“I am a perfectionist, so I prefer to look for the perfect wood type and take great care with each detail. I want to make something that is different than what you might usually see...."

John Barrow was born in London on September 22, 1934. After studying Engineering he traveled to Peru, in 1969, to work at a paper mill. His original contract was for eight weeks, but John ended up staying in Peru permanently.

John has always enjoyed woodwork; he learned the craft from his father, who was a carpenter. Carving became one of John's favorite pastimes, a spare-time hobby.

"Living in Peru allowed me to get to know a variety of beautiful wood types. When I found time I would carve various furniture pieces," John explains. "When I retired, I was finally able to dedicate myself completely to my passion, carving!”

"I love to make all sorts of things. I am a perfectionist, so I prefer to look for the perfect wood type and take great care with each detail. I want to make something that is different than what you might usually see, so I have designed my own machines and tools to help me work wood in a different way.

"Once a famous pianist saw some chairs I had made, and fell in love with their design. After buying a piano, he bought my chairs and asked me to paint them black, to match his piano. Honestly, painting those chairs was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do for a customer, because I love the natural look of wood."