I live in the Paraoanui valley in the Far North of New Zealand's North Island surrounded by native bush and farmland. It is off the beaten track; to get here requires a rugged drive on rough gravel roads. 

I have been building professionally since 1992 in a one man workshop at home and my instruments are all made individually by me from start to finish. I have built over 160 instruments to date and average ten to twelve instruments per year.

Part of what distinguishes me from many luthiers is the story of the building process; it is an immersive, hands-on style that begins by going out to the forest in search of timber. I select trees, fell and re-saw them, air dry and grade so I have absolute control over the tonewoods that go into my instruments. It gives new meaning to the phrase "personally selected tone wood".

Most of the tonewoods I use you simply can't buy "off the shelf". From the rough sawn timber, I even cut the solid wood purfling and binding stock . I also design and cut all shell inlays, including every logo inlaid into the headstock.

My approach to luthiery has grown in to what it is today because the timbers I use are hard to attain any other way, but I have found that thinking and building this way allows me more control over the creative process. It is much more labour intensive but I enjoy the journey and feel it is an essential part of building fine instruments.