Mark Wilkinson OBE 1950 – 2017

British designer Mark Wilkinson has died, aged 66, following a short battle with cancer.

He passed away peacefully at his Wiltshire home surrounded by his wife and children.

Wilkinson was described as a visionary designer, skilled craftsman and furniture maker. His first kitchen design was launched in 1977 in old pine and is said to have pioneered the ‘English country kitchen’.

He was the co-founder of Smallbone of Devizes and in 1981 founded Mark Wilkinson Furniture, which was sold to Canburg in 2009, where he became the group creative director and remained involved in the business until his death.

He was admitted as a freeman of The Furniture Makers’ Company in 1994 and became a liveryman in 1995.

Wilkinson was also a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers and a Fellow of the City and Guilds Institute. He was also a member of Mensa.

In 2010, he was awarded an OBE for services to the furniture industry and charity.

He is survived by his wife Cynthia and his children, Victoria and Gregory.