MATTHEW PORTER

 I first began woodworking 10 years ago. It all started when I was twelve years old, I took my first design and manufacture class in high school. Through this class, I learnt about a world of creation and the possibilities of turning natural materials such as wood into practical objects such as furniture and art. 

 

In 2015, age fourteen, with my teacher’s encouragement, I entered the Royal Highland Show. It was for this show that I built my first coffee table. This piece of work resulted in me winning first prize in the handcraft’s competition and the prize for best piece of woodwork overall. In addition to this I was commissioned to create a replica table for a restaurant in Inverness, I was very excited that someone would want to purchase one of my pieces.

 

From 2014 to 2017 I spent my time trying to fund my craft by working, selling items and creating custom furniture whenever I could. At sixteen I began to develop my own joinery and carpentry skills by creating pieces wherever and whenever I could for myself, family and friends and the occasional commission from a stranger. I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship in 2023, and went full time as a joinery/furniture maker in the central belt of Scotland