Gareth Rees has nearly 30 years’ experience as an upholsterer, training in workshops across England and Wales and working across furniture making disciplines, from cabinet work to mattress making.

In 2004, he established his own company, undertaking commissions for high-end interior designers, bespoke makers, collectors, dealers, embassies and museums.

Until August 2025, Gareth was Director and full-time tutor at the British School of Upholstered Furniture, where he taught the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers Diploma, and led the Advancements in Traditional Upholstery Diploma in partnership with the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers.

He lectures and teaches internationally on upholstery history and practice, both online and in person and holds key roles within the trade, including Examination and Journeyman Secretary of the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers and Director of Training for the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers. He also serves on the Trade and Education Board of the Worshipful Company of Upholders.

In 2023, Gareth was awarded the Master Upholders Certificate by the Worshipful Company of Upholders in recognition of his craftsmanship and contribution to the trade.

Primarily an educator, he continues to take on select commissions, specialising in decorative arts from 1840–1950, he also co-runs Graft Studios on the Isle of Wight and is known for his clear, adaptable teaching style.