Byron Bay, NSW Australia 2008 – Tony Kenway’s work is featured prominently in galleries in Sydney, London, Tokyo and New York. But unlike most art, it need not be appreciated by the eye alone, the best of it can be sat on. Creator of some of the world's most coveted collectible furniture, the Australian designer has worked in the Queen's Royal Collection Workshop in London and with prominent designers in Italy, England, Japan and USA. His chairs and rockers in particular have garnered considerable attention and have been selected for the William Morris Trust house in London and the permanent collection of the Queensland Art Gallery, Australia. Kenway has taken home a slew of international awards. He has twice received one of the highest accolades in fine furniture craftsmanship winning the ‘Best Chair’ award (2003 and 2006) and in 2004 earned a ‘Best New Artist’ title at the prestigious Philadelphia Furniture Show, an event where he invariably creates a stir. His finely crafted works of rare and exceptional Australian timbers tend to sell-out at the exhibition. Kenway’s clean and elegant lines are inspired by forms found in the natural environment. His unique range of furniture designs, described as neo classical and timeless, have evolved from years of careful consideration to function, comfort and proportion. “People often tell me they are amazed by how my chairs seem to mould to their bodies and they can’t believe how comfortable a wooden chair can be,” says Tony. Interesting commissions keep Tony and his team busy. Take for example a recent work for a New York collector: a table with five "legs" splayed from a sculpted base, a piece that evokes the arboreal splendour of Tony's rainforest property in the hinterland of Byron Bay. It’s here that Tony designs and makes his collectable furniture, utilizing solid timber, carefully selected for its lasting beauty, strength and flexibility. "My passion for woodcraft started at an early age,” says Tony. “In 1984, after my training as a cabinetmaker and shipwright, I started enjoying the freedom of expression in designing and making individual pieces of furniture." Kenway recently created a stir at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show in New York City in the MADE section featuring artist-made objects and furnishings.