Work In Progress

A little while ago I had an interesting call from Stella, a viola player and teacher from Switzerland. Alongside her teaching practice she’s working on a dissertation, which has set her thinking more and more about the quality of her pupils’ instruments.   She wondered if I had ever made a viola the same size …read more

I have been intrigued by this early Stradivari viola for some while; it’s a rarity in his output, the only one made to this model, and unusually with a poplar back. I’ve heard it played by Antoine Tamestit on recording and been blown away by the expressiveness of the sound. During last year’s lockdown I …read more

I’ve been busy making these small violas for some time. This one is for my rental scheme, for a player who will soon be moving up from one of my smaller violas. This one is the same size as a full size violin, great for young players or for violinists who want an instrument that …read more

I’m pleased to have the chance to revisit one of my favourite violin models, one of the last instruments from the Stradivari workshop, in fact probably made by Antonio’s son Francesco. This is the fourth time I’ve made it; the model always delivers a rich and powerful instrument with a lovely warm G string. This …read more

This is one of the standard models I make for rental; it’s the perfect size for teenagers before they are ready for their forever viola. I’m making this one for my rental scheme, and it is already destined for a young player who has been happily using one of my 14 1/4 inch cornerless violas …read more

This viola is a commission from a student at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. She has the original Betts viola on loan from the Benslow Loan Scheme and it suits her physically very well, so we decided just to make a viola based on that, rather than one of my usual models. …read more

New year, new viola… This is one of my own designs of viola, which I’ve made regularly over the last twenty years. it’s been a very successful model, delivering an excellent quality of sound with a small and manageable size and light weight, perfect for young and not-so young players! This one will join my …read more

I’m pleased to revisit this viola, having already made this model as a commission earlier in the year. I was happy with the rich, warm sound it made and so were some of the players who saw it. One of these players has been hiring my small violas for several years, and is now ready …read more

This is a model I have returned to intermittently through my career. It’s the smallest cello I make and perfect for players with small hands. Before Stradivari came on the scene and standardised the size of the modern cello in the early 18th century, cellos were made in two sizes; a smaller, more soloistic model …read more

This is the second viola of a commission from a viola teacher in Hong Kong, who is building a collection of fine instruments to loan to his pupils. It’s my usual cornerless design, which I have made many times over the years and which has helped a fair few fledgling viola players on their way. …read more