The Collective element of aArtvark represents our strong desire to collaborate with like minded artisans and craftsmen to produce breathtaking work as a team. Our intention is to connect with others who have a strong work ethic and are always willing to push themselves in their field of expertise.
Meet our collaborative team we lovingly refer to as the aARTvarks
Cobus, Kate & Johan Swart
Cobus and Kate met in South Africa in 2015, and soon got busy on their shared ambition of building a world class carpentry and building business together in the UK, where Kate is from. 5 years on, thanks to Cobus’s genius talent and hard working reputation, and Kates unfloundering wife and office skills, (alongside her human rights work,) the aARTvark Collective has become the successful family business they had envisaged. And they made a baby aartvark on the journey too.
To hear more about Cobus’s unique global building career; please go to Our History/
Kate’s worked in South Africa for 10 years managing environmental and community projects, and her work as an artist will be shown in our shop gallery soon. If you’d like to hear more and chat, then give her a call 07500833706
Luann Steenkamp
Luann and Cobus have known each other since 1997, when they worked in Israel together. And their work relationship has just grown from strength to strength ever since. A self proclaimed “Jack of all trades” , Luann is Cobus’s right hand man, skilled labourer, onsite & office management, and product development coordinator.
Ben Haskins Woodwork
Apprentice extraordinaire
Ben has just finished his apprenticeship with the aARTvark Collective after working with us for the passed year. Taking on an apprentice can always be tricky only because you want them to get what they need, and some need more than others! But we hit jackpot with Ben. He is a natural and talented carpenter already, in fact Cobus says he reminds him of himself, but admitted he couldn’t do what Ben can do at the age of 21.
Ben is doing his apprenticeship through the Active Learning Business School at the City of Oxford College. He is exceptional at his work, and he’s literally one of the nicest people you will ever meet.
As a joiner, Ben is busy creating his own style of excellent quality furniture under the watchful and supportive eyes of master craftsman Cobus. Watch out for our product line soon for Ben Haskin Woodwork.
And thank you to our friends and family, especially to
Meg Hanlon Image Photography
Julia Kallweit Website Support and Photography