modern violin maker
These days, much of my work is made to commission, and I also sometimes have instruments available from stock, as well as occasionally earlier instruments on resale. Find out more about current work at work in progress.
I can send violins and violas by courier company either in the UK or abroad.
Please contact me if you’re interested in a resale instrument or rental; there may be something coming available soon.
My instruments at the moment are mostly made to commission, though from time to time I offer earlier instruments for resale. If you’d like to know if anything suitable is coming up, please get in touch.
16 1/4 inch viola 2011
I designed the outline of this viola based on the proportions and principles of the Brescian violas which have been such an inspiration throughout my career. This one has a lovely warm, projecting sound with plenty of character and depth. It has double purfling with decorative motifs on the back, and a warm golden oil varnish.
Its current owner has reluctantly decided it’s a little too large for comfort, so this is a wonderful opportunity to buy a viola that has already had a lot of serious playing.
I’m offering this viola for sale at £9000.
Violin by Peter Croll
Peter Croll was a student at Newark School of Violin Making in the 1970s, in the year above me. He had a slightly nomadic life, mixing violin making with folk music and travel, working in Germany and here in the UK, and our paths crossed from time to time. He died in 2024 leaving a number of beautifully made instruments unfinished in his workshop. By coincidence, his daughter lives round the corner from my mother, so I had the opportunity to buy some of this lovely work to set up and sell on.
This violin was made around 2007. Peter was very interested in designing instruments from geometrical principles as we understand was done by the classical masters. This I think is a design he evolved himself; it’s slightly narrow in the upper bouts making it a really comfortable instrument to play. Another of Peter’s particular interests was varnish, and this has a beautiful rich deep red finish. It has a lovely warm and rich sound. I’ve set it up and brought it back to good playing condition. It’s available for rental at £50 per month or for sale outright at £5000.
If you are interested in the possibility of hiring an instrument and don’t see what you want below, please do contact me, as it’s possible that a suitable instrument may come up in the near future as hire periods come to an end. Rental instruments are usually also available for sale; if you are interested, please contact me for details.
For details of how the rental scheme works, visit this page of my site.
14 1/4 inch cornerless viola 2020
This viola has been enjoyed by its first player for four years, and he has now outgrown it and moved up to the next size. The size works well for children and also adults violinists who want a really compact instrument they can easily swap to. The sound is resonant and warm, with a good C string.
15 inch two-cornered viola 2022
This viola has been used by a talented young violinist for the last couple of years, and I now have it back to offer again for rental. It has a powerful, projecting sound with plenty of warmth.
Peter Croll violin
See above; available for rental at £50 per month.
After a busy summer with lots of visitors and catching up with odds and ends in the workshop, I'm … Read More...
