A furniture designer from Essex moved his business 300 miles north to Cumbria so he could spend more time in the countryside.

31-year-old Luke Harding moved from his old base in Brentwood to Cumbria three years ago.

He is now converting an old joinery warehouse in the town centre into his workshop and a home with his girlfriend Sophie Wilson.

“It is as far as you can get from Essex within England,” he laughs.

A keen climber, walker and motorbiker, he wanted to be able to get outdoors more.

“I decided to make the move because it was the last chance for me to start fresh,” he explains.

“I was doing pretty well, making a good living and I had a six month diary of work booked.

“I got to the stage in life where if I got a mortgage down there, I would never move away.

“It was either Cumbria or Cornwall. I chose Keswick out of all the towns because my grandparents used to bring me here as a kid.

“And there are all the things you can do here that you can’t in Essex.”

Luke studied at the London College of Furniture, then trained as a cabinet maker before beginning his own company, MOS Bespoke Furniture, in his parents’ garage (MOS stands for ‘method of style’).

He designs and builds one­off and small run items in a cool, contemporary and chic style.

Much of his work is to commission. Half is for people and organisations within the county, but he also has customers across the country.

“It is harder to make a living here, but it’s going okay,” he says.

His latest collection is called Flock and is a range of home accessories including shelving, lights, wine rack and picture frames all with edges highlighted with neon coloured flocking.

He has been based at the Blencathra Business Centre, Threlkeld, for the past three years but hopes to move into his new home and workplace on Otley Road in the summer.

“It used to be a mill for the pencil factory and was a big joinery shop, “ he explains.

“It will be a home for me and Sophie, my workshop and provide a couple of workshops and a gallery as well next year.”

for more information on MOS Bespoke Furniture, go to www.mosfurniture.co.uk