This 5-string violin was commissioned in storm-felled ash from the Peak District, and features a decorated scroll.

The model is my own design, built with comfort and balanced sound in mind. It plays smoothly, with a nice, even tone across all the strings — and the low C has a warm, resonant quality that really fills out the sound.

It’s got the same string length as a standard violin, so it feels familiar under the fingers, but I’ve widened the lower bout a bit and made the ribs deeper to give it more air volume — which helps the C string really sing.

The carving on the head reflects the ash tree itself, with leaves enveloping the scroll, celebrating the origin of the timber, and creating a visual link between the living tree and the finished instrument.