Beginning his instrument making career in 1956, Paul Fischer has remained true to his art and is now the most famous British living classical guitar maker. He is widely acknowledged throughout the world as one of the finest exponents of the craft of the luthier. Born on the Isle of Man but brought up in the city of Oxford, it was here that he began his career under the tutelage of the renowned harpsichord maker Robert Goble, making instruments within the finest European tradition. Further study at the Oxford College of Art and Technology completed his training. Making harpsichords, spinets and clavichords gave him an added perspective and fresh thoughts on the quality of craftsmanship and value of the history of instrument making.
Paul
is rare in having this skill with different instruments but his love of
the guitar led him to a chance meeting with the late David
Rubio, at Duns Tew, Oxfordshire, a renowned place visited by Julian
Bream. As chief instrument maker and manager he remained with
Rubio for a number of years. Success with his own instruments during this
period under the Rubio label and stamped P.F (which can still be seen in
use today), led him to establish his own studio
in 1975.
In
1983 he was awarded a Winston
Churchill Travelling Fellowship to
extend his research into the forest of Brazil. Paul Fischer has served as
an advisor to the crafts Panel for the Southern Arts Association, and also
as a Technical Advisor and Panel Member of the Crafts Council of Great
Britain. He still dedicates his life to making fine instruments
with a panoramic view of the Cotswold Hills from his workbench.
