Guy Martin

Guy Martin has been a maker all his life and feels privileged to have been a member of MAKE southwest for over thirty-five years. His visual and practical sensibilities were developed from a course in sculpture at St Martin’s School of Art in the late 1960’s, then as assistant to Anthony Caro. This association and friendship with Caro remained with him for a life time, early on, mostly welding steel, but having skills in woodwork, he constructed a sixteen foot high sculpture in Japanese oak called ‘Child’s Tower Room’. This experience proved to be a catalyst for inspiring change.

In 1982 Guy and his family moved to Devon where he set up his first studio, including a successful application to join the then Devon Guild of Craftsmen. Membership of this craft organisation and as Design Tutor at Parnham College has been inspirational in shaping a career that witnessed a diverse application to life and work. In 2007/8 the Charity (then named Devon Guild of Craftsmen) hosted a major National Tour of his work called ‘Whole Life Cost’. He was made an honorary member in 2017.

He feels that a working relationship with people, their uniqueness, kindnesses and remarkableness’, experienced in teaching and through the commissioning process have been instrumental in Guy finding integrity of workmanship that is timeless and underpins all that he does.

The onset of symptoms related Parkinsonism are touching his life now with the increased awareness of mortality, he takes comfort in still being able to apply the ability to make.