who we are - Berry Place

Meet the team... five individuals whose skills, wit and good looks (?) combine to bring you the creative force that is Berry Place. As partners in the business and the main points of contact, we felt that you should get to know a little more about us in our own unique way...

Stephen Mabbott

Stephen graduated from Kent Institute of Art and Design with a degree in 3D Design and Modelmaking. He worked for Synapse Creative for 5 years before joining Berry Place in 2002. Stephen, who bears a striking resemblance to a Victorian Butcher, is in fact our resident CAD/CAM expert and project manager. Calm under pressure, and indeed having no problem with the sight of blood (fortunately including his own) he is also a trained First Aider. Stephen loves the outdoors, mountain biking, snowboarding and anything else that involves throwing yourself down a mountain at speed, preferably without injury - although when licking the edge of the performance envelope you always risk a paper cut!

Hugh Kelly

Hugh graduated from university to start a career as a freelancer, working for numerous modelmakers. Following a year out in Australia, he decided to settle down here at Berry Place. Hugh does most things, mainly due to the high levels of caffeine in his bloodstream. He’s a real multi-tasker, covering everything from general modelmaking workshop duties, to job management and ordering essentials such as… coffee. Hugh loves posing on his Vespa and pretending he’s in Quadrophenia. When he’s not playing bass in his band, Hugh enjoys searching for rare grooves in second hand record shops. Hugh is conspicuously likely to give a double-thumbs up and ask if you want a cappuccino from the coffee shop over the road (which means he can go and get one).

David Austen

Following his graduation from Ravensbourne College of Design with a degree in Industrial Design, David worked for a number of London’s leading design consultancies and ran his own business before joining Berry Place in 1997. Appointed as Managing Director following the management buyout of the business in 2006, David heads up the team with primary responsibility for commercial and business development (amongst other things). Away from ‘the shop’ he loves his two girls, the great British countryside, good food and fast cars. Recently retired from 25 years of motorcycling, he still yearns for the wind in his hair... or what’s left of it !!

James Chappell

James began modelmaking in 1992 and joined the team at Berry Place five years later. He does ‘something of everything’ but is mainly responsible for new enquiries and quoting. James loves motorcycles, leather, real ale and the wife but not always in that order. Other than being glued to the phone and sending out quotes James is still waiting to win the lottery and spend more time with motorcycles, leather, real ale and the wife, again not necessarily in that order!

Matt Densham

Matt started modelmaking professionally in 1996, freelancing for four years before becoming an official member of the team here at Berry Place. Now a director, he still enjoys getting his hands dirty, overseeing the more creative requirements of our workload such as design, artworking and sculpting. If he's not stranded on a train somewhere, he enjoys escaping to the movies, photography, and spending time in his workshop at home. You just can’t get him away from modelmaking!