Andy’s Journey from Saturday Job to Master Restorer at Tomlinsons Antiques
Tucked away just outside the Yorkshire town of Wetherby, Tomlinsons Antiques wasn’t just a workshop—it was a place where tradition and time stood still. For Andy, it became the foundation of a lifelong career built on craftsmanship, patience, and deep respect for the past.
Andy’s journey began at just 15, when he took a Saturday job at Tomlinsons. While many teenagers were stacking shelves or washing cars, Andy was stepping into a world of timber, tools, and timeworn beauty. His first role? Tackling facing repairs, cock beading, and hand fluting—precise, intricate work that demanded a steady hand and an eye for detail. Each repair taught him the importance of accuracy, tradition, and subtlety—skills that would shape his entire career.
From Apprentice to Artisan
After leaving school, Andy joined Tomlinsons full time, and that’s when his real apprenticeship began. The senior restorers took him under their wing, passing on knowledge you couldn’t find in any manual. It was all hands-on, eye-trained work—an education in traditional furniture restoration techniques that were fast disappearing in the modern world.
Andy learned the art of hand carving, shaping intricate details from solid wood with chisels and gouges. He became skilled in turning on a lathe, producing perfectly symmetrical spindles, legs, and finials. He learned to hand-cut delicate inlays, lay traditional veneers, and use animal and fish glues, just as restorers had done for generations before him.
Some of the most challenging (and rewarding) tasks involved recreating missing parts—from finials and chair arms to drawer mouldings—blending the new so seamlessly into the old that the repair became invisible. And with each restoration, Andy developed a deeper understanding of the character and construction of historic furniture.
Respecting the Wood, Preserving the Story
Restoring antiques isn’t just about making them look good again. For Andy, it was about honouring the history embedded in each piece. A deep scratch wasn’t a flaw—it was a moment. A warped panel wasn’t just damage—it was the result of decades of life and climate. Working with aged wood meant embracing its quirks, its personality, and treating it with the respect it deserved.
Though Tomlinsons Antiques eventually closed its doors, the skills Andy gained within its walls never left him. They became part of who he is—a craftsman dedicated to preserving history, not just restoring furniture.
From Wood to Concrete: A New Chapter in Craftsmanship
Today, Andy applies that same meticulous attention to detail and reverence for materials in an entirely new medium: concrete. Drawing on his traditional restoration training, he now designs and crafts bespoke concrete products, including luxury kitchens, sculptural dining tables, cabinetry, and statement furniture. Each piece is designed with the same mindset he learned as a young restorer—where form, function, and craftsmanship come together to create something timeless.
Whether he’s shaping concrete or restoring mahogany, Andy’s work carries the same spirit: a belief in doing things the right way, by hand, with care and integrity. His journey from the quiet workshop of Tomlinsons to a contemporary design studio is a rare and beautiful bridge between the old world and the new—proving that true craftsmanship never goes out of style.
