Who is Nick Allen?

(Born 1952) Perhaps the oldest young designer?
I have been designing furniture since 1984 having studied fine art at Epsom under the painter Bruce McLean and Lesley Worth, past president of the Royal Watercolour Society (what a contrast!). My first commission came from Madelaine Ponsonby (Lady Besborough) of
the New Art Centre.

I have been designing furniture, lighting and architectural fittings as well as glassware and some interiors ever since. Along the way I have been lucky enough to receive a number of awards and accolades including - Dia/Dartington award for glassware, Starpack packaging design awards, 6 Guild Marks from Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers and been shortlisted for The Pewterers Award, Glass Sellers awards, National Gallery extension commission and last year House of Lords library residence and commission (which I lost to friend Fred Bayer).

I work from West Sussex where I have a live-work studio/home with my wife Sarah, a glass artist, in the adapted former workshops to a late 1930's water pumping station.
In our studios we model, prototype, make and sometimes finish pieces in mixed materials - including of course wood but also glass, metal, ceramic, bronze etc.

We also have an open archive of techniques and finishes, covering most materials, a resource that has provided the palette for a number of projects, both in house and other design practices.