Stephen is an artisan upholsterer and is based in beautiful Hereford.  On 9th April 2015 at the Carpenters Hall in London,  Stephen Franklin had the honour of being a Liveryman in The Worshipful Company of Upholders to be given an Award of Excellence by the Master, Wardens and Court in recognition of his outstanding skill in the Craft of Upholstery and Soft Furnishings.  

Stephen undertook a 4 year apprenticeship followed by 2 years improvership in London and completed 3 years training at the London College of Furniture attaining his City & Guilds in Traditional Upholstery and Soft Furnishing in that time. He is a member of the Institute for Learning and also holds a PTTLS teaching qualification he has been CRB checked and has taught for many years.

Stephen has forty years’ experience in all aspects of Upholstery, both traditional and contemporary, and has always taken a great pride in his work. During his years as an apprentice and journeyman, he was fortunate to be guided by and acquire skills handed down by upholsterers who had worked at companies such as Albert E Chapman, Howard & Sons, Maples, Charles Hammond, Morley Upholstery, Norrongton & Adams,Percy Bass and also upholsterers from France, Germany, Australia and America.  Whilst in London, Stephen was able to carry out a wide variety of work including antique restoration, and fabric-walling, and fitting specialist draperies.  He frequently travel throughout the UK, Europe, USA and the Middle East undertaking work commissioned by foreign clients.  Stephen demonstrated his work  in the London Science Museum and his work has frequently appeared in many magazines including House and Garden, World of Interiors and Architectural Digest.

Stephen has worked for The Royal Family and at National Trust properties and for leading Interior designers and fabric houses, he is a working Upholsterer, so the skills that he will teach you, are those still used every day with his private clients.