Mark Boddington, the founder of Silverlining Furniture, has been made an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours 2026 for services to design and innovation in furnituremaking.
The honour recognises his contribution to British furniture design and making, and his role in advancing modern craftsmanship, material innovation and technology in contemporary furniture.
Over the past 40 years, Mark, who trained at Parnham College under John Makepeace OBE. has built Silverlining into one of Britain’s leading furnituremakers. Based in North Wales, Silverlining employs 62 designers, engineers, and makers producing bespoke commissions alongside limited-edition pieces developed through Studio SL, its in-house design practice.
The company invests £500,000 annually in R&D, with recent work spanning lightfast natural finishes, antibacterial cork materials, sustainable leather alternatives and finishes created from waste materials. Mark has also taken on the preservation of specialist craft skills at risk of disappearing, including urushi lacquer, Damascus steel, guilloché (engine turning) and straw marquetry, the last of which has a dedicated workshop in the company.
Mark says: "When I founded Silverlining 40years ago, I simply wanted to create extraordinary furniture without compromise – I never imagined that four decades later I would be appointed an MBE.
"The journey has been incredibly rewarding, but it has never been about me. The honour recognises the talent, dedication and creativity of the remarkable people in Wales who have worked alongside me. Together, we've developed new techniques, taken risks, and pursued excellence in furnituremaking.
"Receiving an MBE is a tremendous honour because it recognises not only a lifetime of work, but also the importance of British craftsmanship and innovation. It gives everyone who has contributed to Silverlining's success an opportunity to celebrate and to champion the next generation of makers and designers.”
