Gareth Rees has been an upholsterer for nearly 30 years, developing his craft through hands-ontraining in workshops across England and Wales. His experience spans upholstery, cabinet work and mattress making, giving him a broad practical understanding of traditional furniture construction. Early in his career, he contributed to restoration projects for organisations including the National Trust andEnglish Heritage.

In 2004, Gareth established his own upholstery business, undertaking commissions for interior designers, bespoke furniture makers, private collectors, antique dealers, embassies and museums. His work has focused particularly on traditional techniques, historic construction and decorative arts from the mid-19th to mid-20th century.

From 2017 to 2025, Gareth was Director and full-time tutor at the British School of Upholstered Furniture in Oxfordshire, teaching the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) Diploma. He was also course writer and lead tutor for the Advancements in Traditional Upholstery Diploma, delivered with the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers. During the 2020–21 Covid-19 lockdowns, Gareth developed a lecture series on furniture history for students in the UK and United States. He continues to teach and lecture throughout Europe and North America, with a particular interest in upholstery history and the relationship between historical research and practical craft.

Gareth is Director of Training for the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers, overseeing craft training delivered nationwide through its network of approved training facilities. His role includes developing qualifications and course content, maintaining training and assessment standards and supporting tutors and training providers across the UK. He is also Examination and Journeyman Secretary of the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers and a member of the Trade and Education Board of the Worshipful Company of Upholders. He is also a course writer and lead tutor for Upholstery Education in the United States, developing and delivering specialist training for professional upholsterers and educators.

In March 2023, Gareth was awarded the Master Upholders Certificate by the Worshipful Company of Upholders of the City of London in recognition of his craftsmanship and contribution to the trade. In 2025, he was also a finalist in the Heritage Crafts Association Trainer of the Year Award.

Although now primarily focused on education, Gareth continues to undertake a small number of specialist commissions. His teaching combines practical experience, historical knowledge and an accessible approach intended to encourage technical understanding, curiosity and confidence in making.

Alongside his professional and educational work, Gareth is a founder of GRAFT Studios IOW CIC in Sandown, Isle of Wight, a creative workspace centred on craft, art and community. GRAFT reflects his wider belief that craft is about far more than acquiring technical skills. He sees making as a means of encouraging creativity and understanding and, importantly, as a way of giving people confidence and agency through the experience of creating something for themselves. A central aim of GRAFT is therefore to widen access to practical making, including the development of free craft provision for young people and opportunities for those who may not otherwise have access to creative or practical education. At its heart is a belief in empowerment through making.

Email: graftstudiosiow@gmail.com