FOR most people, shopping for new furniture means a trip to IKEA or MFI, but if it's top-quality hand-made goods you're after, then the Cotswolds is a good place to start, writes Andrew Flaxman.

A more exact location would be the workshops of woodcarver and furniture-maker Julian Stanley in Bourton, which is now staging an exhibition of his work and pieces by other artists.

The modern premises on the Bourton Industrial Park are a world away from the country cottage image of a craftsman's studio, but inside they are filled with racks of hand tools, most of which would be familiar to a time travelling craftsman from the 18th century.

The exhibition, which started yesterday (Wednesday), runs until next Monday and takes place in a gallery upstairs.

Julian, aged 49, said: "I don't know how it will pan out, but hopefully it will work, so that we can do it every year or every six months."

He has been based in Bourton since late 1998, but has not always been a furniture maker.

"I was farming first of all," he said, "but just lost interest in it. I ended up at art college and did a year there. Then somebody introduced me to a wonderful master carver in a small family firm in High Wycombe. I just dropped into carving."

After two and a half years in High Wycombe he came to Stow to Fosseway House, where he lived and worked for about three years before moving back to High Wycombe to work for a large furniture company for two years.

In 1983 Julian decided to branch out on his own, initially in High Wycombe, but then in Longborough, where he worked until the move to Bourton.

"This place was ideal because I could put in another floor and it has worked out a treat," he said.

His work is highly specialised and is all done to commission for private clients, interior designers and a few antique dealers.

On occasion he has even been commissioned to fit out entire rooms or houses with his hand-made furniture. "There's quite a bit of local work now, but most of it is London work and a lot gets shipped abroad," he said.

His work ranges from producing copies of antique chairs and other furnishings to producing his own modern or period-style furniture, mirrors and sculptures.

He said: "I love the 18th century Italian and even the Romanesque period because there is so much to feed off."

Once he has finished his work with the wood, he passes it on to specialists in the area to complete the process. Polishing goes to Churchill, near Chipping Norton, upholstery to Moreton, painting and marbling to Shipton Oliffe and much of the gilding to Lilias Guyon, who rents part of the upper floor of his workshop.

"Thank God they are around, because then we can do the whole thing here," he said.

Lilias moved into the Bourton workshop earlier this year and has spent almost 14 years as a gilder, initially in Naples for eight years, and then London, but she was delighted to find the Bourton premises.

"It is a great combination and a complementary business," she said.

l Other artists involved in this week's exhibition are Burford potter Gilly Whittington and Little Barrington artist Emelie Trevena-Jackson.

Julian's workshop can be found at Unit 5, Bourton Link, on the Bourton Industrial Park. Telephone 01451 822577.