Meet The Team

Tom is the founder and back bone behind everything Monkeywood. Learning his craft from a young age, Tom started woodturning on his lathe before going on to complete an apprenticeship in high end cabinet making where his work took him to the prestigious areas of Kensington and Chelsea. Tom is at the forefront of everything about the company and loves being involved from the design process all the way through to the final fitting and handover. In his spare time, you will find Tom working on a new project, watching rugby and spending time with his young family.

Anna has worked in the background for the last 7 years but joined the Monkeywood team full time in 2023. Prior to this Anna ran hers and Toms other joint venture, Monkeybean coffee shop. Anna now heads up the finance side of the business and supports Tom with the bigger picture business decisions. She balances business life with family life brilliantly, all the while looking after their two young children, Connie and Tilly. Outside of work, Anna loves nothing more than going for a walk in the countryside with her family and stopping off for a glass of wine at the local pub.

With over 9 years’ experience in kitchen design, Natasha plays a key role here at Monkeywood helping our customers plan their projects and choose styles and materials. Natasha says, “What I love about working here is seeing the transformation from initial design to finished furniture and that no project is the same”. In her spare time, she enjoys making jewellery, going to concerts with her partner Ben and spending time on her family farm.

With a creative background rooted in a Fine Art degree, Jodie brings over 15 years of experience in the interiors and kitchen design industry. She has developed strong expertise in space planning and product knowledge, paired with a natural design flair and a keen eye for detail.
Outside of work, life revolves around her family, where creativity continues through shared projects and a love of outdoor living. Her interests include gardening, painting, long walks, and singing in a contemporary choir—all of which continually inspire her approach to design.

Juan is a highly valued member of the team at Monkeywood. Juan and Tom’s relationship started when Tom started his apprenticeship at the company Juan used to work for. Juan was a big part of training Tom to be the craftsman that he is today before coming to work for Tom in 2018. In his spare time you can find Juan tango dancing or tinkering in his shed.

Dragos brings an impressive 25 years’ experience to the team, including more than 15 years specialising in bespoke furniture and luxury joinery in both the UK and Greece. He combines extensive hands-on expertise with academic growth, currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business management. Inspired by the natural beauty and character of wood, he thrives on the challenge of problem-solving and transforming raw materials into precise, high-quality pieces. Dragos believes that life is a continuous learning process, and each project is an opportunity to grow and refine his craft. Outside the workshop, he enjoys DIY projects, hiking, and exploring new woodworking techniques, drawing inspiration from his travels and experiences.

Chris is one of our top cabinet makers and an influential member of the team. He has over 20 years of joinery experience and always wanted to work in the furniture making business. He will often be the lead maker on some of our bigger projects and is also currently learning to use the cnc machine. In his spare time Chris enjoys spending quality time with his family, including his 2 young children. He’s a big sports fan and an avid Oxford United supporter.

James is a relatively new edition of the Team here at Monkeywood. He has 18 years of site carpentry experience and his passion and enthusiasm for working with wood is inspiring. Working alongside our more experienced cabinet makers he is adding more strings to his bow and improving his fine woodworking skills every day. Outside of work you will find James tinkering with his car, at the golf range or spending time with his family in Cornwall.

With more than 24 years of specialist experience in paint spraying, Andy has worked across furniture, kitchen and architectural projects of the highest quality. His portfolio includes painting and lacquering doors, whisky boxes and even furniture created for the Royal Family. When he’s not at work, Andy is passionate about sports, especially football and golf and enjoys DJing at the weekends as well as spending quality time with his family.

Ashley has been making furniture for over 25 years, starting his career with an apprenticeship at Ercol Furniture alongside studying handcrafted furniture at Rycotewood in Thame. From there, he naturally progressed into bespoke fitted furniture and joinery, where his passion for creating beautifully made, high-quality furniture that stands the test of time has continued to grow.

Outside the workshop, Ashley’s a busy dad, usually found taking his sons to football. When he gets the chance, he loves fishing, canoeing and DJing.

Neil has been in the woodworking industry for over 40 years. He has a wide range of experience having spent time in the workshop and out on sites overseeing installations. Neil is also very experienced as a cnc machine operator.
In his spare time Neil loves to build bespoke electric guitars as well as spending time with his 2 children.

Matt has over 10 years of experience, he has built a reputation in fitting luxury kitchens to the highest standard. He started working for Monkeywood in May 2024 and his precision and attention to detail is second to none. Outside of work Matt enjoys fishing, cycling, football and spending time with his young family.

Matt has over 15 years’ experience installing furniture for both private clients and developers, as well as a broad understanding of construction processes. Having a degree in Architecture means he enjoys the unique and bespoke nature of every individual Monkeywood design and how they fulfil each client’s individual requirements.

Outside of work, Matt loves exploring the countryside with his young family. He also enjoys fishing in wild locations or cooking something delicious if the weather has other ideas!