MEET THE Maker: Tom Collison
Our next ‘Meet the Maker’ is Tom Collison. We are even more excited about this interview because we are currently in the process of working on a collaboration together. Tom is mostly known for his beautiful ‘Burl Stools’. The term ‘Burl’ refers to the knotty growths found on trees, which are formed to create extra support. We love his story where his admiration for nature comes from growing up in his parents and grandparents garden and playing in the woods amongst the trees and this is how his fascination spiralled.
Tom, tell us a bit about your background? Have you always studied textiles?
I've always found it difficult to stick to one discipline, I get distracted easily and always want to try new things. I started studying Art & Design as a BA then switched over to Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design for my BA.
When it came to studying for an MA at the Royal College of Art I was torn between applying for Design Products or Mixed Media Textiles. I went with textiles as I felt it would be best to play to my strengths.
In hindsight, I'm glad I did it allowed me to explore the world of furniture making from a unique angle.
I took a couple of years away from design to pursue my love of food and become a cook and baker, which I really loved, there are so many similarities in the creativity of cooking and baking to creating objects. Both are processes of trial and testing, both require a lot of physical endurance and both are ultimately aimed to make people happy.
What inspires your work?
I'm inspired by materials and processes, I've always liked playing with a material until I can make something interesting out of it. I remember when I was in primary school I would collect the weird dusty mud you'd find on the edge of the playground and put it in bottles, to take it home to mix with water and make mud sculptures. Unfortunately, I don't do that anymore but I do like to find bits of wood or other materials and wondering what would be an interesting process to render their surfaces.
I'm also extremely interested in the dysfunctional forms in nature. Not so much the pretty flowers and landscape but more the strange bulges and burls you see in trees, or the curvy lines you see in cut wood which show their growth. I like materials to be dysfunctional and wonky it's a comforting reflection of humanity.
What is the most important part of your process?
Sourcing materials I find inspiring and experimenting with them. I enjoy drawing I think it's good to get ideas down on paper but playing with materials always comes before drawing for me.
We are currently collaborating on some exciting new one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture together. What made you want to do a collaboration with DUO-HUE by Amelia Ayerst?
I think we are all so familiar with textiles there are so many ways in which you can manipulate textiles through print, dying, stitching weaving but so much has been done with textiles it's hard to find something new.
I feel like DUO - HUE is something different, it's a fault or accident in a process which opens a whole new process within digital embroidery playing on colour.
I feel we have different strengths, I could never create beautiful digital works in fabric so it's a great chance to have a chance to use them in my work. I think we have two different approaches and we will create something really dynamic, which could teach us both a lot about our processes.
What are you most proud of?
I'm proud of the work I've been creating recently, I don't think I would have said that a few years ago. I've always felt my work most seem a bit odd to other people but the last couple of years I've had a really positive response to its oddness and now I take a lot of pride in showing it off. Having a studio and space to make things full scale has been a real turning point to me and I'm proud of getting to this position.
It’s been a difficult year for us all, what’s one piece of advice you would give a new creative?
Making has defiantly been an escape this year. I'd say to focus on your creative pursuit and make everything else work around it, don't make your creative pursuit work around everything else in life.
What do you find is the biggest challenge about running your own business?
Admin + Finances. Also working out when to live and when to work!
What’s something you couldn’t live without?
Art, Food, Travel….Wine
How can we shop your products and follow your journey?
I have just launched a few one-off pieces in collaboration with CUSTHOM, Available on their website (https://www.custhom.co.uk/shop/product-category/seating/ ). Keep an eye on my website (www.tomcollison.com) as I will be launching new products very very soon and will be announcing new stockists soon. Also my Instagram @tomcollison for launches and updates.
What’s next in store for Tom Collison?
Obviously, our collaboration, which I'm super excited about as I think it will produce some really interesting pieces.
I'm also working on a few new pieces, I'm moving away from stools and benches and into the world of chairs which is very exciting.
I've been talking to a couple of companies regarding some collaborations with one brand, in particular, I'm really excited to work with. Hopefully a lot of new exciting work over the next few months.
It’s been lovely chatting to Tom Collison, we have known each other for years, yet I feel like I have discovered a lot more about his journey today which is fascinating. We hope you found it as interesting as we did! We can’t wait to share our collaboration with you later this year!
Our next ‘ Meet The Maker’ is American weaver Meghan Spielman who has an eye for colour that we are obsessed with!
Next ‘Meet the Maker’ will be posted on the 25th of July 2021.
