Design pioneers
Splinterworks formed in 2009 as a collaboration between Miles Hartwell and Matt Withington.
We are instinctively driven to pursue creative opportunities that allow us to re-imagine familiar objects, enhancing the things you enjoy with ambitious, beautifully crafted, functioning sculpture.
We strive to enrich the lives of the people who live with our work, by creating pieces that enhance their environment and elevate the experience of everyday life. Our aim is to create work that is engaging, inspiring and a delight to use.
Our designs are experimental and theatrical, but the function of the piece is always paramount. We love to play visual tricks, especially where balance comes into question. Opposing dichotomies of solidity versus weightlessness, motion versus stillness, and strength versus fragility, are played out through ambitious designs in innovative materials.
Our projects are fuelled by a passion for absolute quality, technical ingenuity, artistic integrity and a solid belief in creating the most considered and exquisite work befitting of its purpose.
Learn more about us in this Pool Chasers Podcast from August 2023
Miles Hartwell
Miles learnt a strong sense of fearlessness for making things from his father, who had built a comprehensive home workshop. From a young age Miles was encouraged to use tools and just ‘try’ things out. He completed his A-Levels at Canford School in Dorset before going on to study Design, Technology and Business at Plymouth University. He then worked his way up through the ranks of several furniture design studios in both the UK and USA, until Splinterworks formed in 2009.
His unique approach is fuelled by the cross-pollination of ideas between disciplines. He holds with high esteem the sculptural work by late American designer Wendell Castle, and the sheer brilliance of British architect and designer, Thomas Heatherwick.
Matt Withington
Matt also became enthused with design at an early age. Upon discovering product design, he became excited that he could fuse artistic and practical sensibilities. Matt graduated from Bournemouth University with Honours.
After graduating, Matt worked at a plastic injection moulding company, honing his technical skills, but missing the creative element. He found an outlet to combine his technical skills with aesthetic ingenuity, working in furniture design studios. Here, he was able to combine three-dimensional forms and sculpture with technical discipline.
Matt is also an avid portrait painter and photographer and is most inspired by the organic forms found in nature and by the movement and aerodynamics of racing sports.