Allan Shiers, Born c.1955
Harp maker
Allan Shires is a leading Welsh harp maker who has been plying his craft for forty years. He was apprenticed for five years to John Weston Thomas, who played a key role in the twentieth century revival of harp making in Wales. He established Teifi Harps as a non-profit community enterprise. Its workshops are housed in a converted Victorian school which they purchased in Llandysul, west Wales. The small team of harp makers and sales/office staff all live in the local area and every part of the harp (with the exception of the strings) is made in their workshop. The core values of Teifi Harps are quality and innovation, community, and the passing on of skills.