Glasgow-based designer and cabinetmaker Joachim King originally hails from a family of boat builders in the Finnish archipelago, so woodworking is definitely in his blood.

After graduating in Mechanical Engineering he worked in manufacturing before turning his passion into his profession, and now combines practicality and craftsmanship to create high-quality modern pieces in wood.

Joachim strives to bring new and unusual forms to his furniture, using traditional techniques, modern manufacturing processes and computer aided design (CAD) to produce innovative designs which marry form and function beautifully.

'I grew up on islands near the town of Porvoo in Finland and Luing on the west coast of Scotland, so boats and the sea were a huge influence. I picked up a lot of skills from my father who built many boats and even the house we lived in.

With my work it's a case of adapting traditional techniques to make modern, sculptural furniture and lighting – of creating something new and fresh and not just falling back into tradition at every point. If I can do something different with a piece of wood, then I usually do.

I enjoy working on a wide range of projects, including potential exhibition pieces and bespoke commissions, the more challenging the better. Wherever possible, I source timber from local Scottish hardwood suppliers who manage their resources sustainably and always uses low energy light sources.'