Gareth Rees

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Gareth has been working as an upholsterer for 27 years. He gained his training on the shop floor, working in various workshops in England and Wales, and is versed in many aspects of furniture making from cabinet work to mattress making. Early in his career, producing work for the National Trust and English Heritage properties.

Gareth started his own company in 2004 and in this time has taken commissions and private work for high end interior design companies, bespoke furniture makers, private collectors, antique dealers, embassies, and museums.

Gareth is now a Director and full time tutor at the British School of Upholstered Furniture in Oxfordshire, UK where he teaches the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) Diploma program. He is also the lead tutor for the Advancements in Traditional Upholstery Diploma, run in association with the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers (GTU). Gareth is also the course writer for Upholstery Education.

During the 2020/21 Covid-19 lockdowns, Gareth ran a series of successful lectures on furniture history to students across the UK and America. All were received with great appreciation.

In October 2020, Gareth stood down from his role as Chairman of the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers and now fulfills the role of Vice-Chairman.

In March 2023, Gareth was awarded the prestigious Master Upholders Certificate by the Worshipful Company of Upholders of the City of London, where a trade committee looked at his working career, practical work, references from clients, and his services to the trade.

Although a full time educator, Gareth still takes on commissions from select clients, predominantly focusing on the decorative arts from 1840-1950. 

Gareth is a natural communicator, he has the ability to adapt his teaching methods to each individual student's requirements. He provides a relaxed, informal yet informative learning experience. He has a wealth of design and upholstery knowledge and his passion for sharing skills is infectious.