Born and brought up in France, my interest in stringed instruments began with viola lessons at the Lyon conservatoire. Playing has always been really important to me. I play quartets weekly. This gives me new insights into my work as a luthier and helps me understand the expectations of my clients on a practical level.

I trained at Newark, graduating in 2003. My teachers included Patrick Jowett, Paul Harrild and Paul Gossling. I did apprenticeships in workshops in France, Germany, England and Korea. These enabled me to consolidate my technique and learn about different approaches to restoration and conservation. I also specialised in sound optimisation.