Studied under Peter Dickenson, Fred Scott, George Ingham, Martin Grierson, John Heritage, Guido Belmonte, Ettoire Sotsass, John Marshall, John Sturgess.

 

LeeSinclair 1971 (look at that hair).

Rose in an early chair 1971

Nest of Tables exhibited at the Haymarket Design Centre and at the Building Design Centre London, 1971

• Designed the Berry Dynatop selected for Design Centre, London.
• Implemented new factory layout
• Responsible for company exhibitions i.e. Ideal Homes Exhibition

Arthur Lewis was in his 60's when I joined Berry's and had been there since joining the firm as an apprentice before the war.  He was a master craftsman and I am indebted to him for his time and patience.  He taught me the real craft of furniture making and the virtue in producing the highest quality work.  Arthur inspired me in many ways and convinced me that I should work towards running my own workshop.  The knowledge I gained over those two years can not be measured and I use Arthur's "tips" everyday and hope that I have passed on his enthusiasm and knowledge to my apprentices.

The Berry Dynatop    My first realisation of how important innovation is in design"

Lee's first design to be produced in quantity.

"it's difficult to describe how I felt when I saw the dressing table in the shop window of Kentons Furniture Shop in East Ham, I just kept on walking backwards and forwards past the shop, trying to register the shoppers reactions.  There weren't many to register!" 

• Managed small design office dealing with exclusive interiors for a wide mix of clients. Great experience but not the way I wanted to go.

1974 Lee Sinclair Furniture - Lincolnshire - Furniture Designer

• Set up own workshop to design and make exclusive and batch produced furniture.

1977 Started work on CONVERTABLE design

1981 Lee Sinclair Furniture Nottinghamshire - Workshop moved to Nottinghamshire

Exhibitions:

1977 / 1978 Jews Court, Lincoln, Corn Hill Gallery, Caistor

1979 Introduced Clockscapes decorative wooden clocks that kept us in business for many years.  It is very complimentary to see so many clocks that echo our early designs.

1981 Queens Royal Visit exhibition, Worksop

1984 Award for Craftsmanship, Keele University Exhibition; Warwick University Arts Centre

1985 International Furniture Exhibition N.E.C.; Barclay Bank Award for Craftsmanship; Elected to Membership of the Society of Designer Craftsmen ; Hammer & Tong Exhibition, Lincoln

1987 Steel and Wood, Rufford Craft Centre

1989 International Furniture Exhibition, Earls Court; Art In Action Waterperry House, Oxford; Living Crafts Henley on Thames

1990 Year of Innovation Exhibition, Design Centre, Haymarket,London

1991 British Craftsmanship in Wood, Thirlstaine Gallery, Cheltenham ,To launch book British Craftsmanship in Wood.; Design Pavilion, Ideal Home Exhibition, Earls Court

1991 National BBC TV, New Zealand TV and Sky TV, Article for Woodworker Magazine - Converting Design Into A Business.

1992 British Design Stand, Ideal Home Exhibition, Earls Court; Country Living, Business Design Centre, Islington

1993 Society of Designer and Craftsmen Annual Exhibition, The Mall Gallery, London.

Designer-Craftsmen, Stamford Arts Centre

1994 International Furniture Exhibition, N.E.C; Living Crafts, Henley on Thames

Work published in book - The Complete Woodwork Course; Modern Furniture Bonnington Gallery, Nottingham

1995 A Celebration of Craftsmanship, Thirlstaine Gallery Cheltenham; Interiors, Rufford Craft Centre Gallery, British Craft Show, Luton Hoo

1996 'A Potter, A Painter, A Furniture Maker' - joint exhibition with the great potter Colin Pearson - Rufford Craft Centre ; Living Crafts, Henley on Thames

1997 'Designer Furniture' at Harding House Gallery, Lincoln; Art in Wood at Chilterns Museum.

1998 "Show of Excellence" Henley on Thames; BBC Good Homes Show at NEC

1999 Sculptural Chairs at The Pearoom Gallery;  "Two Makers" at Harding House Gallery, "Show of Excellence" Henley on Thames, Silver Anniversary Exhibition at Endon House Gallery

2000 Craft in Focus at University of Surrey, The Harley Gallery, Welbeck Abbey, "Show of Excellence" Henley on Thames, "Concept for Living" Taton Park, "Artizana" Excell Centre London

2001 Craft in Focus University of Surrey, Reading University, The Harley Gallery, Welbeck Abbey, Artizana @ Excell; British Craft Show Chiswick Townhall.  Awarded Silver Platter for best new exhibitor, Royal Berkshire Show.

2002  Craft in Focus University of Surrey, Furniture Rufford Abbey, Craftsman Magazine Award for best product at the Royal Berkshire Show for Walnut Music Stand, "Recliner" at 23/24 gallery

2003 Craft in Focus Exhibitions at Reading, Canterbury, Twickenham; The Harley Gallery, Welbeck Abbey,  Craftsman Magazine Award for best product at the Royal Berkshire Show for CONVERTABLE

Lee & Jill  preparing for another exhibition 1980

Ideal Home

A potter, a painter, a furniture maker