I am an upholsterer and currently finishing my second year of a three year training course to be a Master Upholster. I use Harris Tweed in the majority of my work which is inspired by my love of the wool and my homeland. My focus now is on making more of these chairs called ` The Spirit of the Hebrides` in various sizes and tweeds. This chair was designed and made to incorparate the main icons of the Hebridies to champion our wonderful Islands and their icons. 

I am from Ness in the Isle of Lewis but currently live and work in Edinburgh where I have lived for the last 34 years. My true home however is Lewis where I return every year. 

I trained in Eduinburgh as a nurse and then went to University and completed a degree in English Literature . I currently work for the City of Edinburgh Council full time in a management role but have always longed to be more creative and two years ago I found a passion for upholstery which I am hoping will lead to a different career path.  

Last year I was encouraged by my upholstery training school   to enter a UK wide competition (sponsosred by Heico, UK Upholstery suppliers) to design and make a very specificlly sized small chair (50 wide x 80 height).  My inspriations from this chair came from wanting to highlight  and showcase as mush as I could in a chair the icons, landscape and produce of the islands and to ensure that the chair was made from materials fas much as possible from the Islands only. 

I submitted a mood board called `The Spirit of the Hebrides`. which incorporated the main icons of the Hebrides and I was shortlisted to now create this chair from my design. 

After making the chair for submission in January this year I was suprised and delighted to be summoned to receive a 1st runner up award at the Birmingham Furniture Show.

The chair is made out of a whisky barrel from the Abhainn Dearg distillery in Lewis.  The back of the chair is made out of the staves of a larger whisky barrel, they represent the Callanish stones standing in an arc shape. 

The barrel and the staves of the chair are covered with Harris tweed to represent the colours of the landscape and the sea.

The chair is surrounded by a kilt and the seat of the chair is covered with a  celoise velvet fabric imprinted with the Uig chessmen.

Under the kilt is a cupboard door that opens and lights up to showcase three bottles, Barra gin, Harris gin and the Abhainn Dearg whisky. This was to represent the spirit of the Hebrides in another sense and showcase our produce. 

The arm of the chair where the glass for whisky or gin could sit is made from ash wood from the Stornoway castle grounds and was turned to mirror the curve of the barrel and show the ripples of the sea and sand  in the grain of the wood. 

This award winning chair is now exhibited in the Callanish Stones exhibition centre. Following this success I made another chair from the other half  of the barrel  to be exhibitied at the Abhainn dearg distillery in their own tweed. I then received  a commison to make another chair, a larger version for the Harris Tweed `Clo Mor` Exhibition centre in Drinishader. This chair is completed and is to placed in the exhibtion centre when it opens. 

I am currently working on another two chairs, a small and large version and hope to have one of them exhibited at the historical society in Ness. 

I am delighted that people like the chair and hope that I continue to make them and share the wonderful heritage we have incorparted in this chair.