Ellis Stacey is an Oxford based designer and maker of quirky handmade furniture, sculptural pieces and practical wooden objects from sustainably sources materials.

A former civil servant who pursued a dream of working with his hands, Ellis formally trained at the Rycotewood Furniture Centre, where he now tutors.

His practise blends traditional craftmanship with the aesthetics of geometric abstraction and reflects a love of nature, history, mythology and folklore.

Critical of the sterility of mass-produced minimalism and drawn to characterful tactility, he seeks inspiration from the pre-industrial past and embraces asymmetry, rugged biomorphic forms and irregular touchable textures. He favours the intentional calm of hand tools over machinery and loves shaping with draw knife or spokeshave and carving with gouges and mallet.

Pieces evolve organically as tool marks consciously combine with the natural warmth, colour and patternation of the timber. Through the introduction of colour and playful subversive details, he strives to make expressive narrative-driven pieces which delight both hand and eye.

Every object is lovingly unique, a final expression of a particular and specific journey of making. 

Ellis welcomes commissions and collaborations of all kinds. If you have a piece or project in mind please do get in touch.

QUALIFICATIONS

CITY & GUILDS DIPLOMA IN FURNITURE MAKING LEVEL 3 (DISTINCTION): Rycotewood Furniture Centre, Oxford (September 2022 – June 2023)

CITY & GUILDS DIPLOMA IN FURNITURE MAKING LEVEL 1 & 2 (DISTINCTION): Rycotewood Furniture Centre, Oxford (September 2021 – June 2022)

MA SOCIAL RESEARCH (ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL HISTORY) (MERIT): University of Birmingham (September 2012 – September 2013)

BA HISTORY (HONS) (FIRST CLASS): University of Birmingham (September 2009 – July 2012) 

EXHIBITIONS

OCG WINTER EXHIBITION 2024 (Oxfordshire Craft Guild, The Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock, 2024): Works of furniture, homeware and small craft items.

OXFORDSHIRE ARTWEEKS SUMMER 2024 (South Ox Arts, South Oxford Community Centre, Oxford, 2024)

‘TEXTURE’ (West Ox Arts, West Ox Arts Gallery, Bampton Oxfordshire, 2024): Multiple works of sculpture and furniture.

#WINDOWGALLERIES ‘RYCOTEWOOD FURNITURE’ (Fusion Arts Oxford, Friars Entry Gallery, 2022): Display of ‘Green Man’ Cabinet.

END OF YEAR EXHIBITION (RYCOTEWOOD FURNITURE CENTRE, OXFORD, 2022 & 2023):  Display of multiple pieces.