The_Woodworker_and_Woodturner_-_October_2019

The Alan Peters Furniture Award 2020 FEATURE

http://www.getwoodworking.com October 2019 The Woodworker & Good Woodworking 27

T

his newly evolved annual award
celebrates the legacy of one of Britain’s
most prominent furniture designer-
makers of the late 20th century – Alan
Peters OBE – while aiming to encourage emerging
talent in the craft of furniture design and making.
Any woodworker who is a resident UK citizen
over the age of 18, and who has a passion and
talent for designing and making contemporary
furniture, is invited to submit up to two items of
furniture that echo the philosophy of Alan Peters.
Judging is based on the appropriate use of wood,
the quality of workmanship, functionality and
originality of design. Both one-off designs and
potential batch-produced designs are encouraged.
Applicants should be familiar with the
work of Alan Peters prior to applying and are
encouraged to read Jeremy Broun’s 64-page
video-integrated online e-book, which is offered
free-of-charge (via the website link opposite).

The man behind the award
Alan Peters OBE (1933–2009) was one of
Britain’s most prominent furniture designer-
makers of the latter part of the 20th century.
He was apprenticed to Edward Barnsley
and had a direct link to the English Arts and
Crafts Movement. He was hugely influential
internationally in his practice, teaching
and publications. Above all, his respect and
understanding of how wood behaves and the
value of hand skill, yet moving tradition forward,
resulted in the creation of many timeless pieces.
He created affordable functional furniture, which
was made to last, making an art of his craft in
some of his subtle innovations.

History of the award
The original award was called ‘The Alan Peters
Award For Excellence’ and was initiated by Jason
Heap in 2010. The prize was offered to three
winners, each of whom were given free exhibition
space alongside the professionals at his annual
furniture exhibition in Cheltenham. The award
ran for eight years, and some of the past winning
pieces are shown here. The judges were Jason
Heap, Keith Newton and Jeremy Broun.

1st prize

£1,000 Axminster Tools

& Machinery voucher

2nd prize

£500 Triton Tools voucher

3rd prize

£300 Judges’ prize

Winning pieces will be exhibited

at Axminster’s Nuneaton store and

then at The Wilson Gallery

(Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum).

Award deadline is 30 May 2020.

Entries can be submitted any time

up to this date. A £20 entry fee applies

and a maximum of two entries

can be made (£20 per entry).

The judging ceremony will be held at

Axminster’s Nuneaton store on 29 June

2020, and an exhibition at the store will

run from 1–13 July 2020.

Following this, the pieces will then

be exhibited at The Wilson Gallery –

dates to be confirmed.

To download an application form

and the 64-page e-book, please visit

http://www.woodomain.com/

alanpetersaward. The form can be

found at the right of the page. Payment

for entry can also be made securely via

the website.

For further information, please contact

either Group Editor,

Tegan Foley (tegan.foley@

mytimemedia.com), Organiser,

Jeremy Broun ([email protected])

Alan Peters and Jeremy Broun in 2005 Alan Peters chest

Award judges

Jeremy Broun (organiser) – designer-maker

and co-exhibitor with Alan Peters 1978–2002;

Andrew Lawton – designer-maker who worked

with Alan Peters and on his last commission;

Keith Newton – early apprentice and employee

of Alan Peters for 21 years.

Chris Wiseman’s ‘Oak Within’ sideboard’ – 2016

winner of The Alan Peters Award For Excellence

PRIZES OFFERED

Alan Peters chest with silver inlay

Anais Dancet’s

‘10 Degrees’ stackable

stool – a 2012 winner

of The Alan Peters

Award For Excellence