| Gifted English sculptor David Winter is regarded
as one of the foremost creators of miniature
architectural structures. Born 1958 in Catterick,
Yorkshire, David was inspired by his Mother,
famed British sculptor Faith Winter. It was
in her studios that David inherited his creative
skills. Initially making pottery and decorative
tiles, and then on a joint venture with John
Hine making heraldic shields. These were not
successful but proved useful in attracting David
to design on a minute scale. He and John experimented
and in 1979 the first David Winter Cottage -
'The Mill House' was produced. David's work
found instant acceptability when they started
to offer them to selected shops in Great Britain
and later in North America.
 Production
began in the coal shed at the foot of David's
parents' house. John Hine did the talking
and selling. Initial cottage such as the
Provincial One pictured to the right were
more rudimentary than current market cottages.
As David, and associated craftsmen and craftswomen's
skills increased over time, so did the popularity
of the cottages. In 1981 larger premises
were found at Borden, and then later to
Eggars Hill.
He has received worldwide acclaim. In 1988
the Company was awarded the Queens Award
for Export. Each year an average of around
80 companies are selected, from 10 times
as many, to receive the award. The recipients
are entitled to fly the Queen's Award flag
outside their premises and to use the emblem
on stationery for a period of 5 years. Not
to mention the prestige!
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