furniture design and craftsmanship

About

Jo Hayles grew up in Kent and has been interested in art and design since early on in her life.

She was enthusiastic in these subjects at school at both GCSE and A-Level, and was encouraged to pursue a path in furniture design and making, after some success in a competition with her A-Level design project. This led her to take a degree in Furniture Design and Craftsmanship at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College.

In the holidays she worked at A. P. Lapthorn Furniture at Chatham Dockyard, where she acquired a taste for the small furniture making business.

She has now moved back to Kent and started a business in September 2007 making bespoke hand made furniture.