Futurespace Magazine takes a look at some of Chris Eckersley’s award winning bespoke creations.
Artist and designer Chris Eckersley produces a wide range of products including drawings, sculptures, three-dimensional objects and furniture. Believing that “good drawing is the foundation to any successful art and design project” his effective design style has seen commissions for the South West Arts as well as a number of projects exhibited at galleries and art events such as Midcentury Modern, 100% Design and Clerkenwell Design Week. His interactive sound-sculpture The Note “C” was shown as part of the Betrayed By The Senses display at The Bargehouse, London.
Chris Eckersley has a passion for designing and making carefully considered pieces using sustainable timber; he creates beautiful prints and functional furniture that is made to last. For many years Eckersley has specialised in making one-off furniture pieces for private clients offering a truly bespoke service from the drawing board to sideboard. He also works in collaboration with various manufacturers to produce his furniture in batch; I particularly like the Wave Chair and table combination which sees a smooth plywood chair with optional coloured Alcantara accompanying a plywood and laminate table – giving an overall modern meets retro feel. Or for the more outdoorsy type there’s the French collection that is inspired by rural France, which embraces colour-pop designs made from perforated metal and solid oak, for me the French Bench (featured image) gives a respectful nod towards Andy Warhol.
2010 saw the project ‘Bodging Milano’ come to light whereby nine designers and furniture makers grouped together to learn the ancient art of bodging, more commonly known as greenwood chair-making. Each designer created a chair that went on to be exhibited at the Milan Furniture Fair as a collection. The end of last year saw Chris Eckersley and furniture designer William Warren complete their project ‘Fife Bench’ which enabled a collection of 18 benches to be situated in public spaces in Inverkeithing, Glenrothes, Buckhaven, Lochgelly and Dunfermline. If the project continues to be successful more will be produced for different areas.
The beginning of 2012 has already been marked by success, namely with Chris Eckersley’s involvement in homeware trade show Top Drawer, which launched the production version of the ‘Devon Chair’. He has also shown his chairs, a new coffee table and his bird houses (which were inspired by an old video of the band The Byrds performing ‘Mr Tambourine Man’) at the Interiors UK event throughout the end of January.
Chris Eckersley’s work is innovative, unique and modern with a playful twist; take the ‘Juliette’ for example. A redesign of the wheelbarrow that incorporates a seat – creating a comfortable garden chair for those quiet breaks from gardening.
Definitely a multi-skilled man and one to look out for, Chris Eckersley: artist, designer, furniture maker.
