whinlatter’                                                      (Warwickshire College)                   (Williams & Cleal Furniture School)