Jim Sharples Furniture
About Jim Sharples
CopyrightI grew up in the Cumbrian coastal village of Rampside, close to the town of Barrow-in-Furness. After enjoying woodwork and winning a local competition in furniture design at school in Barrow, I went to Salford University to study Analytical Chemistry in the mid nineties.

I rekindled my interest in furniture making by studying the Handcrafted Furniture City and Guilds course at The City of Bristol College when I moved here in 2000.

Following this I worked in the industry learning larger scale production skills. During this time I set up my first workshop space in Montpelier (Bristol) using a friend's garage.

With the help of the New Entrepreneur Award Scheme (at the BRAVE agency in St Paul's) I joined an intensive 3-month development program, where I learned the strategies needed to succeed in business.
CopyrightWithin a year I outgrew the small workshop in Montpelier and at the beginning of 2006 moved to larger premises in the Portbury area.

In 2007 I moved to a shared rural workshop near Backwell, south of Bristol. This space has developed over the years and we now have a well equipped workshop.

On this site I am able to mill up timber. So if you have a tree felled in your garden I'd be happy to plank it, season it and create an original piece of furniture from your very own tree.
Copyright.






When not in the workshop I spend as much time as possible with my family. Here we are out on a spring walk - Jo, Lewis, Rudy and myself.