I trained at Hereford College where I received a distinction certificate in Traditional Upholstery, The Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers and was awarded the NETS X- Frame Chair Award for Most Outstanding Student in Traditional Upholstery Skills.

Whilst training I completed two apprenticeships, one spanning 12 months and the second 18 months, then went on to work with the second business prior to setting up Nicola Parkes Upholstery.

I originally set up from home in Berkshire, though within a year I had outgrown my workshop, so took the plunge in renting a unit at Kidby Yard on the Berkshire/Oxfordshire borders.

In the summer of 2016, 4 years after setting up at Kidby Yard, I relocated to the Belfast area in Northern Ireland, moving back to my husband’s home with our two children and the promise of a dog to ease things along!

Eddie, our terrier was welcomed into the family in November 2016 and occasionally stars on my Instagram page.

Upon moving to Northern Ireland, I re-set up my business which was located from home for 6 years, though in 2022 I moved to a larger premises based in Newtownards in 2022, where along with private commissions I run upholstery workshops and lampshade making classes.

When based in England I was a fully accredited member of the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers and was a board member in 2015/2016 prior to the move to Ireland.