The Orkney Furniture Maker

The Orkney Furniture Maker Traditional craftsmanship and creativity. Hand crafting traditional and designer furniture on the Ork

Born, raised and educated in Orkney, Kevin has been working with wood ever since his childhood. Growing up, he could always be found in the family garden shed making wooden items. His hobby developed into his passion and he left school in 1996 at the age of 16 to launch his much desired career as an apprentice with a well-known local furniture maker who had the reputation of high quality craftsman

ship. Here, he continued to work and expand his skills and techniques for 9 years which eventually lead to him establishing himself as The Orkney Furniture Maker in April of 2007 with the aim of producing traditional furniture as well as his own new designs. Kevin's great-grandfather was also a furniture maker in Kirkwall before he left to serve in World War One and his grandfather was a boat builder on the island of Westray; working with wood is most certainly in his genes. Every piece from Kevin's collection is individually created by him and his small dedicated team and is therefore unique to his clients. Clients are guaranteed a one-to-one basis with Kevin, allowing him to create the ideal piece. Kevin has a strong eye for good design and is passionate about sourcing the right materials for his work. A keen interest is experimenting with new materials and processes to create a unique and new piece of furniture. He has an individual approach to making his furniture, using a mix or traditional skills and modern machinery; this has led to Kevin exhibiting his work both locally, nationally and internationally and he now has a world-wide customer base. He enjoys reinterpreting traditional designs in his own style and many of his pieces are inspired by pieces of traditional furniture found in Orkney. His work brings together his passion for local traditional techniques and materials, combining them with innovation and design to create unique pieces with a connection to his island home. With the help of his uncle, who is a fourth generation farmer on their family farm, Kevin grows his own Oats to create the straw backs on his Orkney Chairs, offering a real personal touch.

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10/06/2026

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Have you seen this man, probably somewhere in New Zealand? This is a very long shot- can the internet track down this remarkable carving by Reynold Eunson, the craftsman who created the wonderful St Rognvald's Chapel in St Magnus Cathedral?
The figure is about 18 inches high and was commissioned from NZ sometime in the early 1970s.
It would also be fascinating to know who the model was for that distinctive face.

It was super to deliver this table commission to a returning client this week. 🤩It's also been grand to get out into the...
07/06/2026

It was super to deliver this table commission to a returning client this week. 🤩

It's also been grand to get out into the sunshine and mill some locally felled trees. Some of which have been lying outside for a while, so some characteristic spalting has been developing. This will make for some interesting pieces of furniture when they are dried out and ready to use. 😎🪵

This morning we welcomed members of the Caithness Vintage Tractors & Machinery Club to our workshop and gallery, along w...
24/05/2026

This morning we welcomed members of the Caithness Vintage Tractors & Machinery Club to our workshop and gallery, along with members of our local Vintage Club.

It was great chat to them about the work that we make, and demonstrate stitching a back in an Orkney Chair.

23/05/2026

Another bespoke commission nearing completion this week. 😀

Would you like to spend an afternoon in our workshop making a mat from salvaged fishing rope?We are running a class on t...
22/05/2026

Would you like to spend an afternoon in our workshop making a mat from salvaged fishing rope?

We are running a class on the 31st May, from 1pm until 4pm, where you can do just that!

The class will be led by Mark, who is part of our straw working team, but he is also a knot and rope expert.

This class is being offered at a discounted cost of £55 per person and for this, we just ask that you are happy having your photo taken while enjoying the experience.

We are currently setting up a page on our website detailing the variety of classes we will be offering, and the photos taken during the mat making workshop will be featured on this page.

Please feel free to message, email ( [email protected] ) or call 01856 871314 to book your place on this class, or feel free to reach out should you require any further information.

We are also planning on running a class next month, where you can make a basket from salvaged beach rope.

Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided and a great afternoon is guaranteed!

Enjoy your weekend. 👍

Last time when we made a Beachcomber Bowl for displaying Groatie Buckies, it caused a bit of a storm!We have just made a...
17/05/2026

Last time when we made a Beachcomber Bowl for displaying Groatie Buckies, it caused a bit of a storm!

We have just made another one along with a new Beachcomber design for displaying all the treasures that you find while walking along the beach.

Lachlan, Rowan and myself delivered these to The Pier Arts Centre yesterday and took a walk up Brinkies Brae afterwards to eat ice cream and admire the view. 😍

This chair arrived in Liverpool this week to join our client's growing collection of Orkney pieces.​Crafted from a local...
10/05/2026

This chair arrived in Liverpool this week to join our client's growing collection of Orkney pieces.

​Crafted from a locally sourced, reclaimed Pitch Pine roof beam, we love how this frame honours the traditional roots of Orkney chair-making.

Historically, these frames were built from whatever timber was at hand—often driftwood or reclaimed wood—standing as a testament to the incredible resourcefulness of Orcadians.

​It’s more than just a chair; it’s a piece of history.

With thanks to Kate and Jack from We Are Makers for spending time with us while they were recently in Orkney.We Are Make...
09/05/2026

With thanks to Kate and Jack from We Are Makers for spending time with us while they were recently in Orkney.

We Are Makers is a magazine that is published quarterly and it tells the story of the makers that are featured in it.

Edition eighteen has just been released and you can read more about our business and my journey through craft over the past thirty years in the next edition.

Several other amazing Orkney makers will also feature in edition nineteen.

Thanks also to Michael Sinclair Woodturner for their hospitality, hosting a Creative Orkney gathering while Kate and Jack were visiting.

You can subscribe to We Are Makers magazine, so you never miss and edition.

https://www.wearemakers.shop/

There is still time to see Keith Collsel's amazing basket exhibition at The Northern Light Gallery in Stromness .We head...
02/05/2026

There is still time to see Keith Collsel's amazing basket exhibition at The Northern Light Gallery in Stromness .

We headed along to the opening on the 24th ahead of attending the Blues Festival 🎶🎵

It's great to see Keith reviving and keeping alive the tradition of Orkney basket making and turning locally sourced materials into a variety of pieces.

The exhibition is on until the 12th of May.

Address

Craigiefield Road
Kirkwall
KW151UF

Telephone

+441856871314

Website

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