David Watson

David feels warmly nostalgic towards the 1980s, and his furniture designs are influenced by the geometric motifs that were so popular in the fashions of the decade, using these as a starting point and adding a contemporary twist.

David also draws inspiration from other British makers and designers, and is keen to collaborate where possible. He is an advocate of local design and industry, seeking to support not only the design businesses but also local suppliers. Despite the continuing upwards trend in timber prices and the temptation to buy from abroad (chiefly America) David still commendably sources the majority of his materials from Scotland.

David grew up breathing the heady scent of pine from the saw mill next door to his home. In common with another of AUTHOR’s makers, David also cites outdoors den building as a formative aspect of his interest in design. (Note to self: encourage one’s budding designer children to make more dens.)

David honed his cabinetmaking skills as an apprentice with Michael W Hart in Musselburgh, and has for the last ten years been designing and making furniture for domestic and commercial industries and is known for his bespoke furniture designs which take each client’s unique lifestyle, individuality and taste.

Rightfully, his talent was recognised as he was awarded the Visual Arts Scotland Award for Applied Arts in 2016.