Paul Hartman from Alberta, Canada made one of the most beautiful rocking chairs that we’ve seen for some years.

It was inspired by the late-great Sam Maloof whose rockers are in national collections, and have been owned by US presidents.

What was great about it was that Paul ‘wove’ the seat back into a complex and sinuous pattern.

However, like any good rocker, it retained its simple honesty.

That honesty shines through in other pieces that Paul completed during his year with us.

Those include an elm coffee table decorated with a compass rose, and with a live edge.

His other stand-out piece is a yew hall table, with a frame of rippled sycamore.

It’s a captivating piece that is hugely decorative and utterly tactile.

Paul came to us with woodworking and construction experience.

He has, for example, a national Red Seal carpentry qualification.

He now intends to return to Alberta and combine his home building experience with his furniture design business, Dry Tree Construction.